Małgorzata Gosiewska: Firm Stance Towards Lukashenka — it is the only way

The EP Delegation for Relations with Belarus Chair urges the West to take action.

How can political prisoners in Belarus be freed? Do Pakistani migrants, whom Lukashenka plans to bring to Belarus, pose a threat to the European Union? What do the Polish anti-communist resistance and the Belarusian struggle for freedom have in common?

Małgorzata Gosiewska, the EP Delegation for Relations with Belarus Chair and a Polish MEP, spoke about this in an interview with the Charter97.org website.

— Every day, dozens of illegal migrants try to cross the Polish border through Belarus. How do you assess this situation?

— I would like to add that these attempts are extremely brutal and violent. Illegal immigrants on a regular basis throw dangerous objects from across the border or directly attack Border Guard officers posing a real threat to their health and life. As a result of these actions, many officers were injured. Unfortunately, these incidents also had tragic consequences - Sergeant Mateusz Sitek was fatally stabbed by one of the attackers. Border Guard officers are therefore exposed to enormous danger on a daily basis. The external border of the European Union must be closely monitored and guarded.

On April 14, the Prime Minister of Pakistan visited Minsk, met with Lukashenka and concluded an agreement with very dangerous consequences, concerning, among other things, the launch of an airline between Minsk and Islamabad, which clearly indicates that we will be dealing with further waves of illegal migrants. Lukashenka, moreover, announced that he would not prevent the possible entry of around 100-150 thousand "specialists, doctors, engineers" with their families to Belarus. This is a threat to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and the entire European Union.

We must speak out about this, monitor the borders and additionally secure them. We must also emphasize that these are actions of Lukashenka's regime, not Belarus. For me, Belarus means democratic Belarus, fighting, trying to resist the dictator's opression.

I remember the reports from the first wave of migration, reporting of what happened in Minsk and on the route to the border. These waves of migrants have a negative impact on the safety and standards of living of people in Belarus, real Belarusians.

— The transfer of migrants is a huge logistical operation: for years, dozens of people have got to Belarus, covering thousands of kilometers, from countries such as Pakistan, Somalia, with the finish line at illegal crossing points of the Polish border.

— It should be emphasized that Pakistan is thus also getting rid of its own problems, because it does not send its educated, best citizens, but transfers representatives from the strata of the society which are problematic in terms of security. I do not know what additional interests are hidden behind this, how Lukashenka additionally profits from this practice, but the key is the impact on the internal destabilization of border countries. We very strongly felt bad intentions during the rule of Law and Justice, when we erected barriers on the border with Belarus. At that time, the opposition questioned our decisions, made enquiries about the fate of "poor migrants", who were in fact criminals who brutally attacked our border, trying to break through to the other side. These are not refugees looking for a safe haven. The majority of them are young men who come here for a specific purpose, namely to destabilize the internal situation in our countries, to impose their order, their religion, their laws. To destabilize, quarrel, exacerbate the disagreement - this has been Russia's eternal policy, regardless of who governs Russia and within what system it functions. There can be no Polish consent to this.

— There are concerns within Belarus that this potentially large number of migrants may affect the structure of the entire society.

— These people will probably not stay in Belarus. They will do everything to cross the border, to find weak spots. The question is what would happen if the border was properly guarded as it should, and the aggressors were resolutely pushed back from the border. Then the influx of migrants may become an internal problem for Belarus itself.

— In a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia were reached, how to curb Kremlin's growing appetite?

— Kremlin's appetite can be curbed only by displaying a position of strength. Only such a type of dialogue is met by Russia with understanding. How will these peace talks end? What possible agreement will be reached? We don't know.

For now, these are speculations. We are trying to read something from the information transmitted via social media, but for now we have some kind of preliminary declarations. I won't hide the fact that I was concerned by the statement of President Trump on X in the context of Donbas and above all in the context of Crimea. I have been supporting Crimean Tatars and their fight to return to their homeland for years. I support those who are imprisoned because they identify themselves as Crimean Tatars and want Crimea to be part of Ukraine. As Poles, we know perfectly well what deportations mean, what costs are associated with them. Crimean Tatars experienced this in 1944. Then, the time came when they could return, rebuild their homes, start living on their own land. Let me remind you that they have no other homeland, they have nowhere to move. Now, Donald Trump's announcement of formal consent to the annexation of Crimea by Russia is concerning. I hope that this is just one of many tweets that will not turn into a specific policy, because it would be a clear violation of international law and an indication to Russia that it is possible to continue acting in this way: occupying more lands and moving on. This is what happened de facto in the case of Georgia, i.e. the Tskhinvali region and South Ossetia. Of course, the international community recognizes these territories as Georgia, but in fact since 2008 these territories have been occupied. Recognizing Donbas and Crimea as parts of Russia will be an additional confirmation that these actions of the Russian Federation are accepted by the international community. This is one thing, namely the violation of international law in the context of seized territories. However, the second thing is a moral issue, the issue of responsibility for war crimes, for which Vladimir Putin and his associates must be tried and convicted. I cannot imagine that the crimes committed against the Ukrainian nation, against Ukrainian children and women, could go unpunished. I do not consent to this and I will do everything to ensure that the international community does not consent to such action either.

The International Criminal Court in The Hague must increase its activity, the criminals must face the punishment, and the same applies for the criminals in Belarus. This is a great task for us - to supplement the sanctions list with individual persons involved in the persecution of the opposition, in the torture of political prisoners. We are collecting these names and will forward them to the appropriate institutions so that these people do not feel unpunished, starting with ordinary officers in prisons and penal colonies, through prosecutors, judges and other people involved in these activities.

— In your recent speech in the European Parliament you have mentioned Belarusian political prisoners: Viktoryia Kulsha, Volha Mayorava, Alena Hnauk. Why is this so important?

— In my latest speech I focused on women. I was very impressed by the conversation I had with Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk after her release. It was a difficult conversation: it was difficult for me to ask questions and it was very difficult for Palina to talk about what she went though in custody, prison, penal colony, solitary confinement for alleged violations while serving her sentence. She places great emphasis on fighting for people who remain in penal colonies and prisons. She talked a lot about Viktoryia Kulsha - about her struggle, suicide attempts, solitary confinements. Let me remind about the indefinite hunger strike she declared. She was previously on hunger strikes, which has left her body very exhausted, but this last one is now indefinite, this is her last fight for human rights, for her life, for the lives of her fellow prisoners, for Belarus. A fight that, in case it is not a win, can only end up with death.

We cannot remain silent, we must firmly demand the release of prisoners, speak out their names, surnames, talk about their struggle, about their fate, in this way move the international community, build great solidarity for the democratic Belarus, but also tighten sanctions against Belarus, because this is the only way to normalization, to release prisoners.

— Do you consider that the sanctions are the only way to release political prisoners?

— A tough, firm stance towards Lukashenka's regime - it is the only way. I myself have at times wondered about this question, because there are people who say that we need to negotiate with the regime, lift sanctions in exchange for the release of individual persons. What's more, we hear voices among MEPs in the European Parliament to start negotiations and set a price for a prisoner and pay Lukashenka for each person released. No, no. Because we have to learn from history, and history teaches us that talks with Lukashenka have been held many times. They have led to an ostensible thaw in relations many times. Lukashenka released prisoners, but only to fill up the prisons again moments later - this does not lead to anything. He benefits from this. He brushes up his image, but it does not change the situation in Belarus, the situation of the people of Belarus in any way. So we have to take a tough stance here, which of course does not rule out additional talks, additional conditions and certain concessions in exchange for getting more people out, getting them out of prison, but generally a tough stance and sanctions: personal and against companies, but also Western companies that continue to do business safely in Belarus.

This aforementioned argument was raised in conversations with members of parliament in the context of Austrian interests (the telecommunications industry with Austrian capital in Belarus) with the indication that "these are jobs for Belarusians". Yes, there are jobs, but above all, there are simply profits that companies gain from the situation in Belarus. There can be no consent to this and we must fight for a decisive assessment of such a position.

— I see a photo of Andrzej Poczobut in your office.

— Andrzej is particularly close to me, I know him personally. He is my friend. Andrzej has often helped me in various patriotic activities in Belarus: for Polish diaspora and Poland. Andrzej is an example of a man who fights for the truth regardless of the consequences. After all, he could have left Belarus without any problems - he would have been free, alive, healthy, and function at full capacity. He consciously gave up this opportunity to show with his attitude how to fight for the most important values. We must fight for political prisoners in Belarus, fight wisely and not lose what is the most important - do not forget about the values.

— The situation in Belarus now resembles the times during the martial law in Poland. Would you have any suggestions for Belarusians on how to survive this?

— Persevere in the fight, even if the fight takes place inside and this resistance is not externally invisible. The most important thing is what we have in our minds and in our hearts. I believe that the time will come when it will be possible to demonstrate this courage and resistance externally, and by then everyone must be ready for this: to stand shoulder to shoulder, defeat the regime and reclaim Belarus for the free, democratic world. I am from that generation — as a youngster I lived through martial law and I was missing this external resistance. At that time I thought that the imposition of the martial law would lead to an actual war, that we would go out into the streets and fight against Jaruzelski's regime. It was not the case, but step by step people were more and more aware of what is freedom and what is slavery, and they were persevering in the feeling as free persons. All this led us to the point where we live in a free Poland. And that is what I wish for Belarus.

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