A.Klimau: ‘First of All I Need to Feel That I am Free’

18.02.2008. Tags: political prisoners, Klimau.
Source: RFE/RL.

On 16 February, at 6 a.m. the former political prisoner Andrei Klimau returned to Minsk by train Kalinkavichy-Minsk. He was met by his mother, wife, friends, oppositions and journalists.

What concerns his release from jail, Klimau said: ‘I don’t understand anything. I was drinking tea with my friends. The head of the brigade called ma and said to pack my things quickly. I asked him why. He said that I would be transported to another prison. One of my friends said: ‘People are not transferred from jail to jail in this time of the year. Most probably, you’ll follow your friends.’ I come to the checkpoint and the prison commandant informs me that ‘it is a humane act of the president, you are free’. The end. Now receive your things and money and go home. I sat down. He says: ‘Don’t you believe?’ ‘No, I don’t’, I answer.

I was released because my prison term was stopped. I signed the paper that I was familiarized with the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that I was released because of the termination of the prison term. The order was signed on 11 February. I hope that this tendency will continue. I would be very pleased to see Aliaksandr Kazulin and Aliaksandr Zdvizhkou free as soon as possible.’

In the note that was given to Andrei Klimau it is said that on 15 February he was released from jail in conformity with the president’s order dated 11 February on granting parole to the prisoner.

Bear in mind that Andrei Klimau was imprisoned for the third time since 3 April 2007. On 1 August 2007 Tsentralny district court of Minsk sentenced him to two years in a medium security prison.

What concerns his plans for the future, Klimau said: ‘I don’t a free man yet. First of all, I need to feel that I am free. Then I need good embraces with my wife and children. I need to speak with my mother, meet with friends and walk around my native city, to pass greetings to all people whom I know. And when I feel free, then I can speak of my plans for future.’