Minsk greeting Mikalai Statkevich (photo)

On the evening of August 22, the now ex-political prisoner has arrived at the bus station Uskhodni. He was behind bars from December 2010.

More than a hundred people met the now ex- political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich at the bus station Uskhodni on late evening of August 22 in Minsk. He and five other political prisoners was pardoned by the head of state and came out of the Mahiliou prison. Mr Statkevich had been in prison since December 2010. In 2011, he was sentenced to 6 years in prison "for organizing mass disorder."

There were plenty of journalists at the Usckhodni bus station, including those from Russian TV channels. There was also the wife of Mikalai Statkevich, Maryna Adamovich, his friends and colleagues, many activists. Above the crowd waved the white-red-white flag. Minibus from Mahiliou with Statkevich arrived late. "Long live Belarus!" shouted Statkevich. Former political prisoner thanked everyone for their support and stressed that he did not write a petition for pardon. "Hero!" - shouted the crowd.

"I will keep on doing what I did -- work for free Belarus," said Mikalai Statkevich about his plans. But in the coming days he will meet with relatives. Later, he is going to meet with the leaders of oppositionnal organizations. "The situation is a stalemate. There is no strategy," said Statkevich. He also said he was not going to leave Belarus.

Also Statkevich told reporters he did not expect that Lukashenka would release him before the election. But, apparently, "there is no money in the country," he said.