Civil initiative "Free Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu" created in Finland
According to the writer and the civil activist Jukki Malinen, it is not excluded that Finland might demand to extradite Nyaklyaeu to it. He has told how the events in Belarus awakened Scandinavia in an interview to Euroradio. — A civil group "Free Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu" has been created upon the initiative of the Finnish MPs, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu's daughter Eva and you. Could you please tell us how many people are now in this group?
— We are collecting the list of e-mails now. There are about 20 people now, but we expect much more - we disseminate information through Facebook and other means. There is much information about Uladzimir in the Finnish Facebook and we expect about at least 2 thousand people to join this group. I can also add that about 10 MPs held speeches in the Finnish Parliament yesterday, in particular, Ilka Kantala - the Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights of the Finnish Parliament.
— Did the MPs discuss the situation in Belarus on the whole or Nyaklyaeu's destiny in particular?
— There were several issues. First, discussion of situation in Belarus. We watched this 13-minutes documentary (the documentary about the events at the Square on December 19 - Euroradio). There were speeches. Pekka held a speech (the member of the Commission for Foreign Affairs of the Finnish Parliament - Euroradio), I held a speech, MPs, the director of CIS department of Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs Nina Vaskulahti, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb sent his best regards. Besides, he met with Eva Nyaklyaeva on Monday and declares support to Uladzimir and the Belarusian opposition in his blog. There were many speeches. Finland's commission on human rights creates a special group on Belarus. There will also be a civil group - "Free Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu".
— How extraordinary is this event to Finland - creation of such groups in support of a foreign citizen?
— The director of CIS department of Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs Nina Vaskulahti has said that the Ministry never received so many appeals and petitions as now, with regard to the events on December 19 and later in Belarus. I would like to add that Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu plays a significant role in this. He has lived in Finland, not just lived - he spoke at different literature events, he wrote about Finland, he has many friends here. We consider Nyaklyaeu as our foster poet, or a foster citizen. There is an opinion, that when Lukashenka tortures Nyaklyaeu, he tortures our Finnish man, a famous Finnish poet. Besides, there will be another initiative group in Estonia, probably even in the Estonian Parliament. The closest official point to us is the Belarusian consulate in Tallinn. We plan joint Finnish-Estonian demonstrations "Free Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu". There will probably be some small constant demonstration, and the Finnish citizens will participate in it all the time.
— The EU and the US actively discuss sanctions against Belarus. What does Finland thinks in this regard? Have any decisions been taken at yesterday's hearings in the Parliament?
— As you know, the European Union is elaborating a plan of common events. Finland participates in this process rather actively. Here we come up with a question on whether there will be maximal or minimal sanctions. We demand from our authorities, we appeal to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, so that Finland would stand for strict sanctions. I know that the world of diplomacy is a rather complicated one. However, Mrs. Nina Vasculati has admitted in her speech that the demand for as strict sanctions as possible is reasonable.
— Poland and the Czech Republic have informed that they will accept political refugees from Belarus, that they will provide the Belarusian students, expelled from the Belarusian higher educational establishments for participation in the December 19 demonstration, to continue education. What is Finland's position in this regard?
— Naturally, Finland will accept Belarusian political refugees. There has been even a suggestion that Belarus should extradite Nyaklyaeu to Finland for medical care and permanent residenсe.
— Did you know Nyaklyaeu when he lived in Finland?
— I dealt with all his affairs. The Finnish PEN-center organized his accommodation, and I was his assistant - I interpreted for him, we performed together. In fact, I lived with Nyaklyaeu's family these 4 years. There was a lot of work to do as he did not know the language. Before this, I dealt with all the affairs of Vasil Bykau for 2 years. I am so grateful for the opportunity to get rather profound knowledge of the Belarusian history - this provided me a new look on the history of Central-Eastern Europe, in particular, Finland. I realised that our history is deeply connected with not only the Baltic states, but with Belarus as well.
— Was Nyaklyaeu's passion for saunas born in Finland, with your help?
— As you know, Nyaklyaeu used to go to a sauna with a company of friends in Minsk. I even was there together with them once. This passion was born much earlier, though. I was in his native village. Do you know that the first-class Finnish sauna is the so-called "black baths"? This is the best one, the most fragrant. There is such a bath in his native village. We also went to different saunas in Finland - same village baths - a farmstead, a lake, fat and not only. Thus, he has proper knowledge about the Finnish saunas.
— Do you think that creation of such initiatives in Finland will help to release Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu sooner?
— I think it will. If the Minister of Foreign Affairs raises this issue seriously in the European Union, the OSCE etc. - it will help. However, as you know, much depends not only on Belarus, but also on Russia. We have a great experience of relations with Russia, the same as Belarus. Finnish diplomats and the Foreign Minister can explain rather strictly to Kremlin that we will estimate not just Belarus, but also Russia, to some extent, with regard to the destinies of Andrej Sannikau, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu and others.
— We are collecting the list of e-mails now. There are about 20 people now, but we expect much more - we disseminate information through Facebook and other means. There is much information about Uladzimir in the Finnish Facebook and we expect about at least 2 thousand people to join this group. I can also add that about 10 MPs held speeches in the Finnish Parliament yesterday, in particular, Ilka Kantala - the Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights of the Finnish Parliament.
— Did the MPs discuss the situation in Belarus on the whole or Nyaklyaeu's destiny in particular?
— There were several issues. First, discussion of situation in Belarus. We watched this 13-minutes documentary (the documentary about the events at the Square on December 19 - Euroradio). There were speeches. Pekka held a speech (the member of the Commission for Foreign Affairs of the Finnish Parliament - Euroradio), I held a speech, MPs, the director of CIS department of Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs Nina Vaskulahti, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb sent his best regards. Besides, he met with Eva Nyaklyaeva on Monday and declares support to Uladzimir and the Belarusian opposition in his blog. There were many speeches. Finland's commission on human rights creates a special group on Belarus. There will also be a civil group - "Free Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu".
— How extraordinary is this event to Finland - creation of such groups in support of a foreign citizen?
— The director of CIS department of Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs Nina Vaskulahti has said that the Ministry never received so many appeals and petitions as now, with regard to the events on December 19 and later in Belarus. I would like to add that Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu plays a significant role in this. He has lived in Finland, not just lived - he spoke at different literature events, he wrote about Finland, he has many friends here. We consider Nyaklyaeu as our foster poet, or a foster citizen. There is an opinion, that when Lukashenka tortures Nyaklyaeu, he tortures our Finnish man, a famous Finnish poet. Besides, there will be another initiative group in Estonia, probably even in the Estonian Parliament. The closest official point to us is the Belarusian consulate in Tallinn. We plan joint Finnish-Estonian demonstrations "Free Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu". There will probably be some small constant demonstration, and the Finnish citizens will participate in it all the time.
— The EU and the US actively discuss sanctions against Belarus. What does Finland thinks in this regard? Have any decisions been taken at yesterday's hearings in the Parliament?
— As you know, the European Union is elaborating a plan of common events. Finland participates in this process rather actively. Here we come up with a question on whether there will be maximal or minimal sanctions. We demand from our authorities, we appeal to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, so that Finland would stand for strict sanctions. I know that the world of diplomacy is a rather complicated one. However, Mrs. Nina Vasculati has admitted in her speech that the demand for as strict sanctions as possible is reasonable.
— Poland and the Czech Republic have informed that they will accept political refugees from Belarus, that they will provide the Belarusian students, expelled from the Belarusian higher educational establishments for participation in the December 19 demonstration, to continue education. What is Finland's position in this regard?
— Naturally, Finland will accept Belarusian political refugees. There has been even a suggestion that Belarus should extradite Nyaklyaeu to Finland for medical care and permanent residenсe.
— Did you know Nyaklyaeu when he lived in Finland?
— I dealt with all his affairs. The Finnish PEN-center organized his accommodation, and I was his assistant - I interpreted for him, we performed together. In fact, I lived with Nyaklyaeu's family these 4 years. There was a lot of work to do as he did not know the language. Before this, I dealt with all the affairs of Vasil Bykau for 2 years. I am so grateful for the opportunity to get rather profound knowledge of the Belarusian history - this provided me a new look on the history of Central-Eastern Europe, in particular, Finland. I realised that our history is deeply connected with not only the Baltic states, but with Belarus as well.
— Was Nyaklyaeu's passion for saunas born in Finland, with your help?
— As you know, Nyaklyaeu used to go to a sauna with a company of friends in Minsk. I even was there together with them once. This passion was born much earlier, though. I was in his native village. Do you know that the first-class Finnish sauna is the so-called "black baths"? This is the best one, the most fragrant. There is such a bath in his native village. We also went to different saunas in Finland - same village baths - a farmstead, a lake, fat and not only. Thus, he has proper knowledge about the Finnish saunas.
— Do you think that creation of such initiatives in Finland will help to release Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu sooner?
— I think it will. If the Minister of Foreign Affairs raises this issue seriously in the European Union, the OSCE etc. - it will help. However, as you know, much depends not only on Belarus, but also on Russia. We have a great experience of relations with Russia, the same as Belarus. Finnish diplomats and the Foreign Minister can explain rather strictly to Kremlin that we will estimate not just Belarus, but also Russia, to some extent, with regard to the destinies of Andrej Sannikau, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu and others.
