Andrei Haidukou's mother: Our son was warned

Navapolatsk metalworker  and deputy chairperson of the Union of Young Intellectuals Andrei Haidukou suspected of "treason" was detained in Vitsebsk on November 8. The guys is facing from 7 to 15 years of imprisonment. His relatives are sure that he is suffering because of his stubbornness. Volha Haidukova, Andrei's mother, has answered Euroradio's questions.

Euroradio: What do you think about this issue? Why is your son in KGB prison now?

Volha Haidukova: I think that this is a provocation or he has been crossed up. They have warned him many times –  refuse, leave. They came to his university and asked teachers to make him fail his exams. They came to his work too. They warned him a lot. I am not happy that he has not renounced his views. They threatened him with problems. But we did not expect the problems to be so serious.

Euroradio: How did they detain him? Do you know anything about it?

Volha Haidukova: I know very little. My son was sleeping when I left for work. And they came to search our flat when I was back home cooking dinner in the evening. Then  I got to know that he had been detained in Vitsebsk. He used to visit Vitsebsk a lot. He met guys from the opposition there.

I phoned Andrei several times that day but he did not answer the phone. I did not know anything about the detention.

Euroradio: You have mentioned warnings pronounced to your son. How long ago did they start warning him?

Volha Haidukova: They did it several times, many times. Then he started taking pity on us and did not tell us anything about it. But I am an adult, I understand everything. Politics is such a thing... You either have the power or...

I do not share his views but I am anxious, like any other mother. We wanted to protect Andrei from it all. But we haven't managed to do it.

They warned him many times. A lot of times. I do not know when they talked to him last. He stopped telling us about it.

 Euroradio: How did Andrei behave before the detention? Did you notice anything strange?

Volha Haidukova: He felt that something was going to happen. He even joked: "Will you bring salo to me?" It seemed to be a joke. But he probably felt something as the warnings were serious.

Euroradio: Have you managed to send a parcel to your son? Have you received any information from him?

Volha Haidukova: We sent him a parcel after the detention. My husband has brought the second one today. We have not received any information. We talked to the lawyer from Vitsebsk and then to the lawyer from Minsk. Then a girl was appointed his lawyer and attended one of his interrogations. We are waiting for news now. We have sent him warm clothes. No books or publications are allowed.

We only know that it is very, very cold there. The lawyer has confirmed it too. That is why my husband has delivered a sheepskin coat  and warm footwear  there.

 Euroradio: How often is he interrogated, do you know what investigation action are in process?

Volha Haidukova: We do not know much. They explained that they had taken him to Minsk because there is no detention centre in Vitsebsk KGB. So, the lawyer has to travel to Minsk from Vistebsk to attend interrogations. We have no other information now. I am hoping that the lawyer will meet our son soon and then we may hear some news.