MINSK, 7 February (BelTA) – Viktor Babariko and his son chose to stay in prison instead of returning what they had stolen, Belarusian President Aleksandr said in an interview with the VGTRK journalist, radio and TV host Vladimir Soloviev, BelTA has learned.
The head of state recalled his visit to the pre-trial detention center. Viktor Babariko was present at the meeting with the president. “Viktor, return everything you stole. Give it back. After you do it, we will talk. It's okay that you have property in Turkey, I will not take it away, I understand, and I won't take it away, but you must return this and that,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“He talked to his son about it and they decided not to return it and better stay in jail waiting for NATO or Tikhanovskaya to come and free everyone. “Tikhanovsky asked: “Comrade President, when will we be released?” I responded: What have you just said? President? Your ‘president' is in Lithuania. Ask her when you will be released”. Babariko responded frankly [to the proposal to return the stolen], this was a signal for everyone. Yet, they do not want to return it. If they return the assets that were taken out of the country through Lithuania, Lithuanian and Latvian banks, then we will discuss where they will serve their sentence, here or somewhere else. They do not want,” the president said.
The head of state also mentioned Maria Kolesnikova in response to Vladimir Soloviev's remark that the opposition and the West had forgotten about her, as they were mainly focusing on Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. “I don't think that the West, the special services will forget about their agents. As you have recently said, it just needs time,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
