"Belarusians are wise enough to wait." Seviarynets spoke in Vilnius

Pavel Seviarynets on the day of his arrival in Vilnius, December 18, 2025. Photo: AP Photo Mindaugas Kulbis

Pavel named the meeting "The Key to Belarus" — as if, although "we were taken out of Belarus and the door was closed," "we know how to open the country."

Shaven and in a suit with a white-red-white badge, Seviarynets met guests right at the entrance to the hall. His wife and son were also at the meeting — little Frantsishak in a jacket and tie, and Volha in a beautiful dress.

Pavel began by thanking Lithuania for its hospitality, those who care for deported political prisoners, and by thanking God:

"I didn't think that this winter I would see my wife and son, see so many wonderful Belarusian faces, that I would meet many of my acquaintances who will also be released."

At the meeting, Seviarynets spoke much about Christianity. He reflected on the idea that one should replace the question "why is all this happening to us" with the question of why Belarusians are currently experiencing repression and exile. And how he proposes to seek answers to this in faith — implying that God's "path to victory is not strewn with roses," and nothing is accidental.

Then it was time for questions. Seviarynets was asked about the rift between Belarusians who chose different sides in 2020 — how to overcome it?

"We are fellow citizens with those who wear uniforms and are now executing criminal orders. We are relatives of many of those who watched propaganda channels and believe that we are indeed "runaways" — as if, "what were you lacking."

This chasm can only be overcome by faith, by acting with love. I see no other ways [for us] than national reconciliation through Christianity. Even those who do not believe in God recognize the exceptional role of Christianity in reconciling nations," the politician believes.

Thus, according to Seviarynets, one should act at the national level. As for the personal level, there must be forgiveness:

"I forgive everyone who tortured me in prison, but I cannot demand this from others. I perfectly understand that some are not ready to forgive those very painful things, one must understand both sides."

However, Pavel has no illusions about Lukashenka:

"Lukashenka understands power. He will not talk to the weaker, for such he uses deception or crude violence. But God is stronger than Lukashenka, Putin, or nuclear weapons."

Inhaling evil and exhaling good — this is the formula Seviarynets offers to Belarusians.

One of the listeners objected. He asked if, at the national level, choosing forgiveness now wouldn't provoke those who do evil to continue doing evil?

In response, Pavel, co-founder of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, reflected on the views of Christian Democrats. According to him, such an attitude towards democracy is not exactly ordinary politics. Ordinary politics is rather about personal or national egoism, while Christian Democracy is about introducing Christian values into the principles of democracy. And, Seviarynets says, there have been historical examples where Christian Democracy performed well.

"I believe that we are a special people. God gave us to be at the crossroads of Orthodoxy, Protestantism, and Catholicism. Sometimes this intersection was bloody, but Belarusians, by sacrificing themselves, united these currents.

What success could there be in state-building when neighbors tear each other apart over different confessions? But Belarus was reborn and revived peacefully. There was no instance where Belarusians won independence with weapons," Seviarynets said.

The problems of Belarusians in Lithuania were also mentioned, meaning the need for free Lithuanian language courses and education for young Belarusians in Lithuania in their native language. And here Seviarynets called his wife and son to him — little Frantsishak is starting school in the Vilna Belarusian Skaryna Gymnasium these days.

The boy decided to ask his father a question himself and asked if he had expected his release. Seviarynets replied that he had not expected it, although there had been such thoughts. He also expressed his impressions of how deported political prisoners were received abroad:

"I thought that when I got out, we would be hosted for three days and then we would have to look for housing and work. But when I got out, we were met like relatives in warring Ukraine, brought here across borders without documents, with just papers.

When I saw how the deported were carried on hands in Lithuania, how the Lithuanian authorities and numerous solidarity organizations treated them, I realized how huge a step Belarusians have made compared to 2020."

But there is an issue that the deported find difficult to manage and where they would welcome help from Belarusians. According to Seviarynets, this is finding employment.

Regarding the situation within the country, Pavel is convinced — the Belarusian regime is steadily heading towards its end:

"While earlier one could speak of some support for certain steps [of the authorities] within society, now it is clear that there is no ideology there, it is empty. It is clear that for the majority of Belarusians, supporting aggression in Ukraine, as today's government demonstrates, is unacceptable. Therefore, the regime can only tighten the screws."

Belarusians, Seviarynets says, "are wise enough to wait, suffer, and endure," and not to respond to violence with violence. Now Belarusians are preparing to live as a free people, and everything that is happening to us now only hardens us.

In the future, according to Pavel, he plans to publish several books. He was not allowed to take out the notes he made behind bars, but now he is gradually managing to restore the materials. There is also a title for the first book after his release: "Belarus is sacred."

Former volunteer Aliaksandr Klachko came to the meeting with Seviarynets. He asked the politician how he felt about the war in Ukraine and Belarusian volunteers.

Seviarynets expressed unambiguous support for them:

"Of course, my whole soul and heart are with those people who sacrifice themselves for our freedom and that of our brothers. There is no greater love than when one is ready to lay down one's life for one's friend."

There can be no two thoughts on this, the politician believes. At the same time, Pavel says that victories are possible "without a military component," as happened in the case of the collapse of the USSR.

Sooner or later, such a victory of light over darkness will again befall Belarusians, Seviarynets is sure. The main thing is to be ready for it:

"Perhaps because in 1991 we, as a people, were not ready to accept what the Belarusian Popular Front was doing, that is why we now have this path in the desert. And all the trials we are enduring now are an attempt to catch up, to become ready."

• 29
• 1
• 3
• 6
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 4