No church or job for Pavel Sevyarynets during penal labour
"As far as I understand, the head of commandant's office cannot allow it”, - says the exiled politician.
Euroradio: We know that you had problems with placement, have they been solved?
Sevyarynets: “The thing is there are no jobs for geological engineers, journalists, writers and artists. I am not even allowed to go to town to conclude a contract myself or to talk to possible employers. They delivered me to a medical check-up earlier today and I was accompanied by an employee of the commandant’s office – they did not allow me to go on my own. They have not given me a written permission to go to church either. As far as I understand, the head of the commandant’s office cannot allow it. I can get my 3-hour permit and go to church instead of the bath-house, but it is not a solution”.
Euroradio: How can you explain this restriction?
Sevyarynets: “As far as I understand, there are higher institutions in Brest or Minsk and the head of the commandant’s office is subordinated to them and cannot allow it to me now”.
Euroradio: You cannot find a job that would correspond to your profession. What alternatives have they offered?
Sevyarynets: “Several local people have already phoned me and offered me jobs in this or that village or place but I have not been allowed to accept their offers yet. They keep suggesting that I should look through the book of vacancies filled with jobs for machine-servicers, mechanized milking operators and tractor drivers”.
Euroradio: How strict are the restrictions? Are you allowed to read the independent press and listen to independent radio stations?
Sevyarynets: “I use my cell phone to learn news from my acquaintances. The connection is okay in some places here. And there are people who use the Internet so I can learn news from time to time”.
