BThis sounds like the latest prank by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Svetlana AlekseyevichBelarus, a member of the opposition coordination committee living in Berlin, is under special inspection at Berlin Airport for bombs allegedly hidden in hand luggage. She missed the flight to Wroclaw, and Olga Tokarczuk (“Alekseyevich and Tokarczuk protested”) was expecting her to attend.
The bomb was not found, and the Tokarchuk Foundation had to drive to pick up Alekseyevich. BER Airport does not want to comment on this matter, but refers to Federal policeAccording to the spokesperson, he is still investigating the case, but clearly stated that there is no bomb threat. Police and security personnel have different attitudes towards Alexeyevich because she reports to Yana Karpinko, an employee of the Tokarchuk Foundation.
Ms. Alekseyevich, what happened at Berlin Airport?
Lukashenko style story. After checking my luggage, the things I put on the conveyor belt and waited after the door were suddenly taken back, and stopped at the security checkpoint to check again. I thought it might happen. Maybe I forgot to take out my perfume or something. I waited for a long time because many people were stopped there and their luggage was being checked. You are very cautious when checking your baggage. Finally, the airport attendant took my bag back, looked at it suspiciously, and checked it again with some kind of tool. Then he told me he would open it. I said: please continue. I wanted to help him, but he opened it himself. And when he opened it, he suddenly threw the bag away so suddenly…
Do you think this is his real reaction?
Yes it is. I’m really curious why he reacted this way. I was told to wait. I found the situation very strange. I don’t know what happened. I waited and waited. Finally I said that I would miss the plane. no response. After a long time, a lady who was also from the airport staff walked up to me and stood beside me. I asked: what’s wrong? She replied that we were waiting for the police. This surprised me-why the police? We may have to wait half an hour to see the policewoman, she is a well-mannered young German. I thought she wanted to check my things again. But she didn’t even want me to be near her. So I ask again: what is this about? The policewoman pointed to my bag and said there was a bomb in it! I said they must be crazy. Then another person brought some tool to check again. The policewoman instructed one of the inspectors to pour everything in my pocket into a container. He did, and she looked inside and saw—among other things—the press card I was carrying with me. They chatted for a while, and finally she gave a sign that everything was fine. Then they took away my other bag, which contained my tablet, some books, and a notebook. They checked everything. There are no bombs. They told me that I can go now. You neither apologized nor made a comment. There are still five minutes before departure. I have no chance to fly.
Is nobody really interested in this situation?
It was late at night and the airport was almost empty. I want to know if I can take another flight, but I can’t find anyone. The information desk is closed. I called my agent and a friend who came to pick me up. Then there is the story of the main checked baggage that my friend and I are looking for. Everything is closed, no one. Finally we found the baggage claim area. A Russian woman from Chelyabinsk came to us there, recognized me and promised to write a letter of complaint. The story of the bomb in my pocket may have something to do with the charger… but today everyone has a charger with them! In any case, I took my luggage back and was checked again. Only the woman who handed me an apology.
How do you assess the situation?
These people feel that their power is unlimited and they know that they don’t have to face any consequences. However, I have never encountered such a thing.
Translated from Polish by Felix Ackermann.
