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Tsiumr Pipiya is an antifascist from Belarus who was sentenced to 6 years in prison for his role in the 2020 uprising against the Lukashenko regime.
Tsiumr Pipiya is an antifascist from Belarus who was sentenced to 6 years in prison for his role in the 2020 uprising against the Lukashenko regime. Write to Tsimur (in Belarusian or Russian): Tsimur Pipiya Penal colony No. 15. 213105, Mahilioŭ, Viejna, Slaŭharadskaja šaša 183 BELARUS
Hanna Pyshnik is an anti-fascist from Belarus who was arrested in March 2022 for allegedly shooting and distributing video footage of military helicopters.
Hanna Pyshnik is an anti-fascist from Belarus who was arrested in March 2022 for allegedly shooting and distributing video footage of military helicopters. You can send a letter of support to Hanna here. You can make a donation to support Hanna and her family here.
Solidarity with Anarchist Alexander Frantskevich
The date of the next court appearance for Belarus anarchist, Alexander Frantskevich, has now been set. The anarchist will be tried for malicious disobedience to the requirements of the ‘IK-11…
The administration is trying to eradicate any solidarity, but we were still one small family. History of captivity of Kristina Cherenkova
The administration is trying to eradicate any solidarity, but we were still one small family. History of captivity of Kristina Cherenkova
The antifascist from Mozyr Kristina Cherenkova was detained on March 23, 2022, along with her husband. Later, the girl was accused of inciting other social discord for unflattering statements in a personal account of Instagram in the direction of the police and condemned by 2.5 years of colony. Christina was released on April 11, 2024. We talked to her about the detention, the court and the conditions of his stay in the women's penal colony.
I felt it would happen. And it happened.
On March 23, 2022, at about 7 a.m., Christina, along with her husband Fedor woke up from the roar and the sounds of the Bulgarian. Literally a couple of seconds, the whole apartment was filled with people in black.
I did not even have time to wake up, to recover, how I felt kicks on my legs and back. I did not resist, but at the same time, it did not prevent them from using force to me, - Christina recalls.
When entering the pre-trial detention center, the girl was recorded many herds. Later, on the fact of the illegal use of physical force and special means by police officers during the detention, an investigative check was carried out, but this did not lead to any result: a few months later, Cherenkova was sent an unsubscribe, which said that the investigators did not have the opportunity to find out how she had injuries.
In their opinion, as stated in the decree, most likely I inflicted them on myself in the process of detention.
Christina remembers:
"Before the initiation of a criminal case, I was indeed detained by the administration, as well as by the employees of the ROVD of the city of Mozyry in 2021, I checked all my social networks, but then they were not confused.
Of course, I knew that I should be quieter, especially given the increased interest in my page of all sorts of crazy yabacks. By the way, one of them wrote to me denunciation of the mentums in 2021. But how could you keep quiet when you see this lawlessness every day? When you see that people are going to prison because of some far-fetched nonsense... And when the war began, it became absolutely impossible to remain silent.
The Antifascist notes that despite the fact that she was always very careful in her publications, she never insulted anyone by the namally, did not call for aggressive and violent actions, she had a premonition that sooner or later she would come.
I didn't know when it would happen, what article I would be incriminated, but I felt it would happen.
And it happened... to be honest, initially I didn't even understand who they came to - to me or my husband. When I found out that all this so-called capture group came from Minsk and from Gomel because of a few comments on the Internet, the first thought was: "Damn how many taxes in our country are spent on simulated this turbulent activity?
On that day, 10 people from Christina's entourage were detained, most of them were brought to administrative responsibility. The charges under criminal charges were brought only by Kristina Cherenkova and her friend Anna Pyshnyk.
A couple of hours after the arrest, when after all the searches I was brought to the ROVD, I had a many hours of interrogation by an employee of GUBOPiK. From him, I almost immediately learned that I was detained on suspicion of committing a crime under article 130, paragraph 1, of the Criminal Code.
When the investigator closed the case, she said that she did not see the composition of the crime at all.
The trial of Christina Cherenkova began almost eight months later and lasted three days. The girl refused to testify in court, so in the trial she read out her testimony from interrogations.
It was not a court, but some kind of theater of the absurd. The journalist who broke through to one of the meetings, said to my relatives later: "I'm not bad, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ale I am so not audible, at the voise of the biv-nauschvayuc?.
In the indictment, the posts in the ?nstagram, containing the following expressions:
I congratulate the Belarusian policemen on their Dnoma, "The well-known fact is worse than g... on, "Good ment" is dead ment, "Dumb a piece of brainless biomass in balaclave" and others.
For this, Christina was found guilty of inciting social discord against such a group as policemen and deprived of liberty for two and a half years.
In general, I still counted on as much as two years, since all the numerous inspections that have been carried out for so many months could not find anything. Identified only a negative assessment of the activities of police officers, expressed in the words of the message of the "msor," "msor," etc. This was enough for the prosecutor to request 3 years in prison, and the judge gave 2.5 years of imprisonment.
It's not "ball that when the investigator closed the case, she said that she did not see the crime for the 130 article at all, but she was instructed to close it with her.
You don't actually belong to yourself.
In February 2023, the Supreme Court considered the appeal of Kristina Cherenkova on the verdict, but left her unsatisfied. After the anti-fascist was transferred to the women's penal colony No. 4.
According to Christina, the most terrible thing in the conclusion, especially in the colony, is the feeling of absolute helplessness.
You actually do not belong to yourself... And yet, I, as a person who appreciates his time, was simply unbearable to spend daily precious minutes and hours on some useless idle, endless constructions, conclusions from the factory and to the factory, endless queues in the captive.
And, of course, sometimes it was very difficult to hold back and not to tell the employees everything you think about them.
The girl notes that the life in the colony is built in such a way that there is not a minute of free time for political prisoners. If the work falls on the first shift, then after the rise at 6 a.m. there are literally 20 minutes to lock the bed, wash, dress.
Then you go to breakfast, and after it begins the withdrawal to the factory. From the detachment to the factory is about 100-150 meters, but this path lasts on average half an hour. The work shift lasts until 14.30, but you get to the detachment at about 15.10-15.15, because for a long time you stand, and then go through the inspections and the carp [frame with the metal detector."
If immediately upon arrival from work you did not come up with any activity, such as lectures in the club, then before checking you have half an hour to drink a cup of coffee. At 16.00 begins the county-family check. Immediately after it, the "vector" begins when you have to sit for a few hours in the room of educational work under the camera and watch TV. Next we have dinner, an additional check for the fuchet, and there it is time to prepare for the bed.
Christina says that between all these regime measures, the prisoners have moments of free time, but if you need to clean the snow, draw puddles, go to inventory, etc. If the work in the second shift, the day looks almost the same, only broken differently.
The life of political in the colony is significantly different from the life of "orderly prisoners": what is possible for a simple mortal is strictly forbidden to the political. Even the little thing can lead to punishment.
And in everyday life, we have special conditions: upper beds on the aisle itself, the most inconvenient and inaccessible places in the captive, calls one by one and under the supervision of operatives, while everyone else enters the crowds, long dates for a maximum of one day and without the removal of products that bring their natives, the ban on visiting entertainment events in the club and the gym, the ban on the work hours. in the factory and other restrictions.
I'm waiting for you all, my dear ones! Together we are a great power!
Because of the anti-fascist views, Christina sometimes felt biased by the colony's collaborators.
I was forced to paint two of my tattoos, and one of them is an anti-fascist flag. I was told that this image has already been included in the list of extremist symbols of the Republic of Belarus.
But I would never do that. And besides, I knew they were just trying to intimidate me.
In the colony, Christina was practically not ill, but if necessary, having defended a couple of hours in line, she received a handful of tablets. At the same time, she is absolutely sure that doctors are much less willing to give the hospital to convicts under political articles than ordinary prisoners.
In captivity, the anti-fascist was very lacking good music. At the same time, in the pre-trial detention center, Kristina painted a lot, her drawings came out in letters to relatives.
For creativity, time flew for me imperceptibly. I really liked it... But unfortunately, there's actually no time in the colony. For a while, I was painting for a squad editorial board. For example, my mother's day card took the first place in the colony, but my name did not appear anywhere. Political can not be in the editorial board officially, but many draw "underground."
Christina says that in the colony felt support from other political prisoners.
I was very supported by the girls in the colony. Despite the fact that the administration is constantly trying to eradicate any solidarity and mutual assistance among the convicts (especially political ones), we were still one small family.
Also, the relatives of Christina tried to regularly convey to her greetings from friends and associates and talk about how many people support her.
Of course, that gave me strength.
Kristina notes that the letters not from her relatives almost did not reach her. But in the prison of the girl came a lot of pleasant parcels:
This attention was very much supportive of me!
In the colony, very strict censorship, and, unfortunately, letters there are almost no breaks. But it's still great that people are still trying to support political prisoners - writing letters and providing other support. At least the colony's administration and censors see that people still remember and loved.
To all who remain in captivity, I want not to lose hope and strength of the spirit! Sometimes it seems that despair covers with his head and you can not see the lumen, but it is not so much. I'm waiting for you all, my dear ones! Together we are a great power!
You can support Christina by translation on the following details:
PL59 1020 4900 0000 8602 3669 8310 Krystsina Charankova RKO, RPK
PAYPAL: A.CHARANKOVA
Fedar Charankou LT553250020307376461 the Revolut Bank UAB
Kristina Cherenkova has less than half a year left to serve
Kristina Cherenkova, born on 23 April 1990, graduated from the University of Francisk Skaryna in Gomel as an English language teacher. She was teaching English at a school in Rechitsa and at this time she met her future husband.
After marriage, she moved from Rechitsa to Mozyr, where she decided to open her own business. She started decorating weddings and gave people joy and good mood. Together with her husband, she travelled extensively in Belarus and Ukraine.
Kristina was also the vocalist of the punk rock band VIKT(A)R xOi, which managed to record several tracks, but when she was detained, the police searched all the members of the band and took away their equipment. Nevertheless, the recording of Kristina’s vocals survived; the other instruments had to be re-recorded.
Political views
Kristina has always been an advocate of equality, she is a well-known activist in the anti-fascist milieu of Mozyr and attributes herself to the “Skinheads Against Racial Superstition” movement.
She has also actively spoken out against the actions of the Belarusian state, repression, and police violence. She had a popular Instagram profile, where she wrote about current political events (the posts on her profile were later recognized as “extremist materials”).
After the protests began and political repression intensified, her parents persuaded Kristina and her husband to leave the country, but they refused. They said that “someone has to stay”, that “we are in our own country”.
The story of the detention and the case
Back in August 2020, Kristina and her husband were detained in the street. The police stopped their car but eventually Kristina was released without trial.
On 22 March 2022, a dozen anti-fascists, members of various counter-culture music groups, were searched and detained in Mozyr. Five people ended up serving short time in jail, while criminal proceedings were initiated against Kristina and her friend Anna Pyshnik.
Kristina was detained together with her husband. Early in the morning the law enforcers started breaking down the doors, and as soon as Kristina’s husband opened the door they started beating him.
Some of the law enforcers ran into the room of Kristina, who did not understand what was happening. They started beating her before she could even get out of bed. The whole thing was filmed on video.
Later, when she was transferred to the pre-trial detention facility, a doctor examined her and documented the bruises from the beatings.
Three days later, Kristina’s husband was released and she was charged for her anti-military and anti-police posts on Instagram.
During the investigation, Kristina Cherenkova’s Instagram page was found to be “extremist materials” – the trial was initiated in court by the police. “I don’t expect anything good,” Christina conveyed on this occasion in her letter.
Verdict
On 10 November Gomel Regional Court started the hearing of the criminal case against Kristina. According to the results of the examination, announced in court, her posts contain no calls to violent actions, but they contain a negative assessment of the police officers. On November 16, 2022 Judge Aleksei Glyshchankov found the young woman guilty and sentenced her to two and a half years of imprisonment.
Conditions of detention
In prison, Kristina was registered as “prone to extremism”.
Kristina, like many other political prisoners, has difficulties with correspondence. While letters from relatives somehow get through, news from friends and acquaintances hardly ever arrives.
From time to time Kristina is transferred from cell to cell. She jokes that she has managed to get acquainted with all the political prisoners who are women during her detention.
Relatives
Kristina’s mother, her husband, her father-in-law and mother-in-law who had to leave Belarus, and her relatives are waiting for her outside. Her friends have launched a solidarity campaign with Kristina on Instagram, talking about how she is doing in prison and sending messages and pictures from her.
Here’s what Kristina’s mother-in-law has to say:
> The first days were very difficult. I stayed in touch with Kristina’s mum all the time – she was all alone, she couldn’t sleep, she needed support. It helped a lot that my son was stoic, maybe his state passed on to us. It also helped us to be strong because there are many people like Kristina. There are smart, talented people and mothers of many children, young and old.
In one of her letters Kristina writes:
> Keep your fingers crossed for me! Your support is much needed right now! Hugs to all.
Sponsored by ABC Belarus - RU
Aliaksandr Zaitsau — Political prisoners in Belarus
Aliaksandr Zaitsau, an anarchist. Zaitsau was accused of attempting to set fire to Chairman of the Supreme Court Sukalo’s dacha (Article 289.2 Attempted act of terrorism by a group of persons). Aliaksandr was detained near Valentin Sukalo’s dacha on August 22nd 2021. According to our information he went to the case together with provocateur Akulich Dmitry Aleksandrovich, whom he had met while he was on administrative detention. We do not know Akulich’s status in this case, but he is most likely a witness with a false name of Sergeenko. It is remarkable that Akulich was given a real passport with a fake name to do the operation with Zaytsau. On April 15, 2022 Aliaksandr was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Date of birth 8 October 1982.
Zaytsev Aleksandr Vladimirovich 212013, Mogilev, p/o Veino, Slavgorodskoe shosse 183, IK №15 Belarus
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Kristina Cherenkova: I closed my eyes and imagined myself on the seashore. It was even nice.
573 likes, 3 comments - free.kitaanalena on June 23, 2023: "From one of the last letters: “We have here, by the way, sometimes seagulls fly and scream lo..."
Kristina Cherenkova, born on 23 April 1990, graduated from the University of Francisk Skaryna in Gomel as an English language teacher. She was teaching English at a school in Rechitsa and at this time she met her future husband.
After marriage, she moved from Rechitsa to Mozyr, where she decided to open her own business. She started decorating weddings and gave people joy and good mood. Together with her husband, she travelled extensively in Belarus and Ukraine.
Kristina was also the vocalist of the punk rock band VIKT(A)R xOi, which managed to record several tracks, but when she was detained, the police searched all the members of the band and took away their equipment. Nevertheless, the recording of Kristina’s vocals survived; the other instruments had to be re-recorded.
Political views
Kristina has always been an advocate of equality, she is a well-known activist in the anti-fascist milieu of Mozyr and attributes herself to the “Skinheads Against Racial Superstition” movement.
She has also actively spoken out against the actions of the Belarusian state, repression, and police violence. She had a popular Instagram profile, where she wrote about current political events (the posts on her profile were later recognized as “extremist materials”).
After the protests began and political repression intensified, her parents persuaded Kristina and her husband to leave the country, but they refused. They said that “someone has to stay”, that “we are in our own country”.
The story of the detention and the case
Back in August 2020, Kristina and her husband were detained in the street. The police stopped their car but eventually Kristina was released without trial.
On 22 March 2022, a dozen anti-fascists, members of various counter-culture music groups, were searched and detained in Mozyr. Five people ended up serving short time in jail, while criminal proceedings were initiated against Kristina and her friend Anna Pyshnik.
Kristina was detained together with her husband. Early in the morning the law enforcers started breaking down the doors, and as soon as Kristina’s husband opened the door they started beating him.
Some of the law enforcers ran into the room of Kristina, who did not understand what was happening. They started beating her before she could even get out of bed. The whole thing was filmed on video.
Later, when she was transferred to the pre-trial detention facility, a doctor examined her and documented the bruises from the beatings.
Three days later, Kristina’s husband was released and she was charged for her anti-military and anti-police posts on Instagram.
During the investigation, Kristina Cherenkova’s Instagram page was found to be “extremist materials” – the trial was initiated in court by the police. “I don’t expect anything good,” Christina conveyed on this occasion in her letter.
Verdict
On 10 November Gomel Regional Court started the hearing of the criminal case against Kristina. According to the results of the examination, announced in court, her posts contain no calls to violent actions, but they contain a negative assessment of the police officers. On November 16, 2022 Judge Aleksei Glyshchankov found the young woman guilty and sentenced her to two and a half years of imprisonment.
Conditions of detention
In prison, Kristina was registered as “prone to extremism”.
Kristina, like many other political prisoners, has difficulties with correspondence. While letters from relatives somehow get through, news from friends and acquaintances hardly ever arrives.
From time to time Kristina is transferred from cell to cell. She jokes that she has managed to get acquainted with all the political prisoners who are women during her detention.
Relatives
Kristina’s mother, her husband, her father-in-law and mother-in-law who had to leave Belarus, and her relatives are waiting for her outside. Her friends have launched a solidarity campaign with Kristina on Instagram, talking about how she is doing in prison and sending messages and pictures from her.
Here’s what Kristina’s mother-in-law has to say:
> The first days were very difficult. I stayed in touch with Kristina’s mum all the time – she was all alone, she couldn’t sleep, she needed support. It helped a lot that my son was stoic, maybe his state passed on to us. It also helped us to be strong because there are many people like Kristina. There are smart, talented people and mothers of many children, young and old.
In one of her letters Kristina writes:
> Keep your fingers crossed for me! Your support is much needed right now! Hugs to all.
Sponsored by ABC Belarus - RU
Political prisoner Hanna Pyshnik convicted for video of Russian helicopters
On August 16, 2022, the Homieĺ Regional Court convicted her of ‘promoting extremist activity’ under Part 2 of Article 361-4 of the Criminal Code.
Hanna Pyshnik (Chympajesh) was detained on 22 March 2022 in Mozyr and shares anti-fascist views. According to the prosecution, she “shot a video of helicopters and sent it to a destructive media resource” – Art. 361-4 of the Criminal Code (assistance to an extremist formation).
Pyshnik (Chimpoyesh) Anna Gennadyevna IK № 4, ul. Antoshkina 3, Gomel, 246035
Birthday – April 2
Anastasiya Kukhta — Political prisoners in Belarus
Anastasia Kukhta was born on 20 January 1995 in a small village next to Minsk. She is trained as a hairdresser and her dream has always been to open a small hair salon. In May 2021, her dream came true, and she bought a small business. At the moment of detention, it was thriving, but her husband had to sell it to pay off the debts she took. Part of the debt is still uncovered.
Political views
Nastia has been underaged when she was first detained during the raid on a flat where Mikola Dziadok, Aliaksandr Frantskevich and other activists lived in 2010. They were later accused of a series of attacks and sentenced to 3-5 years of prison. Nastia stayed in touch with imprisoned comrades.
For some time, she was also part of the Really Free Market collective and frequently offered free haircuts at the events. Nastia was good at organising concerts and a few times she would invite hardcore bands from Russia to play in Minsk.
Detention and conviction
Anastasia was detained on 17 February 2022 and later was declared a suspect in a criminal case. She was accused of participation in protests, encouraging sanctions or actions aimed at harming the national security of the Republic of Belarus, and creation or participation in an extremist formation.
On 11 November 2022, she was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
Family
Her parents are humble country people whose income is not enough for sustaining the cost of her support in prison. The mother died in May 2023 of lung cancer, Anastasia couldn’t attend the funeral.
Anastasia’s partner is struggling with finances as he needs to work more to provide for himself, Anastasia and their two pets. The cat has cost a lot in the last year as it was also diagnosed with some form of cancer. Anastasia misses them a lot.
Here is quote from Anastasia’s letter:
> Our whole life is about risk. It is full of obstacles, difficulties, and defeats. And it's up to you to choose what to do and how to react. Will you let circumstances break you and make you miserable, or will you not give up and look for a million opportunities to get out of a difficult situation with honour and dignity? The decision is yours alone to make. It is your action or inaction that will determine our common future. After all, we are all links of one long chain.
Anastasia Sergeyevna Kukhta IK № 4, ul. Antoshkina 3 Gomel, Belarus, 246035
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Igor Olinevich turned 40 years old! - Pramen
Сегодня, 24 сентября, иполняется 40 лет нашему дорогому товарищу, революционеру и политзаключённому — Игорю Олиневичу. 40 лет — возраст глубокой зрелости. Зрелости, которой Игорю было не занимать ещё в свои 20 лет и которая укрепилась во время его борьбы как на воле, так и в тюрьме. Будучи 27-летним...
Translation:
> Today, September 24, is the 40th anniversary of our dear comrade, revolutionary and political prisoner, Igor Olinevich. 40 years is the age of deep maturity. A maturity that Igor lacked even in his 20s and which strengthened during his struggle both in freedom and in prison. > > As a 27-year-old activist in the anarchist movement in 2010, he went to prison for his beliefs and spent 5 years there. Prison is not a place for development, it is a place for the destruction of personality. But for revolutionaries who are firm in their convictions, there are no obstacles that cannot be overcome in the pursuit of freedom, if not universal, then at least personal. That is why, remaining unbroken all these years, in 2020 Igor and his comrades from the Black Banner group illegally returned to Belarus and took part in the uprising with exceptional courage and dedication. The group was captured in the border forest while trying to escape. Igor and three other comrades received up to 20 years of strict regime. At the same time, the comrades boldly admitted their participation in the sport, denying guilt, despite the consequences. > > It is paradoxical, but precisely those people who dream of freedom more than others are often doomed to live in absolute captivity because they did not agree to live in semi-freedom. Half measures are unacceptable for anarchist revolutionaries. It is thanks to such selfless people that we are content with more and more freedoms that we take for granted. It is worth remembering that we owe all the freedoms we have to daredevils who spent their lives behind bars or even laid them down on the altar of revolution. > > Igor, on your fortieth birthday, we want to congratulate you and wish you to maintain your perseverance and endurance. Another year locked up... But we know that it was not lost for you and you have increased your wisdom and conviction. We want you to know that your sacrifice was not in vain and you remain an example not only for your comrades, but also for many Belarusians who hold different political views. You are the spark that ignites the flame, or the ember that does not allow this flame to go out in difficult times. Stay as you are, because it is impossible to wish for more.
Igor / Ihar is sponsored by ABC Belarus