The anarchist movement in Belarus has a long history and rich experience. This also applies to repression. Under an authoritarian regime based on violence as its main form of interaction with society, it is precisely the advocates of the most complete and uncompromising liberation of the individual and society, the anarchists, who are seen as the main enemies.
Members of the movement received their first serious sentences back in 2010, when the movement's organised activity and a number of direct actions forced the Lukashenka regime to take seriously the ideas of liberation that these young people stood for.
Let us get to know a little better the heroes who have endured inhuman torture and deprivation with dignity and, with their heads held high, are awaiting yet another criminal show trial.
The defendants in the "Revolutionary Action case" are the anarchists Akihiro Gaevski-Khanada, Alexander Frantskevich, Pavel Shpetny, Andrey Marach, Nikita Dranets, Aleksey Golovko, Daniil Chul, Andrey Chepyuk, Aliaksandr Kazlianka (two more defendants are abroad). Human rights defender Maryia Rabkova is also a defendant in this case.
What are the anarchists accused of?
- Paint-filled light bulbs thrown at a police propaganda billboard in 2016 (Part 2 of Article 339 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
- Paint-filled light bulbs thrown at the Belarusian Television building in protest against state propaganda in 2016 (Part 2 of Article 339 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
- A smoke bomb thrown at the building of the Brest GUBOPiK in 2016 (Part 2 of Article 339 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
- Participation in the "March of Non-Parasites" in Brest in 2017 (Article 342 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
- Setting fire with Molotov cocktails to the Homel tax inspectorate in 2017 in solidarity with those detained after the marches and in protest against new taxes on the unemployed (Part 2 of Article 295-3, Part 3 of Article 339, Part 3 of Article 218 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
- Setting fire to a billboard of the Department of Corrections in Ivatsevichy in 2017 (Part 2 of Article 295-3, Part 3 of Article 339, Part 3 of Article 218 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
- Blocking the M1 highway on the outskirts of Brest in 2018 in protest against the iPower plant under construction (Article 342 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
- Graffiti against the European Games in 2019 (Article 341 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
- May Day graffiti in Brest in 2020 (Article 341 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
- Organising, participating in and financing "mass riots" (Parts 1, 2 and 3 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
- Actions aimed at threatening national security (Part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
- Inciting social hatred (Part 3 of Article 130 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
- Creating and leading an extremist group (Part 1 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
- Creating and leading a criminal organisation (Part 1 of Article 285 of the Criminal Code of Belarus)
Akihiro Gaevski-Khanada
Akihiro is 21 years old. He graduated from Minsk Gymnasium No. 19. He was a laureate of the special fund for the support of gifted pupils and students. He studied at the Belarusian State University, but later enrolled at the European Humanities University. His father — Belarusian Sviataslau Gaevski, a karate coach — is from Slutsk. His mother — Tomoko Hanada — worked as cultural secretary at the Japanese Embassy in Belarus.
Akihiro with his teacher
Akihiro worked as a programmer in Minsk; he loves history, politics and high technology. His comrades describe him as a highly motivated, reliable and disciplined person. Akihiro often sends origami in his letters.
Political prisoner Levon Khalatryan described meeting Akihiro like this: "A very good and clever guy, calm and polite. He is one of the best people I have ever met".
According to people who know him, on 12 August 2020 Akihiro went out to a protest and was detained. He was reportedly released two days later, but then Akihiro and Alexander Frantskevich, an anarchist and former political prisoner, were taken again and placed in a pre-trial detention centre. Others who were released told relatives that Akihiro and Alexander had been beaten and tortured and pressured to sign confessions.
Alexander Frantskevich
Alexander is an "old school" anarchist. He is from Navapolatsk; he was convicted in the "anarchists' case" in 2011 and released in 2013 after serving his full sentence. Alexander Frantskevich was repeatedly subjected to administrative arrest. From 2015 he lived in Ukraine and was forcibly deported by SBU officers in 2019. After his arrest he was tortured, but refused to cooperate with the investigation.
Alexander is a programmer. He loves science fiction, computer games and tech news.
Alexander in Iceland in 2019
His mother says: "Sasha was already reading children's books at the age of three, and he still loves reading. At school he focused mostly on maths, history and programming. Up to the 9th grade he studied at a specialised school with two foreign languages. Now he speaks English and German well. In the ninth grade Sasha moved to a lyceum specialising in programming. Sasha was admitted without exams because he had won prizes at olympiads in mathematics and Russian. At the lyceum he took part in the national programming olympiad and won first place. Sasha loves travelling and has already visited many countries. My son is also very kind and generous. He always tries to help and never leaves anyone alone in difficult situations. I and all our relatives are proud of him".
Pavel Shpetny
Pavel loves animals and is a vegetarian; even in prison he finds ways to put together the diet and vitamins he needs. At work he always approached his tasks responsibly and was held in high regard. Pavel was also studying English hard and preparing to enter another university.
His loved ones say he was very compassionate towards stray animals: he always found a way to help them, fed them and found them homes. They note that Pavel is very kind and will never leave anyone in trouble, sometimes even to his own detriment.
Pavel Shpetny
His sister helps Pavel in every way she can: "Nowadays, when people have become so deaf to the misfortunes of others, this is a priceless quality. He is the person I can rely on, who will always be my support, a shoulder I can lean on to move forward boldly through life. My brother is my dear one, a part of my soul. Being apart from him is like having my heart torn to pieces. I believe that we will soon be reunited and my heart will beat with new strength".
Even in prison, Pavel continues to educate himself and makes plans for the future.
Andrey Marach
An anti-racist from Brest. He was repeatedly persecuted by GUBOPiK. His friends say Andrey is a very sociable person, ready to talk about any subject. Most importantly, he never leaves those in need in trouble and is always ready to lend a helping hand.
Among Andrey's favourite pastimes are rugby and fishing.
Andrey Marach
Andrey loves nature, hiking and swimming in the lake. He loved his grandmother very much, who always worried about him. Andrey likes Warsaw and was planning to go there to work, but did not have time. In the autumn, his father's family welcomed a half-brother, whom he also wants to meet as soon as possible. He loves sweets, especially sour ones, so he is happy when he gets them in parcels from other people.
He reacted to the letter he received about a pardon like this: "It's all very tempting, but it means I would have to admit guilt for something I didn't do, and that will never happen".
Nikita Dranets
Nikita reads a great deal and knows a lot about art and cinema. With him you can discuss not only "how Tarantino writes his dialogue", but also how art influences society.
Nikita Dranets
Aleksey Golovko
While in the pre-trial detention centre, Aleksey received a letter from Voskresensky but ignored it. "How can you ask for a pardon for something you didn't do?" was his reaction.
In 2020, Aleksey graduated from a polytechnic college (metal-cutting machines) and enrolled in the extramural programme at Brest State Technical University. He managed to pass one exam session. Some time after his arrest, a letter arrived at his home saying that his contract had been terminated. Aleksey did not serve in the army for health reasons. In winter he got a job as a lathe operator at a factory, "an ordinary working guy", as he describes himself in his letters.
Aleksey also has a musical education (accordion) and was a drummer in a band. He plays the guitar.
Aleksey Golovko
His mother says he is very open and easily gets along with people of all ages. Charming, the life and soul of the party, with a sense of humour. All his friends describe him as a very good person who always came to help, even people he barely knew, or when it was inconvenient for him. He loves driving and "tinkering with cars". His whole room is full of car parts. In recent years he was a vegetarian. He has his own view on almost everything. If he is sure of something, it is very hard to change his mind. The 2020 election was his first. However, he did not believe it could be fair and did not see a candidate of his own there.
According to her, Liosha immediately started expecting 7 years and has already given away his few belongings to friends. In his letters he often writes that nothing happens and every day is the same.
At first there was only a radio in their cell, and he could not stand that music; he said that when he got out he would listen to what he liked all the time. After a while his view changed – he began to want silence and solitude.
Daniil Chul
Daniil is a young father; his son is already 3 years old. Daniil himself loves music and computer games.
Daniil's wife says he devoted a lot of time to their child and could spend hours looking after him and playing with him. Daniil is a very caring and kind person. Computers are his passion. He solved all sorts of technical problems, was interested in video games and followed news on the subject very closely.
Daniil Chul
Daniil also loves music and has always been interested in what goes on behind the scenes. Daniil's wife says: "We spent some days in a recording studio where he and our mutual friends played. He wanted to learn how to use FL Studio so that he could write music later on".
Andrey Chepyuk
Andrey is an anarchist and a volunteer with Human Rights Centre "Viasna". Despite the threat of arrest, right up until his own detention he helped deliver parcels to activists who had already been detained. Andrey is a very kind and caring person, purposeful and persevering. His friends talk about his inventiveness and say that he can build anything out of anything.
Andrey Chepyuk
Andrey has been detained repeatedly for his views and always kept fit in detention. In a year in the pre-trial detention centre he learned to do one-arm push-ups. Andrey also read 55 books.
Aliaksandr Kazlianka
An "old school" anarchist from Brest and a member of the "Free Trade Union". He had previously been detained at protests many times.
Aliaksandr's old friend Sasha Nefer said he first met him back in 2002: "I can say with confidence that the group of friends at Kaval, and Sasha in particular, were at the origins of Brest anarchism. While most of the guys we used to drink beer with, discuss music and books, play hacky sack and football with, naively but sincerely believing in anarchism, simply dissolved into everyday Belarusian life, Sania overcame the subculture and stayed in the movement. And he did not just stay in Belarusian anarchism, but, it seems to me, after a rapid evolution, became an important part of it".
Aliaksandr was involved in many activities in his home town. He was engaged in environmental activism, took part in FNB (note: "Food Not Bombs", food-sharing actions to draw attention to pressing global problems) and was an anti-fascist. Aliaksandr also published zines (note: small-circulation samizdat), was active in the trade union, took part in nationwide Belarusian actions and kept in touch with the international movement. At the same time, he remained an ordinary working guy and never drank.
Aliaksandr Kazlianka
Aliaksandr's friend notes that he is an absolutely non-confrontational person who always approached conflicts thoughtfully and tried to find the best solution. Aliaksandr communicated with opposition politicians and human rights defenders, but never succumbed to either liberal or nationalist rhetoric and always remained true to the ideas of self-organisation and direct action.
The Brest anarchist never sought to become a "leader". He never pushed himself forward. He worked hard and diligently for the cause, seeking neither fame nor recognition. Aliaksandr Kazlianka writes poetry and is a very creative person.
Sasha Nefer sums it up: " I am convinced that prison will only strengthen his will and ideals. After all, Sasha Kazlianka is one of the Belarusian revolutionaries most devoted to libertarian ideas. He is the soul and conscience of Brest anarchism".
Whatever the outcome of the dictatorial performance called the "Belarusian court", we are sure that these young people will not be broken by the hardships they have already endured or by all the trials still to come.
For our part, we must do everything we can to help these brave revolutionaries stay true to themselves. Whether these people remain in prisons and camps for many years or come out and stand at the forefront of building a new, better world depends only on us!
You can write to the anarchists at:
SIZO-1, vul. Valadarskaha 2, Minsk, 220030
Support for the defendants in the «Revolutionary Action» case.
Follow the news and be sure to come to the trial to support these selfless and principled people, who are ready to sacrifice their own freedom for the sake of truth.