Igor Alexeyevich Tepteev
In late October 2022, six men were detained in Minsk for allegedly hanging a stitched white-red-white flag along with the Ukrainian flag on power transmission line supports in Minsk on October 7. They were Igor Tepteyev, Yuriy Nesterenko, Viktor Grin'ko, Valery Balabeshko, Vladimir Savelyev, and Igor Tikach. The next day, Anton Motolko's Telegram channel posted a photo of the flag and the caption: "Minsk residents congratulate the Ukrainian people on the wonderful news from the Crimean bridge. Crimea is Ukraine! Long live Belarus! Glory to Ukraine!"
Tepteyev said in a pro-government film that he has known the other defendants in the case since childhood. According to Igor, he did not think that hanging the flags would lead to criminal liability. The flag was made back in March, Igor kept it at home for a long time, and then gave it to Yuri.
According to propagandist Gladkaya, Igor's wife was forced to leave Belarus due to persecution for the events of 2020. She is now in Poland, and the man with his small children is in Belarus.
On September 14, 2023, the appeal was heard. The verdict came into force.
On September 11, 2025, it became known that 52 prisoners of the Belarusian regime were forcibly transferred to the territory of Lithuania. Among them are citizens of European countries. Among those released is Igor Tepteyev.
How to write a letter
✏️ A postcard with words of encouragement (a poem by your favorite author, song lyrics, or a beautiful quote). Trust us, even such simple gestures are very meaningful to a person in jail.
✏️ Your life events. To a person who is in isolation for a long time, any story about your routine endeavors will be a window into normal life. Your day-to-day worries and mundane matters are much more interesting than the daily grind of life behind bars.
✏️ It is important to share news. Mention the most notable and interesting occurrences depending on your pen-pal's interests.
✍️️ Remember that every letter is censored. This means that your letters are read by strangers whose main goal is to limit inmates' access to information or to use it against the prisoners or even you.
So try to avoid:
👉️️ harsh statements regarding ongoing political matters
👉 statements against the authorities and public servants
👉 foul language
👉 discussion of the circumstances of the criminal case
Involved in repression
