Hello Fedor, first of all we would like to thank you for taking the time to talk to us about an important issue. It’s about the antifascist Kita from Belarus. She has been imprisoned since March of this year. Can you tell us how this came about and what exactly the justice system is accusing her of?
Hello! I am very happy to have this opportunity to talk to you!
It happened on 23 March 2022. We were sleeping peacefully and suddenly our door was broken open by OMON officers (Special Branch of Police), with whom was also a GUBOPiK (Political Police) officer. I opened the door, masked men with machine guns and shields stormed into the flat. They handcuffed me and threw me on the floor. While one part of them beat me, the other part beat Kita. Kita was still asleep, she was not allowed to put anything on, she was lying under the blanket when these men beat her violently. Afterwards she said she had a black bruise on her thigh from her waist to her knee. After we were taken to the ward to talk to Kita, they beat me in front of her while I was on my knees and handcuffed behind my back.
They continued the interrogation with me in the last office and Kita was taken to another office, presented to a magistrate and only at 11pm was she taken to a temporary detention centre. All this time she was not given food or water.
The next day she was taken to a prison in Gomel.
Kita is accused of “incitement to hatred against a social group” and in particular against police officers.
In 2020, after the first days of Belarusian protests, Kita began to politicise herself on Instagram, sharply criticising the lawlessness of the police and the dictatorial regime.
The authorities were afraid of this activity. She had 15k subscribers, and that is not small in our area. And since 2020, they were trying to put her in jail. She knew that this day would come, but she never lost her principles of anti-fascism and struggle against the dictatorship.
To what extent were you affected by the measures of repression in this context?
The repression against me has been taking place regularly since 2007. In connection with Kita’s case, all our friends were victims of repression. On the day of Kita’s arrest, I and 8 other friends of ours were also arrested, and all but one of them were sent to prison. Two other people and I left prison after three days, the rest after 10-15 days, with the exception of our friend Anya, who is imprisoned together with Kita in Gomel and who will be tried on 9 August. She is accused of “supporting extremist activities”, removing columns with Russian military equipment and sending a telegram to the NEXTA station (note: considered extremist in Belarus or all independent media are considered extremist) Anya faces up to 7 years in prison.
It also happens from time to time that they detain our friends for a day and carry out searches. Often the reason for this is a letter sent to Kita in prison.
Can you tell us what the prison conditions are like in Belarus and how it is in Kita’s case?
Different cities have different conditions.
Originally, Kita was in our hometown Mozyr. The conditions for political prisoners here are terrible. They are provided with a wooden bed without a mattress, pillows or blankets, and it is cold there both in winter and summer. In some cells, the heating does not work even at -20 degrees and the windows often cannot be closed at all. Relatives cannot take anything with them except water and toilet paper. Additional controls, all movements outside the cell in handcuffs.
Now she is only taken to Mozyr for the interrogations and is no longer in this horrible place all the time.
Most of the time she is in SIZO-3 in Gomel, where the conditions are better, there is a mattress, a blanket, a pillow. Money transfers and parcels are allowed. Movement outside the cell is no longer bound to handcuffs.
From 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. she has to sit, one is not allowed to lie down. She reads books and paints.They also let her out for a yard walk every day, but not outside, but in a large room with a view of the outdoors.
Kita, like all political activists, has been classified as “susceptible to extremism”, so she will have almost no chance of early release.
What legal consequences does Kita face? What is her role as a woman or anti-fascist in this complex?
She faces a prison sentence of up to five years. In this case, the reason for the repression against Kita is primarily opposition to the dictatorship, anti-fascism is another reason, because since 2009 purges have been carried out among anti-fascists. Of our close friends, it was the women who suffered the most, but I don’t think that is intentional.
What is the political situation in Belarus at the moment? To what extent is this reflected in your everyday anti-fascist political life?
The situation in Belarus is very complicated. There are searches and arrests every day. It happens in every city and affects everyone. Activists are first investigated and then their friends, acquaintances and relatives are persecuted.
To be honest, a “political everyday life” is impossible. Any action is only possible underground. But we have all been on the cops’ lists for a long time, and they know who to turn to if something happens. And they don’t need proof. As the saying goes, “If there was a person, there would be an article”.
Activism in Belarus has practically disappeared, most have already left the country, many are in prison, and the rest are intimidated or driven away.
How do you as a movement deal with or respond to such harsh judicial action against antifascists?
As it became clear from the answer above, open resistance is not possible. All we can do is write letters, send parcels and make the question of political prisoners in Belarus as clear as possible.
It is no longer possible to go to even one vigil, it will end with 100% imprisonment.
Sad as it is, the repressive apparatus is becoming more and more powerful.
How do you see the political development in Belarus in the future?
Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, and the Belarus of the future is definitely not soon. I believe in justice and I know that the day of reckoning will come, every bastard will answer for his terror.
We want Belarus to be a self-governing society and we will do everything for it. But what happens…
Finally, an important question that interests us and many other people the most. How is Kita doing, how are you and your environment doing?
What kind of support is needed?
Recently we were allowed to see Kita, I was very happy about this meeting!
She is very strong in spirit and in excellent physical condition, smiling and taking her captivity as an adventure and life experience. I am amazed at her resilience,many break but not her. She has always been strong but this is her first time in detention. She is holding up very well! Kita sends her love and greetings to all! And hopes for a release soon.
She is very grateful to everyone who has helped and continues to help, it is very important!
Kita is a member of the band VIKT(A)R xOi! All the money for listening goes to her, even if it is not much.
You can also write to me and I will pass on your words of support to her.
Fedor, we have come to the end of this very interesting conversation. We are shocked by the conditions in Belarus but at the same time positive that through solidarity and cohesion we will one day together defeat the evil of fascism and repression!
Would you like to say something in conclusion?
Well, we and our entourage stand. We cannot be stopped or held back. We have only slowed down a little.