Belarusian History

ILLUSTRATION portrait belarus Drawing editorial graphics pencil on paper realistic cover Hero

2020 - 2021

This is a a start of a huge portrait project of the heroes, the victims and the inspiring actors of the horrible events that take part today in the centre of the Europe — in Belarus, my motherland, — after the rigged elections of the 9th August 2020.

More then 1200 people have been recognized as political prisoners in Belarus at the moment.

There are more than 30 thousand arrests of peaceful protest's participants.

About 4000 allegations of torture have been filed with the Investigative Committee departments, but not a single criminal case has been opened on the facts of violations by law enforcement officers.

8 people died, but not a single criminal case has been opened on the facts of their violate deaths.

But more than 900 criminal cases were brought up against political opponents of the authorities. Their defendants receive sentences in prison.

Reporters Without Borders named Belarus the most dangerous country for journalists in Europe.

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is a Belarusian human rights activist and politician who ran for the 2020 Belarusian presidential election as the main opposition candidate. She is married to activist Sergei Tikhanovsky, who was a candidate for the same election until his arrest on 29 May 2020; she subsequently announced her intention to run in his place.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Based on photo by @kanaplev_leydik

Alexander was detained in Gomel during a protest action on August 9. The relatives were looking for Alexander for several days. On August 12, they learned that he felt bad while being transported to the pre-trial detention center (Alexander had heart problems). He was taken to hospital in a state of clinical death. The doctors did not manage to save him. The Investigative Committee said that the cause of death was a drug overdose. The death certificate that the relatives received says ‘the reason is being established’.

Alexander was 25 years old.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Maria is a Belarusian political activist, coordinator of the headquarters of Viktor Babariko at the presidential elections in the Republic of Belarus in 2020. A representative of the joint headquarters of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and member of the Coordinating Council.

In order not to be expelled from the country by force, she tore her passport apart at the border. Maria is detained. On September 16, the Investigative Committee of Belarus brought charges against Kolesnikova under Part 3 of Art. 361 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (calls for actions aimed at causing harm to national security, committed using the media and the Internet). This article provides for a penalty of two to five years in prison.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Based on photo by @kanaplev_leydik

On August 9, the director of the Bagration Military History Museum (Grodno region) was a member of the election commission on elections of the President of Belarus and refused to sign the final voting protocol. Konstantin was found dead in the Neman River.

He was 29 years old.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

My friend’s brother, Roman Bondarenko, has just died in intensive care from the beatings, presumably, of the Belarusian security forces.

He was beaten and taken away last night by unknown persons from his own yard in Minsk, Belarus. Then he ended up in the police department. Presumably, on the way there he was beaten so that a few hours later he ended up in intensive care in a coma.
⠀
He did not do anything illegal, there’s a video of his abduction on the net. There were many witnesses around — the inhabitants of the courtyard.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs declares there were no beatings by the security forces — it all happened during a fight with citizens in the yard. Roman’s personal belongings disappeared from the hospital.
⠀
I try to write without emotions, with facts only. But most of all I would like all the portraits to be here for a different reason.

He was 31 years old.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Katerina is a TUT.BY journalist.
She was detained on November 19 in connection with a criminal case on ‘disclosing medical secrets’ of Roman Bondarenko, who was beaten to death, presumably, by Belarusian security forces. She cited in the article information from the documents received from the doctor, which refutes the statements of officials that Roman Bondarenko was drunk at the time of the beating, after which he was taken to the police station.
⠀
At the same time, Bondarenko's close relatives do not consider themselves victims of the publication of documents and confirm their authenticity.
⠀
Katerina was first placed in the KGB pre-trial detention center, then transferred to pre-trial detention Center-1. She was charged with divulging medical secrets.
⠀
Anesthesiologist — Artem Sorokin — who provided data on the absence of alcohol in Roman's blood, was also detained since November 19. He is also in pre-trial detention Center-1.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

On August 11, Gennady received a gunshot wound to the head during the dispersal of peaceful protests in Brest.

On August 12, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus reported the day before, firearms were used against the protesters in Brest, as a result of which one person was wounded. Later the post was edited and the word ‘firearms’ disappeared.

According to the information provided by the family they could not find Shutov for two days after the dispersal of the protest action. Later they found out Shutov was taken to the Brest regional hospital, and then transported by helicopter to a military hospital in Minsk. Gennady Shutov died in a military hospital from his injuries.

He was 43 years old.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Alexander died on August 10 during a protest near the Pushkinskaya metro station in Minsk. The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated he tried to throw an explosive device at law enforcement officers, but it exploded in his hand. But Taraikovsky’s wife did not believe in this version. A friend of Taraikovsky, who was with him at the rally on August 10, claimed that he had been shot.

On August 15, the media published a video showing that at the time of the fatal wound, Taraikovsky had no bomb in his hands, as the Ministry of Internal Affairs claims.

The Associated Press later showed a video of the moment of Alexander’s murder, which clearly recorded the moment of death. The video shows that Alexander is walking with his hands up. At the same time, it does not hold any explosives, as the Belarusian authorities stated. And at this time the security forces shoot him.

On the morning of August 11, a spontaneous memorial appeared near the place of Alexander’s death. At night, it is regularly destroyed by utilities. People who created memorial were imprisoned for 2 years because of it.

He was 34 years old.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Nikita lived in Zhodino with his little daughter and wife Elena. On the day of his disappearance, he left for Minsk, and in the evening stopped communicating. His wife, together with Nikita’s friends, called the police stations, hospitals and the detention center on Akrestsin Street in Minsk, where the detainees at the protests were taken. They did not find Nikita.

On the evening of August 22, Nikita, who had been missing since August 12 (the fourth day of protests against Lukashenko), was found dead.

The police said Krivtsov was found hanged in a forest on the outskirts of Minsk. The Investigative Committee stated there were no visible injuries on Krivtsov’s body (initially, the telegram of The Investigative Committee reported traces of beatings, but later these posts were edited). The preliminary conclusion said the death of Kryvtsov is not of a criminal nature, added The IC.

The Investigative Committee also stated that Nikita was not detained or prosecuted for participating in unauthorized mass events. ‘A number of Internet resources hastened to link the disappearance and death of a man with the events taking place in the country, which is not true,’ the department said. As a counter argument, the telegram channel ‘Molodechno Home’ published a video in which Nikita stands with a white-red-white flag in front of police officers. The telegram drew attention to the fact that next to the place where Nikita’s phone last sent a signal, there is a department of internal affairs of the Minsk region.

He was 28 years old.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

My illustrated portraits are at the first exhibition of new Belarusian protest art in Paris.

14.09.2020

Сurated by Belarus en France

Photos: Erwin Laffeach

Svetlana Aleksievich is a Belarusian writer, journalist, screenwriter of documentaries. The first Belarusian and sixth Russian-language Nobel Prize winner in literature (2015). Svetlana is the last member of the Coordination Council who has not been detained or left Belarus.

On the morning of September 9, Aleksievich complained about the doorbell ringing, as well as her mobile phone from unknown numbers. ‘There are no longer any of my like-minded friends on the presidium of the coordinating council. Everyone is either in jail or thrown abroad. First, the country was kidnapped from us, the best of us are being kidnapped. But instead of those torn from our ranks, hundreds of others will come. It was not the steering committee that revolted. The country has revolted’, — she wrote.

For the second day diplomats from European countries are on duty at the writer’s house to protect her from possible persecution. There is information that Svetlana Aleksievich turned to the UN and asked to send a monitoring mission to Belarus.

The portrait from current series is an interpretation of my 2017 cover for @bybolshoi

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Pavel Latushko is a Belarusian statesman, political and public figure. Minister of Culture of the Republic of Belarus (2009-2012). Director of the Yanka Kupala National Academic Theater (2019-2020). Member of the Coordination Council for organizing the process of overcoming the political crisis.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Olga Kovalkova is a Belarusian politician, lawyer, accountant, member of the Coordinating Council, the confidant of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.

On August 24, she was detained at the entrance to the MTZ. In the evening, it became known that Kovalkova was being held at the Insulation center for offenses on Akrestsin St. and sentenced to 10 days of administrative arrest. Olga was not allowed to make an appointment with her lawyer, citing a difficult epidemiological situation. The reason for the arrest according to the protocol was active participation in a rally near the MTZ entrance, public calls for a strike. The fact there’re no mass events at the checkpoint, and at the request of the police officers, detained immediately proceeded to the paddy wagon, confirmed by video recording.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Nina Baginskaya is a legend and political activist who has become a real mascot of Belarus.

She's 74 years old and she has been protesting against the current government since 1988. She was detained dozens of times and arrested several times. Nina was constantly fined for something: in 2016, she owed the state more than 16 thousand dollars for participating in ‘unauthorized events’. But Baginskaya never paid these fines. At the same time, she refused to accept financial assistance from human rights organizations, although the government deducted money from her, most likely, small pension.
⠀
‘As long as I have no health problems, I will go to the protests. Because movement is life. And when you stop moving, death comes’, — Nina explains.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Maksim Znak is a lawyer. He was a lawyer at the headquarters of presidential candidate Viktor Babariko during the presidential elections in Belarus in 2020. Also he’s a member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council for the settlement of the political crisis.

Detained on September 9, 2020. The apartment of Maxim Znak was searched, and he was taken for interrogation to the Investigative Committee. The IC said Znak is suspected of a criminal offense under Part 3 of Art. 361 of the Criminal Code (calls for actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of the Republic of Belarus). On September 18, he was charged. As a sign of disagreement with the charges, the lawyer Maxim went on a hunger strike. He is in pre-trial detention Center-1 in Minsk.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Aliaksandr Vasilevich is currently detained, he is located in the pre-trial detention center on Volodarsky Street. Belarusian human rights organizations recognized him as a political prisoner.Aliaksandr Vasilevich is a co-founder of the famous Belarusian media — KYKY.org and The Village Belarus, owner of the creative agency Vondel / Hepta.
Sasha is one of those, thanks to whom Ў Gallery (the most famous Belarusian contemporary art gallery) exists in Minsk.

On August 27, officers from the Financial Investigation Department came to the office of @kyky_org and @vondelhepta with a search. After that, Sasha’s house was searched, and then he was taken for interrogation. His wife Nadia Zelenkova, head of Red Graphic agency, was also under interrogation that day. It became known at night that Aliaksandr was officially detained, he was charged under a criminal article. He’s under preventive measure — detention.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Based on photo by @kanaplev_leydik

Nadia Zelenkova is a co-founder of the «Ў» gallery of contemporary art, the owner of the interactive advertising agency Red Graphic. Nadia is the wife of Aliaksandr Vasilevich (co-founder of KYKY.org and Village.me, owner of the advertising agency Vondel Hepta), who is currently in jail, a criminal case has been opened against him. Aliaksandr is recognized as a political prisoner.
⠀
A criminal case was also initiated against Nadia. Nadia is 8 months pregnant now.
⠀
Nadia and Aliaksandr are some of the most talented, progressive and educated people in Belarus who invest in our art, independent media, and cultural projects that brought Belarus to the international level. Minsk wouldn’t be such a beautiful city we know right now despite all circumstances without them.
⠀
I worked for Nadia in an advertising agency for 3 years. These were some of the best moments in my life. I was taught graphic design from scratch there. Our parties (combined with Hepta Vondel) parties are the brightest ones I have ever been lucky enough to attend. Red Graphic is like a small Silicon Valley in the center of Minsk. This is the place where the most interesting, extraordinary and talented creatives from Belarus always gathered to work and spend time together. At Red Graphic I met my future husband.
⠀
Nadia is an excellent leader, and it was she who gave me the confidence I will never be lost starting my career as an illustration artist in Belarus.
⠀
It was a few years ago.
Now there is October 2020. And there is a legal and police default in Belarus.
At the moment, 94 people have been recognized as political prisoners there.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Based on photo by @kanaplev_leydik

Viktor Babariko is a Belarusian banker, public and political figure, candidate for the president post of Belarus in the Elections 2020, philanthropist. On June 29, 2020, the human rights organization Amnesty International recognized Viktor Babariko as a political prisoner.
⠀
In 2008 Viktor Babariko established the ‘Chance’ international charitable foundation to help children. The Foundation provides charitable assistance in paying for the treatment of sick children.
In 2018, at the initiative of Viktor Babariko, Belgazprombank financed the publication of 15,000 copies of a five-volume book by Svetlana Aleksievich (Belarusian Nobel laureate) to donate them to Belarusian libraries.
With his assistance, the original Bible of Francis Skaryna, paintings by Marc Chagall, Chaim Soutine, Leon Bakst were returned to Belarus. The cost of the most expensive painting, ‘Eve’ by Khaim Sutin, is about $ 2 million (this is the most expensive painting in Belarus).
Initiated the creation of the cultural art space ‘Ok16’, engaged in museum, exhibition and theater and stage activities.
Initiated the creation of the exhibition and sale of young Belarusian artists ‘Autumn Salon’.
He is one of the few who invested in Belarusian art and supported our artists.
⠀
He was detained on June 18 together with his son Eduard, when he was on his way to the central election commission to hand over the collected signatures. The detention was carried out by the Department of Financial Investigations of the State Control Committee. For the whole day, lawyers were not allowed to see the detainees: in the building of the DFR ‘exercises were held’. On the same day Viktor Babariko was placed in the KGB pre-trial detention center. It became known yesterday that the account of Viktor Babariko, where the formed electoral fund is located, was blocked. On June 21, Viktor Babariko was charged with a number of criminal charges.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

My illustrated portraits at collective Belarusian pop-up exhibition on Harry Bridges Plaza (Embarcadero).

10.10.2020

Сurated by Belarus SF

Photos: Chrysalis Mag

Eduard Babariko is the son of the presidential candidate Viktor Babariko, recognized as a political prisoner, and the head of his initiative group.
⠀
He was detained on June 18 with his father when he was on his way to the Сentral election commission to hand over the collected signatures. The detention was carried out by the Department of Financial Investigations of the State Control Committee. For the whole day, lawyers were not allowed to see the detainees because ‘studies were held in the building of the DFI’. On the same day, Eduard was placed in the KGB pre-trial detention center. On June 21, he was charged under Part 2 of Art. 243 of the Criminal Code (‘Evasion of the payment of taxes and fees, resulting in damage on a particularly large scale’).
⠀
Eduard was in charge of Belarusian crowdfunding platforms Ulej and MolaMola, which raised funds for cultural, social and charitable projects. Both platforms were used to raise funds to doctors and hospitals during the outbreak of coronavirus in Belarus, now both platforms are not working.
⠀
Eduard Babariko has been in prison for half a year, he was recognized as a political prisoner.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Stepan Latypov is an arborist (tree curing specialist) and an industrial climber, a resident of a house on the ‘Place of Changes’ — a courtyard between houses along Smorgovsky tract and Chervyakov street in Minsk, in which a mural regularly appears at night with the image of two DJs who staged Viktor Tsoi's song ‘Change!’ (this song became a non-official symbol of fight of Belarusians) at a pro-government event on August 6. Unknown persons in masks destroyed this mural almost every day. And people restored it every time.

On September 15, during one of such confrontations, unknown persons in civilian clothes and masks, who were once again going to destroy the image, detained Stepan.

He blocked the mural with himself and demanded that the strangers introduce themselves and show the documents. The man was rudely detained and taken to a minibus without license plates. In his apartment they broke down the door and searched him, confiscated flash cards, mobile phones, laptops, car keys, bank cards and cash.

When Stepan, limping and with a bandaged mouth, was taken out of the entrance, the neighbors shouted ‘Shame’ and ‘Styopa, we are with you’. The man was taken to the detention center on Akrestsin Street.

A criminal case was opened against him. The state Belarusian TV channels on the evening of September 19 simultaneously showed stories about Latypov. He was accused of allegedly going to use poisonous substances against the security forces.

During the last week, the mural was guarded around the clock by several policemen, and there was a police car in the yard. After Stepan was detained, the police left the yard. But residents of neighboring houses continue to go out in the evenings to the ‘Square of Changes’ — already as a sign of solidarity with Stepan.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Maxim Khoroshin is the owner of a flower shop. Maxim gave flowers to girls at women’s marches — Belarusian peaceful rallies against violence.

On the morning of September 13, Maxim and his wife Katya were detained in the courtyard of the house with the use of violence. Men in black without identification marks, in masks, with weapons, pulled them right out of the car. Maksim was beaten, a balaclava was pulled over his head and he was taken to the isolation ward, where he was beaten for another two hours, tortured, beating out confessions.
The video, in which Maxim is taken out of the isolation ward in a state of shock and taken to the intensive care unit, has circulated around social networks. Maxim’s diagnoses: broken nose, traumatic brain injury; soft tissues, shoulder and internal organs are damaged. He is still in the hospital.
⠀
Maxim’s lawyer was immediately deprived of his license.
⠀
The commentary of the Municipal Department of Internal Affairs of the Minsk City Executive Committee on this matter sounds like this: ‘As for causing bodily harm, which is reported in some Internet sources, the information is unverified’.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Maria is a student at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts. She was detained on November 12 in a criminal case on charges of ‘organizing or participating in group actions that grossly violate public order’. The apartment where the girl lives was searched. Maria is charged. She was placed in custody in the KGB pre-trial detention center, then transferred to the pre-trial detention Center-1.

Maria is recognized as a political prisoner.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring

Alana is a member of the @rada.vision main cast and Belarusian Student Union, the ‘Youth Block’ activist. She was detained on November 12 in a criminal case on charges of ‘organizing or participating in group actions that grossly violate public order’. Her apartment was searched. She is in the pre-trial detention center. A preventive measure was taken into custody for two months.
⠀
Alana is recognized as a political prisoner.

Pencil on paper + Photoshop coloring