Missed from 24th September 2023:
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 was not lacking in his 20s and that was strengthened during his struggle both on the outside and in prison.
As a 27-year-old anarchist activist in 2010, he was imprisoned for his beliefs and spent 5 years in prison. Prison is not a place for development, it is a place of personal destruction. 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, at least personal freedom. That is why Igor and his comrades from the Black Banner group illegally returned to Belarus in 2020 and took part in the uprising with exceptional courage and selflessness. 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 bravely admitted their participation in the rebellion, denying guilt despite the consequences.
Paradoxically, it is those people who dream of freedom more than others who are often condemned to a life of absolute captivity because they did not agree to live in semi-freedom. For anarchist-revolutionaries, half-measures are unacceptable. It is thanks to such dedicated 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 the brave who spent their lives behind bars or laid them on the altar of revolution.
Igor, on your fortieth birthday we would like to congratulate you and wish you to keep your fortitude and endurance. Another year locked up… But we know that for you it has not been lost and you have multiplied 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 of different political views. You are the spark that lights the flame, or the coal that does not let this flame go out in hard times. Stay the way you are, because it is impossible to wish for more.
Happy Birthday, Comrade!
Pramen
DN Note
Igor is a Belarusian anarchist who was arrested on the night of 28-29 October 2020 close to Ukrainian border by Belarusian border guards together with Sergey Romanov, Dmitry Rezanovich and Dmitry Dubovski. He was charged with terrorism and illegal possession of firearms. According to prosecutors office he and his comrades organized several arson attacks in Soligorsk and Mozyr against state institutions.
On 22 December 2021 sentenced to 20 years in prison.
On May 27, 2011 he was found guilty of participating in the attack on the Russian embassy in Minsk, the arson of the Belarusbank, the attack on the casino “Shangri La” and the anti-militarist manifestation near the General Staff headquarters and was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment for group disorderly conduct and intentional destruction of property, however, he was pardoned by the president on August 22, 2015.
Igor is the author of the important book about his anarchist journey: On the Way to Magadan (book). Available for purchase in English and German
Belarus and Soviet Authoritarianism. Interview with Ihar Alinevich
Ihar Alinevich: I Realized I Just Cannot Give Up
Ihar’s Youtube channel
Open letter in support of Belarus anarchist revolutionaries
Extra info taken from: https://prisonersolidarity.com & https://abc-belarus.org/en/2020/10/30/ihar-alinevich/
Mailing address to write the comrade:
Belarus