We Need Your Support! Ukrainian Authorities Help Lukashenko's Regime to Detain Belarusian Anarchists.

Russian version: https://telegra.ph/Nuzhna-vasha-podderzhka-Ukrainskie-specsluzhby-pomogayut-rezhimu-Lukashenko-lovit-belorusskih-anarhistov-07-06-2

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs responded to the request from the Belarusian security officials sent through Interpol and are now trying to deport two Belarusian anarchists Aleksey Bolenkov (better known as Max Belorus) and Artur Kondratovich.

Bolenkov came to Ukraine to participate in Euromaidan and stayed here because he might have been persecuted in Belarus. Kondratovich actively participated in the protests against Decree No. 3 (On Preventing Social Parasitism) in Belarus in 2017. However, due to persecution, he moved to Ukraine. During the new protests in Belarus in 2020, Bolenkov and Kondratovich participated in solidarity protests in Kyiv and helped refugees from Belarus.

Belarus security services tried to pull Kondratovich out of Ukraine back in 2019 by filing a request to Interpol. Kondratovich was detained in Kyiv and spent 5 months at the pre-trial detention facility. The process of extradition was suspended because he applied for political asylum. In the course of the detention process, Kondratovich's ID was lost.

On the 22nd of April 2021, security officials came to Kondratovich and Bolenkov to conduct searches under the pretext of investigating attacks on state institutions by anarchist groups. More details about this are here (in Ukrainian): https://graty.me/uk/krasno-chernye-dyavolyata-policziya-ishhet-anarhistov-diversantov-no-popadayutsya-poka-ne-te/

Right after the search, the SBU officers refusing to show their badges tried to deport Bolenkov to the nearest country which is Belarus. If the operation was successful, Bolenkov would be instantly arrested in Belarus and, possibly, tortured by the Belarusian security forces same as another anarchist Nikolai Dedok. https://eurasia.amnesty.org/2020/12/24/amnesty-international-potrebovala-ot-belorusskih-vlastej-rassledovat-informacziyu-o-pytkah-arestovannogo-anarhista-nikolaya-dedka/.  The deportation was prevented only thanks to friends, lawyers and journalists.

According to the SBU, Bolenkov poses a threat to Ukraine's national security. Therefore, he had to leave the territory of the country within 24 hours. At the same time, the SBU ignored the fact that Bolenkov was just searched for the case of arson in which he could be a suspect.

The lawyers decided to appeal this decision and filed a lawsuit but the judge ruled in favor of the SBU. Judge Dmytro Mallets, following the SBU, decided that the national security of Ukraine was threatened by Bolenkov's anarchist views, his participation in the protest against police brutality, the organization of a Belarusian solidarity protest in Kyiv and the selling of anarchist literature. The SBU used as evidence the online posts of far-right organizations and information from the Belarusian security officials that Bolenkov is a suspect in a criminal case in Belarus. The SBU received this information on the 3rd of March 2021 (after the protests in Belarus started).

Full text of the charges filed by the SBU (in Ukrainian): https://mega.nz/folder/TyJ3gCZS#Cfn_XKT8x3ckivfqtYouLQ

Now Bolenkov has filed an appeal, however, the lawyers have concerns that without publicity it might be denied and Aleksey would be deported. Artur Kondratovich is also under threat and may be denied political asylum under pressure from the SBU.

It is also important to note that the decision on deportation was signed by Alexander Kuksa, the head of the State Security Department of the SBU. During the Maidan, Kuksa was the deputy of Alexander Shchegolev who is now accused and on trial for organizing and carrying out a forceful assault on protesters as part of the "anti-terrorist operation" on the night of February 19, 2014. Shchegolev confirmed that Kuksa participated in this operation. (https://www.facebook.com/570875246393734/posts/1891980134283232/).

In an attempt to threaten Bolenkov, on the 19th of March, Ukrainian security forces also raided the young Ruban family, Irina and Sergey. Rubans are close friends and comrades of Kondratovich and Bolenkov. The Department of Internal Security officials conducted a search in Irina and Sergey's apartment under the pretext of a bomb threat at the Pechersk police station. They confiscated phones, laptops, tablets and USB Flash Drives during the search. After that, Rubans were summoned for interrogation in the case of the bomb threat. However, during interrogation, the investigator asked Irina and Sergey Ruban about their connections with Bolenkov. Also, the investigator offered them to come to informal meetings.

We find the cooperation of the SBU with the Belarusian special services completely unacceptable and the decision to deport Aleksey Bolenkov illegal. We also believe that people can be anarchists and criticize the police with and without Ukrainian passports.

We are announcing a solidarity campaign to support Aleksey, Artur, Irina and Sergey. Days of Unified Action are July 9-18. We ask you to spread information about this situation as well as organize solidarity protests and awareness events.

Also, to afford lawyers we need your financial support. You are welcome to donate to the online wallets/cards listed below or organize a benefit event.

Ukrainian card: 5375411502807212 (monobank) 

IBAN: UA673220010000026203314746023 Tkachuk Yuliia

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Ethereum: 0x3285Ed3Ed208bFd9335a2C69CA2C68559638ee5F

Solidarity campaign social media:

https://www.facebook.com/blackcrossukraine
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email: Krushi_soziday@riseup.net