Siarhei Mikhalok: We are free independent Belarus

The frontman of BRUTTO band has told about criminal prosecution in Belarus.

Siarhei Mikhalok has given an interview to BBC radio in the musical program “BBSeva” by a radio presenter Seva Novgorodsev.

“I am on the move for more than 5 years already, - he said. – Since theunofficial persecution of Lyapis Trubetskoy band started in Belarus, I am changing geolocation all the time. It is no secret that the Belarusian authorities have initiated several criminal cases, first by the Prosceutor’s Office, then by the Investigations Committee. The case in insult of Belarus’ president was framed up.

I had to flee to the friendly European Union, to Moscow, Kyiv, Chisinau, Tbilisi. I was roaming everywhere, but didn’t stay long anywhere, and as long as Lyapis Trubetskoy band are anarcho syndicalists, guys went to concerts to the places where I moved, and we had rehearsals on the way. So it is not a surprise that I showed up in Kyiv. We recorded the last three militant albums with Lyapis musicians here: Rabcor, Matryashka, Funny pictures. And here we produced the most forceful video clips with Alexander Stekolenko. Our friends live here.

After we supported Maidan and performed there, our song “Warriors of Light” became its unofficial anthem, Rabcor, Matryoshka, Armored vehicle started to be heard on barricades and in the streets of Kyiv, at concerts, where our Belarusians came with white-red-white flags and where they were shouting anti-imperial jingles together with Ukrainians, Lyapis Trubetskoy band had been experiencing a harsh pressure over a year. I was interrogated by Russia’s FSB officers, political police case officers from “E” unit (youth extremism combat), usual policemen were present at our concerts all the time. Got used to their presence, and we even placed a special table in the green room for them.”

As said by Siarhei Mikhalok, his new project BRUTTO faces the same problems as the previous band.

“Lyapis Trubetskoy stopped its existence in August last year,” – he said. “I created a group, which idea had been thought over by me for the last 5 years. BRUTTO group is a new team, it consists of young underground personalities, football hooligans, famous sportsmen. We tried to go on tour together, to give concerts, but turned out to be non grata persons. Our gigs were banned both in Russia and in our native Belarus. After threats were received personally by participants and organisers of concerts, we decided to move the headquarters of BRUTTO to Kyiv.

We do not surrender citizenship, we are still citizens of Belarus. We do not consider ourselves to be dissenters or outcasts. The things we sing of, are shared by a huge number of Belarusians. We also consider ourselves a part of Europe, and we do not care about a rather unprincipled policy of the authorities in Belarus. I mean, having a foot in both camps, when talks with the Kremlin, and support of “DNR” and “LNR” separatists, and handshakes with the legal authorities of Ukraine happen at once. We hate it. We consider ourselves to be a free independent Belarus. My position is not a position of an outcast. SO I do not want to give up my Belarusian citizenship. But in order to live in Kyiv legally, we are going to get a residence permit. We met with Ukrainian Minister of Culture. It was a surprise to see not an old bureaucrat speaking in stock phrases. He is a cool young guy. A free and, as I think, revolutionary Ukraine, has given us a warm welcome.”

We remind that the frontman of BRUTTO Siarhei Mikhalok left Belarus in December, and the producer of the band Anton Azizbekyan joined them in Ukraine in January.

On January 24 they met with the minister of culture of Ukraine. Musicians asked him to apply for a resindece permit in this country.

On Tuesday it was informed that the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine guarantees Mikhalok “the best conditions for his creative work.”