Dzmitry Paliyenka: At Akrestsin Street Detention Center, It Seemed We Had Already Won
5- 9.08.2023, 14:30
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The real Belarusian heroes are partisans.
Former political prisoner, activist of the anarchist movement Dzmitry Paliyenka told the Charter97.org website why the date of August 9 is important to him, as well as about real Belarusian heroes:
— Today is the third anniversary of the uprising in Belarus. On August 9, I was imprisoned at the Akrestsin Street detention center. I had been arrested earlier. For alleged calls to participate in protest flash mobs and “violation” of liberty restriction conditions. Then I was in the punishment cell. Alone. Pavel Seviarynets was in the neighboring punishment cell. I managed then to hand over to him a letter from his wife, Volha Seviarynets, published in the newspaper Novy Chas. Later, I was transferred to a cell with criminals, as the temporary detention center and the offender isolation center freed up places for detained protesters.
On August 9, my cellmates and I heard the horns of cars, the incessant explosions of grenades (I thought then they were fireworks), it seemed to me and the others that we had already won. But, when in the evening they began to deliver heavily beaten protesters, when we heard screams and crying, it became clear that Lukashenka again decided to sit on the throne and fight the people with the old means — total repression.
I was supposed to be released closer to the morning of August 11. But it did not happen. They threw me into a “fishtank” (this is a room for one person) and kept me there almost until night. Ihar Kenyukh, the head of the Akrestsina prison, approached me and said that they would definitely release me, but later. I put forward an ultimatum that I would get out of there, even dead, but I would get out, and I gave him time to do it in a proper way. Time ran out. So I cut my wrists.They were in a panic because they were overwhelmed, there was no place to “pack” people. Then they just wrapped my hand in toilet paper and let me go.
There were many people near the Akrestsin Street detention center. Fuss everywhere around. I listened to the people, wanted to know what happened, I heard about the killed, beaten, raped — I was horrified.
My wife came to pick me up, she found a car somewhere. We're going to a safe place. There were people with flags and riot police everywhere on the street.
Dzmitry Paliyenka says that “Belarusians turned their horror into a struggle”:
“People have realized that they are a nation, and not a crowd of trembling creatures!” Strikes began, endless actions of solidarity. I was very proud of the Belarusians, who realized that this also applies to them.
August 9 will go down in the history of new Belarus! This is the Day of Pain and at the same time the Day of Pride.
Now I feel responsible for the political prisoners, for the dead. Unfortunately, now there is a full-scale war of imperial Russia against Ukraine. Therefore, now I consider it my duty to support not only our political prisoners, but also our soldiers who give their lives in the name of the free Ukraine and Belarus.
On this day, Belarusians should show solidarity and help each other. Recall all those events when we got united, thanks to the Cockroach from Shklou.
During these three years, alas, we have not released our heroes suffering in prisons. But it became known to a larger circle of people that it is not the so-called leaders that make us strong, but we ourselves! I am proud of everyone who took part in the protests, especially those who organized and continue to organize partisan actions. I am proud of my comrades-in-arms, who were sentenced to long prison terms. Exactly thanks to such people — Long Live Belarus!
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