"That's How I Lost 10 Kg"
2- 7.09.2026, 8:45
- 1,444
Photo: “ArhitekturNO”
A co-founder of the architectural firm ZROBIM architects spoke about his four months in a pretrial detention center.
Andrei Makovsky , co-founder of the architectural firm ZROBIM architects (Andrus Bezdar) spent four months in a pretrial detention center on tax-related criminal charges, during which time he drew portraits of his cellmates and architectural sketches, learned to play chess, improved his English, and wrote a book. He shared this story on the podcast “ArhitekturnO”.
Andrey Makovsky noted that on his third day of detention, he wrote himself a list of ways to “grow in this situation.” One of the skills the architect decided to improve was portrait drawing.
“I drew a lot of portraits during that time and gave them all away. I kept some of the sketches. Later, I always wanted to draw architectural sketches. <�…> I started practicing architectural sketching and coming up with architectural designs: a new house for myself, a new house for my cellmates. I designed buildings for everyone there, even those who didn’t need them,” Andrei Makovsky shared.
In addition, he learned to play chess, read eight books, and wrote one. Andrey is currently looking for a publisher for it.
In pretrial detention, the architect also practiced yoga, did push-ups, paced around his cell, and watched his diet.
“That’s how I lost 10 kg,” said the co-founder of ZROBIM architects.
He added that while in prison, he studied English vocabulary. He copied them from a book and the only English-language newspaper, and then translated them with the help of his cellmates. Andrei memorized the new vocabulary during his daily two-hour walks around the cell.
The co-founder of ZROBIM architects also said that during his time in prison, 30 percent of the company’s employees left: “There were 100 people; now there are 70.”
“I thought: ‘Cool, 70% stayed.’ That’s a lot. Actually, it’s great. It’s like shaking an apple tree: what fell would have fallen anyway. They were already ripe for leaving, since they left,” the speaker shared.
The podcast host stated that “in the early days of this story,” “about 50 ZROBIM architects employees” were detained. Andrei Makovsky said he felt personally responsible for these people.
“I said that all responsibility lies with me. I accept it, and I repent. I’m ready to make amends. <�…> It’s my fault; we underpaid taxes. This all happened because of me,” the architect noted.
According to “Zerkalo,” news of the searches and detentions at ZROBIM architects broke on April 9. Andrei Makovsky was detained at that time.
Sergei Petrovsky , head of the Department of the State Financial Inspection of the Control and Audit Committee for the Minsk Region and Minsk , later explained the reason for the law enforcement visit in a report on the STV television channel.
According to the State Financial Inspection, ZROBIM architects had been concealing a significant portion of its income. As stated in the report, management had been arranging with clients to pay for services in cash or cryptocurrency through exchanges not registered in Belarus.
Law enforcement officials also reported a large-scale scheme involving the payment of salaries in envelopes.
According to the State Financial Inspection, the amount of unreported cash totaled more than $6 million between 2021 and 2025.
On June 4, a post appeared on the entrepreneur’s page reading: “Greetings from the detention center! Pay your taxes in full, guys!”
On August 5, Makovsky posted a video after his release. The next day, in a new video, he spoke about the criminal case involving tax evasion and his plans for the future.
“At this point, we have paid off the damages claimed against us (according to the Federal Tax Service, the company’s unreported cash amounted to more than $6 million for the period from 2021 to 2025. — Ed.). We, of course, admitted our guilt. We repented. I would generally advise anyone who wants to evade taxes there—for example, by underpaying somewhere—to make more money right away. Believe me, it doesn’t outweigh the risks and problems you might face down the road. Therefore, based on my own experience, I would strongly advise against trying to cheat or get around the system in any way. “It’s better to sleep soundly and operate within the law,” said Andrei Makovsky.
Makovsky noted that he wants to stay in Belarus and continue developing his business.
“I probably made my choice a long time ago. I want to stay in Belarus. There are opportunities here to realize my potential and that of our company as a whole. I love this country and want to grow and develop here,” said the businessman.
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