‘Such Show Is Not Good Enough Even For Pukhavichy Palace Of Culture’
- 7.09.2022, 11:38
A powerful last word of the Belarusian, convicted in the “case of ten”.
On September 6, the Minsk Municipal Court sentenced ten political prisoners at once. Akikhiro Hayeuski-Khanada was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Human rights activists received the text of his last speech.
“This theatrical and 'Kafkaesque' trial left only a feeling of deep disappointment. It was of such low quality that even the audience was excluded. Such a show is not good enough even for the Pukhavichy Palace of Culture. I think the prosecutor can confirm this. Even tsarist and Soviet trials were public. But so be it, I'll still speak out.
They patched together an international criminal organization that threatened as many as three states, of us. For greater effect, it would be worth convicting us under Articles 75, 79, 94, summing up all the articles and parts, adding treason, mercenarism, and disruption of the harvesting company to the charges.
But let us now turn to the classical theory of the state of the sociologist Charles Tilly in order to understand the essence of Leviathan. In the era of early states, armed people, for example, the Varangians, raided the villages, robbed them, and ran away with booty. Over time, the raiders began to populate the territory. The seizure was made locally, now in the form of tribute. And the victim, in turn, knew for how much and when they would be robbed next time. The princes are forced to protect their subjects from the attacks of other bandits. The plunderer turns into a defender who exacts tribute to wage war. The bandit who offers “roof” needs a threat from which he protects the victim. Similarly, the state at the dawn of formation. There is no enemy — there is no need for a “protector”. If there is no enemy, it is worth inventing them.
States changed a lot with the invention of firearms. With them, even the peasants could defeat the elite knight squads. States resort to the services of mercenaries paid from taxes. The legitimacy of violence is blurred, as often former soldiers became robbers, and yesterday's pirate applied to be accepted to the royal service. But the mercenary armies hit the budget, driving countries into debt. Then they began to collect their own population, but not for payment, but for morality. They were convinced that they were dying for themselves and their land. Morality could be both religious and secular, be it nationalism or democracy. The state gives people the right to participate in government in exchange for loyalty.
However, sometimes states return to their origins. They unleash conflicts to prove their worth, resort to robbery for war with external and internal enemies. So we have a “hybrid war” with the “collective West” and the “runaway” opposition, “unprecedented” pressure from the “Anglo-Saxons”. According to this logic, the Russian Federation invades Ukraine, abolishes rights and freedoms in the name of illusory spirituality; for similar reasons, the Republic of Belarus squeezes out “Kommunarka”, “Motovelo” or introduces a tax on “social parasitism”. For two years I was an eyewitness to a racket of various scales carried out by the state. For two years I have seen how the repressive apparatus grinds people down. Retention of power in an unconstitutional way, total suppression of dissent, impoverishment of the people and support for an insane war ... Why is this not organized crime wrapped in the shell of a state?
I sincerely regret only that I did not make every effort against the fascist gang that formed a country where “sometimes there is no time for laws”. To be against them now means to be an anti-fascist. To be against such states is to be an anarchist. To paraphrase Henry Thoreau, the only place befitting an honest citizen in a state in which lawlessness is legalized and patronized is a prison.
I want to thank those who are nearby on the dock, especially those who started this path in 2020. I believe that you will pass further challenges with dignity. I also express my respect to Edward Snowden, whose mention in the essay is proof of my guilt. This man demonstrated that conscience can be stronger than circumstances, and human rights are more important than “national” interests. Apparently, we also need our own Snowden.
And finally. Cordial thanks to the lawyers who are not afraid, and do not give up. Better times are yet to come!
No passaran! Long live Belarus and Glory to Ukraine!”
On September 6, 2022, the judging panel of Minsk Municipal Court sentenced to long prison terms 10 political prisoners at once: human rights defender and coordinator of the Human Rights Center Viasna Marfa Rabkova got 15 years in a penal colony, Viasna volunteer Andrei Chapiuk — 6 years, activists of the anarchist movement Aliaksandr Frantskevich — 17 years, Akikhiro Hayeuski-Khanada— 16 years, Aliaksei Halauko — 12 years; Aliaksandr Kazlianka, Pavel Shpetny, Mikita Dranets— 6 years, Andrei Marach, Danila Chul — 5 years in a penal colony.