I am Nikita Krasnokutsky, one of the founders of the “Youth Bloc” association and coordinator of the Minsk organization of the “Hramada” Party. I have been engaged in political activism since 2016. I continued my activities in Belarus even after 2020, (founder of the “Hramadski Control” campaign, demanding that officials fulfill their obligations), until April 4, 2022.
On this day, on his way to work, he was detained by KGB officers, and his home was searched, which resulted in the seizure of symbols, Belarusian art books, old stickers in single copies, and a hard drive from his computer. Access to social networks was obtained. As a result of the interrogation, the officers set a condition: either a criminal case for everything they found, subscriptions to various channels and initiatives, or release with snitching and control of all my means of communication with the prohibition to leave the country.
I agreed to the second condition, but I immediately warned all activists with whom I managed to get in touch. My safety was not worth the risks to which the activists and their relatives both in Belarus and abroad could be exposed. As a result of the “game” with the staff, their vigilance was put to sleep. I managed to leave Belarus through trusted channels and made my way to warm Georgia, where I was sheltered by activists I knew who had previously left Belarus. Then I restored access to all my accounts and cut off access to the KGB officers.
As a result, I lost my job in Belarus, where I worked as a system administrator in a firm that outsourced technical support and infrastructure building. I was able to take a small amount of savings with me. I have to start my life almost from scratch, so I will be glad to get any help while I am looking for a job and a place to live.
How much is needed?
520 € — buying food and renting housing (prices in Georgia skyrocketed after the start of the war); buying clothes and household items; plans to stay in Tbilisi and time to find a job up to 1 month.