Kristina “Kita” is a prominent belarusian anti-racist, anti-fascist and anarchist, who started out as SHARP in the “Steel ’00s”. After two years and six months in imprisonment, she was recently released from prison, having served own unprecedentedly unfair sentence imposed on her by the punitive system of the Lukashenko Junta regime. In the interview translated by me below, Kristina briefly talks about her path in the belarusian anti-fascist movement, about his political case, prison term, and about the attitude towards the state of today’s belarusian society as a whole.
– Oi, introduce yourself and tell us about your socio-political and subcultural journey and musical hobbies.
– Hi! I’m Christina, but you can just call me Kita.
I liked heavy music since my childhood, but in 2005-2006 year some of my buddies gave me a CD with punk rock compilation, I heard band “Proverochnaya lineyka” for the first time. It left a trace in my life and I gradually started to get into the punk movement. Without Internet, in a small belarusian province it was difficult to learn something new, but from hand to hand on scratched rw-shkah we passed new portions of punk to each other. At the same time, I got acquainted with oi and streetpunk music. In particular with the work of “Los Fastidios”, “Stage Bottles” and others. I remember I had their complete discography on my computer at that time )). Later, I found out that we also have a Օi scene in Belarus. For example, Grodno band “Mister X” ( Hi, Bantser!
Gradually, I learned more about the skinhead movement – the origins, the ramifications, the outlook, the fashion. I was especially interested in the SHARP movement (skinheads against racial prejudice), as it fully corresponded to my views and life attitudes. In 2008, I shaved my first “chelsea” and have been cutting my hair this way for sixteen years. After school I lived and studied in Gomel for 5 years and there I got acquainted with the local punk crowd, started attending garage DIY-gigs, and at one time even sang in a punk band, but we never released anything. )) In those years in the Belarus it was easier to organize some actions and initiatives, and me and my guys organized “Food not bombs” actions for several years.
– Tell about your stalking
– For many years I actively maintained my Instagram “Kitakittycat”, which was later included in the Republican List of Extremist Materials of Belarus. At that time I had about 15 thousand followers. After the events of ’20 year, it was difficult to keep silent and not speak out on my page regarding the situation in the country, especially since my family was affected at the time, in the most direct way possible. After the start of the “special operation” [colonial, military invasion of Сhernosotnik Russia in Ukraine; note from “Rudy Prime”] It became even harder to keep silent, but at the same time, I never insulted anyone by name, did not coerce violence, etc., because I knew that such a thing could get a prison sentence in Belarus. Nevertheless, on March 23, 2022, at approximately seven o’clock in the morning, officers of GUBOP [Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption of the MVD of the Republic of Belarus; note from “Rudy Prime”] burst into my apartment. I was charged under Part 1, Article 130 (incitement of racial, national or other discord. In my case, on the basis of profession – to law enforcement officials) and so began my prison wanderings. I spent almost a year in the pre-trial detention center, under investigation, the only thing they were able to show me in the end was – this is a negative assessment of the staff’s activities, expressed by the phrases “musora”, “musorskoy”, etc. (quote from the verdict). [“musora” =“garbage”; in the post-soviet space – contemptuous jargonism towards policemen, similar to “cops” in the USA; note from “Rudy Prime”] That was enough to convict me for 2.6 years in prison.
– Share the conditions in places of detention, what do you remember most?
– You can get used to any living conditions, even a IVS [temporary detention facility] with no mattresses, in terrible cold and practically no belongings. It’s funny that the living conditions in the colony were much better than in SIZOs and IVS, but there I really felt deprived of freedom. In the colony you actually stop belonging to yourself and it is scary.
– How would you assess the current situation in belarusian society?
– I was in isolation for more than two years and after my release I immediately left Belarus, but as far as I understood, the situation is very sad. People are afraid to even think about protests. All activists are either in prisons or abroad. Those who remain, away from politics entirely to avoid problems.
– What ways do you see to overcome the current state of affairs in Belarus? What should anarchists do?
– At the moment, unfortunately, I see no way out of the current situation. I assume that only the affairs in Ukraine will be able to at least somehow influence the affairs in Belarus.
– Have you compared anarchist philosophy and the way of life in prison?
– This place is a real BOTTOM, where all principles of humanity, solidarity, mutual aid are turned upside down. At times I felt like a character in George Orwell’s dystopia. It is difficult for such philosophies difficult to realize in this swamp.
– Why do you think such a “regime” has developed in all places of serving punishment in the Republic of Belarus?
– Because Belarus is an asshole state. And that says it all.
– A few words to subscribers, at last.
– No matter what happens, never change your principles and convictions! No pasaran!
P.S.: The interview was translated by me, Kamrad MJSW, from rusian into english language and posted in my blog-magazine “Rudy Prime”. The text itself is taken from Christina’s latest interview, published in the “Antifa United” telegram-public!
P.P.S: The opinions expressed in interview may differ from the opinions of the authors of the blog-magazine “Rudy Priime”․ “RP” reserves the right to its own point of view on certain issues.
