Agent ‘Alexander’ used light blackmail, threats and blandishments, but the 16-year old boy would not cooperate with him.
The 16-year-old Vladimir Petrosyan is an Armenian citizen but lives in Belarus and has a residence permit. Therefore, the KGB chose passport and visa service as a potential recruitment place.
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“I got a call from the passport office, and I was told very inconsistently that I had to promtly come to pick up some paper. And, they said, it was very important – you could not either forget or be late,” said Vladimir.
The inspector receiving documents in a special window was warned in advance – Vladimir was asked to give his name and was immediately taken to the office, where a “cloak and dagger” guy was waiting for him.
Mysterious ‘Alexander Sergeyevich’
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“In the office there was a plainclothed man looking about 30-35 years old. We shook hands, and he said: it is good that you are so punctual, you are the last one for today,” said Vladimir.
The man in civilian clothes at first said he was a policeman Alexander Sergeyevich Volnov from the Moscow rayon police department. But he showed no ID, because he “left it with his superiors.” Later, that very police department told Vladimir that they had noone under such name working there.
The official reason for the meeting was the fact that, according to the “Alexander Sergeyevich”, all foreigners with a residence permit are required to submit their curriculum vitae. He asked the guy to write it on the spot and… offered help.
“He asked if I was a member of the Belarusian Republican Youth Union. I said yes, but I am going to leave it, because there is nothing interesting there. Then he asked: what about Young Social Democrats and project It is Good to be Active? Then it was all clear to me.”
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‘We know everything’
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Vladimir was a member of the group It is Good to be Active and workshops organized by the Social Democrats of the Young Hramada. The KGB, according to Vladimir, knew well about it and even showed him the documents which featured his name.
It went on: to show that the KGB knows everything, “Alexander Sergeyevich” began to talk about the details of vladimir’s private life, his trips, asking about his friends and girlfriends, study, called the names of teachers.
“He began to insinuate that some information could get to the parents or friends. Also, I read the provision according to which after 5 administrative violations comes deportation, Vladimir lists the tricks of the KGB. I asked, does this mean that they are going to fabricate things against me. He assured me that he was not, and that they want to do everything nicely. He was alluding to the deportation, but did not openly threate. He pushed, because he saw that I was worried and my hands were shaking.”
‘Help Us’
“Alexander Sergeyevich” began to tell Vladimir that the organization of young Social Democrats is “bad” and is engaged in “dirty business.” He mentioned the case of anarchists who were convicted of arson. He suggested that Vladimir informed him if he became aware of any illegal actions or intents of the activists. He said that “when they are warned about this, it is not snitching, but a good thing.”
“As soon as he started talking about the young Social Democrats and began to put pressure on me, I tried to call, or exit from the room. But he would not let me do this, he blocked the door, said Vladimir. In the end he wanted to leave me his number and say goodbye, but I did not take the number and did not shake his hand.”
In total, it lasted for about one and a half hours. Vladimir hopes that after an attempt to recruit became widely known, “organs” would get off his back. He assures that if there are more attempts to recruit him, all the conversations will become known to journalists and users of social networks.
No caving in to blackmail
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The human rights center Viasna emphasized that cooperation with the secret services as an informant, according to the Belarusian legislation, should be voluntary. Using threats or blackmail during recruitment is illegal.
“I would advise to the person in a similar situation not to work under pressure and to publicly disclose the recruitment attempt,” said human rights activist Pavel Sapelka.
You can also try to appeal actions of the officials: write a complaint to the appropriate authority, where he works, to make a complaint to the prosecutor. If an employee did not introduce himself, it is possible to request to establish his identity and protect you against further illegal actions.
“We know that each person can have “weak spots” that the security services can put pressure on. For example, if a person has committed an offense before, it is best to bear responsibility for it than give in to blackmail. Otherwise this “weak spot” is not going anywhere, and you will have to do things against your will,” adds the human rights activist.
Zmitser Yahorau, belsat.eu/en/
