‘Using bad language’: Graffiti artist criticising Belarus authorities still at gunpoint
The Minsk police detained Aleh Larychau, a curator of Signal street art project, and his girlfriend Hanna Novik overnight into Sunday.
They had a stencil with the White Legion logo and paints.
The detainees, who spent a night in a predetention centre, have been taken to Kastrychnitski district police station. Aleh Larychau and Hanna Novik were accused of using obscene language and wasting property by making graffitis.
About 30 persons – former members of the defunct sports and patriotic organization White Legion, state-authorized sports and military club Patriot, Young Front activists as well as people who are not associated with any organizations, landed up in jail in March after Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s words about ‘armed militants’ posing a threat to Belarus. 15 of them are still behind bars.
Аleh Larychau in Belsat TV program
Over a month ago, judge Viktoryia Shabunya sentenced Larychau to 5 days in prison for ‘flapping arms’ and ‘swearing’.
In early April, two unknown individuals battered the activist and graffiti artist at the entrance hall of the block of flats he lives in.
Aleh Larychau says that the attack must have been a retaliation act for his being engaged in the appearance of graffitis featuring unpopular Belarusian officials who, for example, came up with the idea of the tax on the unemployed or ordered to arrest peaceful protesters. On April 1, Larychau launched a fundraising for volunteering artists who are involved in the Signal project.
On April 26, a new piece of street art – the image of pro-Lukashenka information minister who is hampering independent media’s work – appeared in Minsk. Liliya Ananich was depicted as teletubbie Tinky-Winky:
‘It is me who tries to axe media outlets that provide you with news.’
Aleh Larychau is the organizer of the Urban Myths festival. During the event artists from all over the world painted murals on the walls of Minsk block of flats. In recognition of his social activity for the benefit of the city, the authorities placed a photo of Larychau on one of their billboards.
