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The Beginnings of Belarusian Totalitarianism: Unsolved Murders and Sudden Disappearances

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  • Where: Václav Havel Library, Ostrovní 13, Prague 110 00
  • When: December 5, 2017, 19:00 – 21:00

Screening of the documentary The Gang (55 min.) and discussion with director Raisa Mikhailovskaya.

Just under 20 years ago Belarus witnessed a series of events that changed Belarusian society forever and had a major impact on the country’s opposition. In quick succession a number of important figures in Belarusian political life – the deputy speaker of parliament, the minister of the interior, the deputy prime minister, business people and well-known media figures – died or disappeared. The official investigations did not produce any results and at first glance there was no apparent link between the deaths. However, for 15 years Raisa Mikhailovskaya painstakingly collected testimonies, evidence and interviews with witnesses, family members and even then investigators in order to piece together a terrifying portrait of a period in which the deaths and disappearances of important people was no mere coincidence.

Following a screening of the film there will be a discussion with the film’s maker Raisa Mikhailovskaya, who is the director of the Belarusian Documentation Centre. Since 1998 she has been focused the issue of political prisoners and the fates of those who disappeared or were removed for political reasons. She has produced numerous publications and is at present working with her team on the creation of a database of documents and testimonies regarding the breach of human rights in contemporary Belarus.

The event is being held in cooperation with the Civic Belarus International Association.

The debate will take place in Russian and interpretation into Czech will be provided.

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