Karney: The biggest hall, for 200 heads, was allocated for the show

Ihar Karney during the trial

— Two years ago, on March 22, I predictably reformatted from an accused into a convicted person. Nine months of investigation involved inventing how to construct an acceptable structure from the meager available material – humus and sticks, — writes Ihar Karney.

The place of reincarnation was the Minsk City Court. With all the ceremonial attributes of preventive registration for "extremism": from Valadarka — an individual "Gazelle" (more precisely, a barred iron cage at the end of the van), five armed convoy guards in balaclavas, handcuffs pulled behind the back.

This was a time when the danger of any solidarity had to be calculated: much later I learned that for the Christian activist Siarhei Melianets, presence as a spectator ended with days of detention (12+13), a threat of a criminal case, and urgent departure abroad...

The biggest hall, for approximately 200 people, was allocated for the show. Apparently, for solemn occasions, the frontrunners of the judicial conveyor are honored here. No problem that there's a cage in the background — it's perfectly in context with "Belarus that sits".

However, everything quickly became clear: the useful space was occupied by propagandists — faces of the main TV channels and representatives of "SB". The presumption of innocence is definitely not about them. They held their parallel tribunal even before the protocol one — later I read the report in the court mouthpiece: on Mondays, a copy of "SB" was pushed into the "feeding trough", such an ideological handout from the state.

By the way, a whole company of university classmates and former colleagues settled in that editorial office. It turns out, some ordered, others edited, third ones laid out, fourth ones drew caricatures. You couldn't make it funnier: they studied in the same auditoriums, lived in dorms, drank in the same companies...

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Ihar during the BT "interview"

"In his articles, he presented a false picture of the economic, social, military, and international situation of the Republic of Belarus. This was done consciously to increase the level of tension in society, to create animosity towards state bodies." And an optimistic conclusion for the servants of cataractous Themis: "...for which, in total, he deserved his 6 years of imprisonment." That is, the maximum term under Art. 361-1, Part 3 (participation in an extremist formation).

Whatever they said, at least for myself, I understood: for my relatives and friends, this was the only opportunity to make sure that I still exist. True, they messed up here too: even today I don't recognize myself in the screenshots. I was never prone to stoutness, but here — the illusion of a well-fed life in captivity. At least in TV reports, due to the lens effect (the cage was not made of bars, but modern glass), I looked quite chubby. When they showed me from the KGB courtyard last January, the picture was already much more realistic. One immediately feels that specialists from the organs took up the matter. Along with a verified correspondent named Kazel — apparently, he wasn't striving for fame, as he hid under the pseudonym Alexandrovich in the credits.

Next — just like with adults: summoning witnesses who had been tapped months before my arrest, quoting hacked correspondence, etc. However, not a few hours passed from the start when I was left alone with my "trio": broadcasters and writers suddenly rushed from their seats, creating a jam in the doorway.

It turned out that about a dozen accredited diplomats came to the building, who, of course, were not allowed beyond the vestibule.

A week later, I saw a note about the "interview" of diplomatic mission employees: "Madam, you are standing silently near the courthouse with such a beautiful expression on your face. What is the main message of your presence today?" It's good that it wasn't "citizen" — you can expect anything from the fighters of the information front. And the conclusion was appropriate: "An attempt to put pressure on Belarusian justice, a blatant, undisguised interference in the internal affairs of an independent state." How sensitive they are...

In short, if after such persistent "promotion" they only gave half, it means there was nothing to it at all. About fifty texts were indeed sent for examination to prove that "false picture," but even vigilant controllers found nothing criminal. However, if so many resources were already involved, they couldn't just let go. Everything in the style of Kafka's "The Trial," taken to absurdity.

My personal trial was entrusted to a tandem of "multi-skilled specialists" in political cases: the experienced judge Katser (immediately nicknamed "Kartser" which means solitary confinement) and the young careerist prosecutor Dziatsel (a very apt generalization for state prosecutors who technically "tap out" agreed terms).

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Ihar Karney after his release, June 2025

Together they "prescribed" 3 years, 500 base units, and a fine for "criminally obtained" income. Gavel, curtain, convoy. The show is over.

When a new criminal case was opened in the Shklou colony at the end of 2024, I even rejoiced: the system works in its own style. I won't mention the prosecutor who demanded an additional year for "malicious disobedience to the administration," but Judge Tarakanau will remain in my memory — no matter what. And I hope not only in mine, but also in the memory of international justice...

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