"Each of those 'electricians' who came to me and thousands of Belarusians then will face retribution"

Exactly six years ago, at this time, they started kicking down my door.

The beginning of the day was busy and productive – I managed to go for a headset for a radio station. I returned, marinated several quails, and was cooking pasta with crab sauce. And then an acquaintance called and said that another acquaintance of mine, with whom we did various things, had been detained.

To be honest, I didn't even think then that everything could happen so quickly, and that they could find me so swiftly.

As it later turned out, it was just really bad luck. Because literally within those thirty minutes, while messages were being auto-deleted, he was detained.

The moment I learned about the detention, of course, my first thought was how to help him; I called a lawyer. And then the doorbell rang.

I heard about 10 people stomping there. It was funny that the cops said they were electricians and had come to check the meters. I remember I even laughed and said: "Come on, don't mess around, let's go."

It must be said that I managed to delete the most sensitive information before they started kicking down the door. I managed to contact a lawyer, warn some people, and hide some things that, in my opinion, could have really raised questions then.

Well, then a "fun" evening of torture began in the office of those thugs and lowlifes on Revalutsyynaya street, and then — a visit to the Investigative Committee (УСК) and a night transfer to Akrestsin Street detention center.

Perhaps many might say that they broke my life or something else. But I don't think so. I knew what country I lived in, and I knew that something like this could happen. I knew what I was doing.

Of course, you never know where you'll slip up. But a lot had been done. I am not ashamed for a single moment. And so, when they beat me, I cannot say that I felt any confusion or that I wasn't ready for it.

And now, remembering that evening, I can say that I am convinced: much more is yet to come. Many people have not submitted, have not surrendered, and will not be defeated.

Each of those "electricians" who came to me and thousands of Belarusians then will face retribution. I would, of course, like it to be proportional, but it is precisely this breed that will be the first to surrender when the system crumbles, and they will start blaming each other. And we, unfortunately, cannot and will not be able to do to them what they did to us. We must act only according to the law.

It will be good if someone among them decides to play the hero and fight against the people. They, by the way, said then that they had won the war against us. I couldn't help but blurt out that no one had even started fighting them yet, which brought additional blows to my ribs.

Well then. I think it will be fun when people really start fighting them and they realize what it's like when the people don't just express themselves, but start to hit back.

That's why today I even recall all these six years that have passed with a certain warmth. But I wish that no Belarusian ever has to go through something like this again.

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Texts in the "Opinions" section may or may not coincide with the Editorial Board's position.

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