Current Events > My friend's boyfriend was just disappeared by the Belarusan government.

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legendary_zell
08/12/20 12:21:37 AM
#1:


This is absolutely unbelievable. One of my best college friends just moved there with her boyfriend a few weeks ago to monitor the sham election going on there. Her boyfriend is from there and they went there to monitor and report on the election as outside observers. He posted some pro-democracy stuff on social media...I guess that made him a target. Government agents broke into his family's home at 1am and fucking took him away and wouldn't say where he was going. They're cutting her internet access so she can't really communicate with people here in the states, but I offered to speak to government officials here on her behalf.

This is absolutely insane, I can't believe such fucked up things really really happen in the world. She will absolutely break down if anything happens to him, but I'm not sure if there's anything anyone can do.

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teepan95
08/12/20 1:34:57 AM
#2:


Best of luck to the couple
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jon1012
08/12/20 1:36:11 AM
#3:


Whoa

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Dark_SilverX
08/12/20 1:36:23 AM
#4:


This is a tragic situation.

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Reis
08/12/20 1:38:41 AM
#5:


wtf
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sylverlolol
08/12/20 1:43:04 AM
#6:


jeez, wtf (._.)

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Ivany2008
08/12/20 1:44:36 AM
#7:


That's unfortunately what its like in some countries. I remember an article a couple years ago about a journalist who went to North Korea and ended up in forced labor for quite some time. I wish the best of luck to the both of them, though I have to point out that unfortunately it is his fault to begin with. Never post social media stuff while in the country your talking about, you don't know how they will respond.
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Tyranthraxus
08/12/20 1:48:01 AM
#8:


Belarus has been operating a huge sham for over 20 years that rivals North Korea in awfulness but they kept their heads down and avoided international attention by pretending to not exist. Most people in Belarus make the rough equivalent of $200-$500 a month.

The military is well paid, though. Go figure.

I hope everything works out for the best.

Meanwhile, enjoy some Belarusian music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbP0wsey89E

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haloiscoolisbak
08/12/20 1:48:17 AM
#9:


It's tragic but also pretty foolish

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LordFarquad1312
08/12/20 1:52:55 AM
#10:


haloiscoolisbak posted...
It's tragic but also pretty foolish
stfu kid

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haloiscoolisbak
08/12/20 1:55:07 AM
#11:


LordFarquad1312 posted...
stfu kid

Kid! Lol. Posting anything on social media is childish.

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Sackgurl
08/12/20 2:00:57 AM
#12:


he's dead now

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Returning_CEmen
08/12/20 2:07:12 AM
#13:


Gotta practice cultural relativism
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AzNDarkSamurai
08/12/20 2:10:18 AM
#14:


This is why you always watch what you post on social media

Regardless, my prayers go out to them. I hope everything will be ok.

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legendary_zell
08/12/20 7:01:25 AM
#15:


He knew the danger better than anyone here. It's his country, he knew what this government was capable of, but he was still brave enough to bear witness and to speak the truth. There was no naivety here, just bravery and an attempt to document what was happening in his country. It's literally his job and his calling.

Anyway, she's looking into contacting a lawyer and is going back and forth on whether to publicize this. It could bring either the good kind of pressure or the bad kind. And it's not like she knows the rulebook to handle this sort of thing, if there even is one. She doesn't even know if he's being charged with anything or what he's being charged with. If she gives the word to go ahead and publicize his story, I'll ask you all to share it far and wide.

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BalanceLost
08/12/20 7:13:19 AM
#16:


The Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs want the EU to re-instate sanctions and freezing of monetary assets. Those were lifted 4-5 years ago after several political prisoners in Belarus were released.

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Obstacle2
08/12/20 7:17:14 AM
#17:


That's nuts

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#18
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legendary_zell
08/12/20 7:43:11 AM
#19:


shockthemonkey posted...
Does he have citizenship elsewhere? Where is she a citizen of? Contact the embassy.

He's probably a citizen of Belarus. He might be a US citizen too, I'm not sure. She's a US citizen. She contacted the embassy and I contacted Amnesty International. That was at 1am last night though so they haven't gotten back to me.

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Hexenherz
08/12/20 7:46:08 AM
#20:


Probably not much they can do if he's legally still a citizen of Belarus.

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InYourWalls1
08/12/20 7:51:07 AM
#21:


That's insane.

Admirable in any case though. Is he a journalist?


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legendary_zell
08/12/20 7:58:50 AM
#22:


InYourWalls1 posted...
That's insane.

Admirable in any case though. Is he a journalist?

He's a PhD student studying elections in authoritarian regimes. So pretty on point.

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RiKuToTheMiGhtY
08/12/20 8:07:22 AM
#23:


Play stupid games, win stupid prizes applies here since the fool knew how the gov. would react and when he was not even prepared to fight back if they did come for him.

If he wanted to do this he should have been armed to the teeth and so should his family, atleast with a bunch of guns he could have tried to fight back not just be taken.

Better to die fighting in this situation then just be taken by the government when you do/say something they are not going to like.

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legendary_zell
08/12/20 8:21:50 AM
#24:


RiKuToTheMiGhtY posted...
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes applies here since the fool knew how the gov. would react and when he was not even prepared to fight back if they did come for him.

If he wanted to do this he should have been armed to the teeth and so should his family, atleast with a bunch of guns he could have tried to fight back not just be taken.

Better to die fighting in this situation then just be taken by the government when you do/say something they are not going to like.

A student should not have to be armed and ready to kill just to observe an election. And him even attempting that would have left everyone in that house dead, including my friend. The blame is entirely on the Belarusian government, not this guy who was affirmatively doing the right thing, not just not doing anything wrong.

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VTBM
08/12/20 8:23:08 AM
#25:


And Americans think THEY are oppressed.

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RiKuToTheMiGhtY
08/12/20 8:26:54 AM
#26:


Uh this guy KNEW they would not react well to this, if he lives there he knows what they do to people who do what he choose to do.

He ShOULD have been willing to fight when they came for him, and yes he was a fool since he clearly threw his life away for jack shit without even trying to survive for his girlfriend.

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monkmith
08/12/20 8:27:14 AM
#27:


call the state department, especially if your friend is american. they probably cant do much, and because of how the government is being run right now there's a good chance there are no personnel even stationed in that area, but its best to at least make the attempt.

would also suggest sending letters to your members of legislature. a senator or congressman can get you in contact with people that might be able to help.

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Flauros
08/12/20 8:29:14 AM
#28:


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archedsoul
08/12/20 8:35:01 AM
#29:


Once she gives you the clear, start by contacting your local congressman, then your state senators. Also contact someone at the United Nations and The European Union because they have a sort of cooperation agreement with Belarus. I see she's already contacted the US Embassy, but I'd also do it from this side

Have at least some evidence and backing to the claims. Meaning that you need to confirm his citizenship. If that fails, start contacting the media. They will be the best bet if no one else reacts.

If he's an American citizen, best believe we take that pretty fucking seriously as arrogant as that sounds. It's one thing a non-US citizen dude from Belarus was kidnapped by a foreign government. But kidnapping American citizens does warrant a stronger response.

Good luck and tell them never to go back to these types of countries again. Being too woke can be dangerous. If she can leave, she needs to ASAP if she feels any danger herself.

Nonetheless, regardless of any advice we give here, a lawyer probably knows how to handle this better and for his safety, I would still wait to get a go ahead from someone like that before any attempts. As you said, they could react worse.

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RiKuToTheMiGhtY
08/12/20 8:35:29 AM
#30:


Flauros posted...
Sounds like she needs to skadoodle out of there ASAP.
I am surprised she was not detained and only the internet was cut. She is in a bad situation no matter what until she gets the fuck outta there.

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NightMarishPie
08/12/20 8:36:17 AM
#31:


RiKuToTheMiGhtY posted...
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes applies here since the fool knew how the gov. would react and when he was not even prepared to fight back if they did come for him.

If he wanted to do this he should have been armed to the teeth and so should his family, atleast with a bunch of guns he could have tried to fight back not just be taken.

Better to die fighting in this situation then just be taken by the government when you do/say something they are not going to like.
What is with these shit stain ancient accounts posting this stuff?

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legendary_zell
08/12/20 11:52:47 AM
#32:


Okay, she's started posting to try to share his story, so I'll go ahead. His name is Stas Gorelik. He's a PhD student at George Washington University. Please share his story on your social media and contact any agency that you think might be able to help. The link is to his GWU bio. This is real and very serious, so please share if you can.

https://politicalscience.columbian.gwu.edu/stas-gorelik

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Guide
08/12/20 11:54:23 AM
#33:


Guess this is a good topic to learn what to do in this kind of situation. I really have no idea how to help.

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archedsoul
08/12/20 11:54:33 AM
#34:


Is he or is he not a citizen? That distinction will definitely help in escalating things.

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legendary_zell
08/12/20 11:57:11 AM
#35:


archedsoul posted...
Is he or is he not a citizen? That distinction will definitely help in escalating things.

I just asked her, hopefully she can respond.

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legendary_zell
08/12/20 12:29:54 PM
#36:


Several updates. He's detained at the KGB headquarters. He has a lawyer. He's not a U.S. citizen so the embassy won't help him. At least they somewhat know where he is now and he's presumably alive.

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Hexenherz
08/12/20 12:35:19 PM
#37:


Belarus isn't the type of country to execute someone, but he certainly is screwed. Especially if he were ever supposed to report for any sort of mandatory military service and evaded that.

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legendary_zell
08/12/20 12:46:53 PM
#38:


Hexenherz posted...
Belarus isn't the type of country to execute someone, but he certainly is screwed. Especially if he were ever supposed to report for any sort of mandatory military service and evaded that.

I dunno, they've admitted that they're straight up just shooting protesters with live ammo in the streets right now. There's reports of them running people over with trucks too.

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RiKuToTheMiGhtY
08/12/20 12:48:58 PM
#39:


I am surprised but still this was a stupid decision that he clearly did not think through, if he wanted to do this OUT of country fine but doing it there was just asking for this hassle.

He is lucky he did not get a bullet when they took him.

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#40
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Hexenherz
08/12/20 12:52:13 PM
#41:


legendary_zell posted...
I dunno, they've admitted that they're straight up just shooting protesters with live ammo in the streets right now. There's reports of them running people over with trucks too.
Didn't realize it already got to that point.

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Funkydog
08/12/20 12:52:50 PM
#42:


Fuck, hopefully he will be alright but with everything else they're doing... hopefully she can stay safe at least. Being a US citizen should be some safety but then the same issue again as with the boyfriend :/

Hopefully pushing the story and everything else can get more eyes and see some actual international response.

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bobaban
08/12/20 12:53:13 PM
#43:


legendary_zell posted...
Several updates. He's detained at the KGB headquarters. He has a lawyer. He's not a U.S. citizen so the embassy won't help him. At least they somewhat know where he is now and he's presumably alive.


yeah hes done for
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PleaseDive
08/12/20 12:57:04 PM
#44:


VTBM posted...
And Americans think THEY are oppressed.

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legendary_zell
08/12/20 12:57:14 PM
#45:


Crash posted...
Thank god you're here to save this poor maiden who knowingly went to a country where she knew this stuff was happening. I'm sure you will be rewarded.

Are you calling me a whiteknight for....trying to keep the loved one of a friend from being illegally detained or killed by an authoritarian government. The internet and the culture wars have melted your brain and deleted your empathy. This is seriously no way to live man, from one human being to another.

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DarthWendy
08/12/20 1:00:32 PM
#46:


legendary_zell posted...
I can't believe such fucked up things really really happen in the world.

Well it means you don't have much clue of the world and the regimes many countries in the world are under.

Belarus is an all-in full totalitarian regime. I'm very sorry to hear such a thing happens to your mate, but it's been public record that Belarus is like that since 94 and Loukatchenko's rise to power, and your mate should have been aware of that too :/

Loukatchenko did this arbitrary rounding up of anyone and their mums stunt around election time since he's in power. They're usually released some time after, if your mate is not a Belarus citizen, he should be fine in the end.


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Funkydog
08/12/20 1:01:56 PM
#47:


legendary_zell posted...
Are you calling me a whiteknight for....trying to keep the loved one of a friend from being illegally detained or killed by an authoritarian government. The internet and the culture wars have melted your brain and deleted your empathy. This is seriously no way to live man, from one human being to another.
No point responding to such trolls. Not going to convince them as they only exist to try and annoy you.

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InYourWalls1
08/12/20 1:02:53 PM
#48:


Your friend might consider getting in touch with the office of the Lithuanian Foreign Minister's Office:

https://twitter.com/LinkeviciusL/status/1293573878590181376?s=20

The opposition leader fled there herself after the election in order to protect her children

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CyricZ
08/12/20 1:05:05 PM
#49:


Crash posted...
Thank god you're here to save this poor maiden who knowingly went to a country where she knew this stuff was happening. I'm sure you will be rewarded.
What the actual fuck is wrong with you.

RiKuToTheMiGhtY posted...
....

Well, you, I know exactly what's wrong with you.

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RiKuToTheMiGhtY
08/12/20 1:07:25 PM
#50:


DarthWendy posted...
Well it means you don't have much clue of the world and the regimes many countries in the world are under.

Belarus is an all-in full totalitarian regime. I'm very sorry to hear such a thing happens to your mate, but it's been public record that Belarus is like that since 94 and Loukatchenko's rise to power, and your mate should have been aware of that too :/

Loukatchenko did this arbitrary rounding up of anyone and their mums stunt around election time since he's in power. They're usually released some time after, if your mate is not a Belarus citizen, he should be fine in the end.
He could have done all the things he did but out of country, he could have posted the truth after he left so he would not have been taken. His choice was stupid and now he is in the loving arms of that government.

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