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Dymna Lotva vocalist Katsiaryna “Nokt Aeon” Mankevich accused of “extremism” & “financing terrorism”

By Josh_Doe #Dymna Lotva, #Hangover In Minsk, #Katsiaryna "Nokt Aeon" Mankevich, #Katsiaryna Mankevich

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Official press release:

It is official: vocalist Katsiaryna “Nokt Aeon” Mankevich from the Belarusian expatriate metal bands Dymna Lotva and Hangover In Minsk stands accused of ‘extremist activity’, ‘financing terrorism’, and three more criminal charges in her home country.

The band had previously learned through opposition channels that some of their music videos had been legally categorised as ‘extremist materials’ by a court in their home country.

In the latest escalation, the Investigative Committee of the Sovietsky District of Minsk officially opened a case against Mankevich, who lives in exile in Poland, in June. She has been  summoned to appear in the Minsk City Court for a hearing on August 14. 

The vocalist quips:

“It has been claimed that metal in general and black metal in particular have become too safe and tame. Well, hold my beer as I am now officially charged under five articles of the Belarusian Criminal Code that include ‘extremist activity’ and ‘financing terrorism’. This could mean sentences up to twelves years in prison for me. Maybe Lukashenka’s regime wants to make metal extreme again? Alright, dark jokes aside, this criminal case is completely fabricated and politically motivated. It is clearly connected to my participation in protests against the regime and to my support for Ukraine. To me, it feels even somewhat flattering that this regime is still keeping an eye on us six years after the protests and five years after I was forced to leave Belarus. This confirms that I am on the right path and also provides me with a strong motivation to keep going. Please do not worry about me. Poland has granted me international protection status because of such political persecution. As a result of this trial, Belarus could seize all my properties still remaining in the country. Well, spending my money on creating music turned out to be a great idea after all. And to the Investigative Committee of the Sovietsky District of Minsk I say: Kiss my extremist ass!”

The Criminal Charges in Detail:

  • Part 1 of Article 289-1 (propaganda of terrorism): up to 3 years in prison
  • Part 1 of Article 290-1 (financing terrorist activity): up to 12 years in prison
  • Parts 1 & 2 of Article 361-4 (assistance to extremist activity): up to 7 years in prison
  • Article 366-1 (prohibition of violence or threat of violence, destruction, or damage to property against Lukashenka): up to 8 years in prison
  • Part 1 of Article 368 (insulting Lukashenka): up to 4 years in prison

Links to news & other official sources about the ‘case’: