Euroradio finds hero of our photo report!

Siarhej Krukouski (we did not know his name then) was a hero of one of Euroradio’s photo reports about June silent protests (the picture became very popular in social networks). He managed to escape detention at that time but was arrested on Wednesday, July 13. Plain-clothed agents caught him in the Yakub Kolas Square in Minsk. Siarhej got 8 days of detention. 

We thank everyone who helped to reveal his name and to contact with his family!

Siarhej Krukouski's wife: The situation pressed us so firmly that fear faded away and we could endure this no longer.

Euroradio: Tell us, what does Siarhej really have from Batman, as he indeed looks like a movie character when policemen carry him to a bus?

Alena: “In the reality, he is not a star, he is a very modest guy, never showing off. It's just he is such a positive-thinking person, he never gets sad even in the most complicated situations”.

Euroradio: Does Siarhej take part in every action?

Alena: “No, he has not attended all of them. We went to one of the first actions, when these pictures appeared, but the point is, his work is rather complicated so he is busy all the time”.

Euroradio: If it's not a secret, what does your husband do?

Alena: “He works in a constructing organization as a supervisor; basically he works at a building site”.

Euroradio: Do you know what his colleagues think of him? Is there any solidarity with Siarhej's approach to the situation, or does he go to the actions alone? As he is always alone in the pictures - he's funny and cheerful, but there's no one around apart from the police.

Alena: “I was there at one of the actions and some of his friends as well. I know that colleagues do support him, but I don't think any of them participated in the actions. You know, people have this fear of losing their jobs, and those who can overcome this fear go out to the streets”.

Euroradio: So, Siarhej is not afraid to lose his job?

Alena: “I think he is afraid of that, but the situation pressed us so firmly that fear faded away and we could endure this no longer. We have a small kid and we want this kid to live in a free country without fear. We decided to protest like this for our child's sake”.

Euroradio: We know that Siarhej is detained. For how long?

Alena: “They detained him for 8 days. The trial was an absolute absurdity. We did our best to obtain a lawyer, we appealed to summon two witnesses who claimed that he "swore badly, waved his arms and interfered with the public order". I don't know whether we made the judge angrier by this, but this really sounded as a mockery, when they said they would arrest my husband only for 8 days taking into consideration the fact that we have a small child.

The most important thing for me to do now is to find at least several witnesses who would confirm that my husband was talking on the phone at the moment of detention and touched no one. We appealed to the city court yesterday. The hearing will take place on Monday, and I hope we will be able to do something, if we have the witnesses' testimonies”.