Strangers attack artist Mihail Karpuk in Minsk

Strangers have beaten a Belarusian artist Mihail Karpuk who celebrated his 80th anniversary on March 5. The painter has informed BelaPAN that he was attacked in the afternoon of March 13 in the Trinity Suburb of Minsk where his studio has been situated for 20 years. Karpuk left his studio and headed for the Museum of Belarusian cinema history to meet visitors of his personal exposition dated for his 80th anniversary. He dropped in a chemist’s shop to buy some medicine on his way there and was hit on the head when he went out. The painter came to his senses only in his studio when an emergency group of doctors arrived. He thinks that neighbours carried him back to the studio and called an ambulance.

Karpuk was let off from hospital after a check-up. According to the painter, he feels okay, however, his face is “daubed” with bruises and wounds. He has not complained to the police because he thinks it is senseless. Karpuk thinks that the incident is connected with his 25-year membership in a Minsk city cultural and education club “Legacy”. The club unites people of national-democratic views.
The beating of Karpuk is the first attack against a Belarusian cultural worker over the recent years. About  10 people were beaten earlier, including a producer Yury Hashchavatski, journalist Leanid Mindlin, theatre producer Valer Mazynski, a doctor of philology and writer Adam Maldzis, academician Radzim Haretski and a historian and journalist Alyaksei Karol.