Yuri Khashchevatsky
Date: 1997
Region: Europe
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Film Video
Artist: Yuri Khashchevatsky
Confronting Bodies: Belarus' State Security Committee and offended citizens
Dates of Action: December, 1997
Location: Karelichi, Belarus
Description of Artwork: Khashchevatsky, a well known Belarusan film director, directed the film An Ordinary President, criticizing president Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
The Incident: The film was broadcast in Karelichi on January 22, 1997. Afterwards, local police and members of the State Security Committee siezed the video and arrested the station operator, Maksim Svyrid.
Results of Incident: On December 23, 1997, Khashchevatsky was assaulted by two unknown assailants, two days after the film premiered on French and German Television.
Source: Index on Censorship, 2/98
