Януш Гаўрылюк і Андрэй Кудзіненка. Фота: Janusz Gawryluk / Facebook
A search of the home of Andrei Kudzinenka was carried out because of the “KinaKalaidar” film school, which he had recently become the owner of, the director told Belsat.
The “KinaKalaidar” film school had operated for about three years. Initially, Kudzinenka was its founder and a lecturer, and later became a co-owner. When the former director encountered problems with the security services, the filmmaker bought out her share, re-registered the institution in his name and became its sole owner and director.
A day after the registration process was completed, security officers came to his home.
According to him, other independent film schools have also faced difficulties in recent months. Some have closed, moved online or suspended their programs.
“We were the last ones left,” the director said.
The search warrant stated that officers were looking for “extremist documents” and symbols. KGB officers also questioned him about possible foreign funding for the school. The director said that “KinaKalaidar” had operated solely on tuition fees, officially signed contracts and paid taxes. “We operated transparently and legally. We survived only thanks to those who paid for their education. We had no foreign funding whatsoever,” he said.
However, in his view, even non-political cultural activity is now perceived by the Belarusian authorities as a threat. “It is no longer possible to engage in art without permission. Everything requires approval and constant oversight,” Kudzinenka said.
The fact that the school described itself as independent was enough to arouse the KGB’s suspicions.
“Their main complaint was: ‘You consider yourselves independent. Independent from whom?’ For them, anything independent automatically means something bad and extremist,” Kudzinenka said.
The security officers made it clear from the outset that the school would no longer be allowed to operate. They told him that he could face between eight and 12 years in prison.