Игорь Станкевич. Фото: "Вясна"
The search of the Minsk apartment of Stalinist repression researcher Ihar Stankevich was linked to the Nation of Leaders initiative. Searches were also conducted at the homes of at least three other people for the same reason, Vitebsk Viasna reported.
The search of Stankevich’s apartment took place on July 14. It was conducted by five or six people, including KGB officers. Stankevich’s acquaintances were questioned about the Nation of Leaders initiative, an educational platform offering various online courses.
In 2024, the KGB designated the courtyard initiative Orden an “extremist formation”. The Nation of Leaders website and social media accounts were listed among the resources linked to the “extremist formation”.
Stankevich said searches were conducted at the homes of at least three other people in Minsk, including not only their apartments but also those of relatives and people close to them. Security forces were interested in their links to Nation of Leaders.
Ihar Stankevich is a prominent researcher of Stalinist repression in the Orsha district. He currently lives in Poland. Stankevich is on wanted lists in Belarus and Russia.