Belarus opens legal case against comedian Vyacheslav KomissarenkoCEFR B2
22 Aug 2024
Adapted from Daria Dergacheva, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Andrew Keymaster, Unsplash
The Investigative Committee of Belarus has opened special legal proceedings against comedian Vyacheslav Komissarenko, accusing him of defamation and insult against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Komissarenko is currently living abroad and has long been a vocal critic of the regime and its security forces since the 2020 protests.
Komissarenko helped popularize the "Chyk-Chyryk" meme and described how a joke about Lukashenka led to the catchphrase "Oh really, then I'll fly myself! Chyk-Chyryk," a reference that implies the president could only travel by turning into a bird. Video material shows him using the phrase and mocking Lukashenka's education and imagination. He gave an interview to Russian journalist Yuri Dud while in exile, and in interviews elsewhere he said security forces were searching for his parents and that he received calls and text messages from the services.
He left Belarus for Russia and then left Russia in 2022 because he feared persecution, later moving to Kyiv after saying the KGB put him on a wanted list. In April 2023 he said Germany denied him a humanitarian visa and he posted the information on his YouTube channel, which has 1.43 million subscribers, saying the German consul did not believe it was unsafe for him to go to Russia or Belarus. He added that Spain refused to legalize his funds, calling them "dirty money from dirty jokes." Komissarenko later obtained a talent visa to the United States. It is not yet clear what legal steps Belarus will take or whether authorities will seek his return.
- Belarus
- Russia
- Kyiv
- United States
Difficult words
- defamation — public false statement that harms reputation
- insult — words or actions that offend someone
- regime — a government or system in power
- exile — state of living away from home for safetyin exile
- persecution — hostile treatment because of beliefs or actions
- humanitarian visa — permission to enter country for safety reasons
- wanted list — official list of people police want to arrest
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Should legal authorities prosecute people for jokes about political leaders? Why or why not?
- How can being denied visas or having funds blocked affect someone who criticises their government? Give reasons.
- The article mentions security forces searched for his parents. What risks do family members of exiled critics face, and how might this influence the critic's choices?
