Belarus opens legal case against comedian Vyacheslav KomissarenkoCEFR A2
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 Vyacheslav Komissarenko. He faces charges of defamation and insult directed at President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Komissarenko is currently living abroad.
Komissarenko became known after the 2020 protests for criticizing the Belarusian regime and its security forces. He helped popularize the "Chyk-Chyryk" meme and used the phrase in videos that mocked Lukashenka's education and imagination.
He left Belarus and went to Russia, but then left Russia in 2022 because he feared persecution. He later moved to Kyiv. In April 2023 he said Germany denied him a humanitarian visa, and he later obtained a talent visa to the United States.
Difficult words
- proceeding — A formal legal process in a court or systemproceedings
- defamation — Saying false things that harm someone's reputation
- insult — Words that show disrespect or hurt someone
- regime — The people or system that govern a country
- persecution — Bad treatment because of opinions or identity
- visa — Official permission to enter or stay in a countryhumanitarian visa, talent visa
- meme — An image or phrase shared online for humour
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How did Komissarenko criticize the president according to the article?
- Why did Komissarenko leave Belarus and later leave Russia?
- Have you ever seen a political meme online? How did it make you feel?
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