Blows from the back. The enemy of war was beaten after the picket

Former teacher Konstantin Larionov, after February 24, recorded a video with an appeal to stop the war with Ukraine, then went to the Kaluga center for a picket with a poster "No War". After that, the 26-year-old activist was fined for the "discrediting of the Russian Armed Forces", his photo and home address appeared on the website of Kaluga fighters with those who condemn the war with Ukraine. The teacher was brutally beaten in the entrance of his own house. Konstantin Larionov told Radio Liberty, which is at risk of activists who decide to oppose the war.

- What was your reaction to the news about the beginning of the war with Ukraine?

My tears flowed from my eyes. I did not expect such a reaction from myself

- The first time after February 24, I had a shock, then I asked my friend to help me record a video message. I stood on Victory Square near the Eternal Flame, and I said that the “special operation” is bad, we were taught to another veterans of the Great Patriotic War when they came to our school. I was detained and awarded the warning that I refused to sign. In my accounts on social networks, I made posts about the destruction of buildings and deaths in Ukraine, I drew the poster "No War", took with me a toothpaste and a brush in case of arrest and got into a picket. A year ago, when I stood in a picket against Gazprom’s tax benefits, in the center of Kaluga a man who introduced himself as an activist of the node. We talked, and when the arguments ended with the nodes, he hit me from the back. Since then, I have a habit of looking around in public actions. So, when I stood in a picket against the "special operation", someone hit me from the back and ran away, and I continued to stand until the police took me. The pensioners who passed by expressed dissatisfaction with my poster, they repeated the statements about Ukraine behind the federal channels. I answered them: "How can you, because civilians die in Ukraine." My tears flowed from my eyes. I did not expect such a reaction from myself. A girl who passed by. Grandmothers spread behind her. The police and the police and I took the police department, we sat there and cried.

- Why did you go to the picket and recorded the appeal?

-There are those who support the “special operation”, and they are given such an opportunity, for example, they provide broadcasts in the prime time on TV channels. I wanted to show something besides the rhetoric of television channels, I wanted to show dialogue, compassion, reconciliation of people and countries as values that we should not forget about.

- For what actions were you accused of discrediting the Armed Forces?

I am opposed to people for whom the law is an empty place

- For the video and all my posts, where there was a hashtag "#is not forced. But the accusations and the fine were not the most terrible consequences of my disagreement with the "special operation". April 8, I came home from work. He opened the door of the entrance, and behind me hit me on the head. Apparently, two people attacked me. I have not seen or because of the injury did not remember their faces. I screamed for help, I was hit again in my neck. It seemed that these people were well prepared. They knew what time on the day of the attack I had to come home. A neighbor saw a beating from the balcony, he ran out to me, the criminals ran away, the neighbor brought me to the apartment. I called my parents in a semi -conscious state. The neighbor later said that the attackers were black sweatshirts with hoods.

Konstantin Larionov after an attack on him in Kaluga

- What were the consequences of the attack?

-I received a traumatic brain injury, face and neck injuries. He could not work for several weeks, he did not leave the house for two weeks. But the most offensive was the understanding that I always tried to act within the framework of the law, and people are opposed to me for whom the law is an empty place.

- Do you associate an attack with your anti -war actions and publications?

-In Kaluga there is a group that places photographs of residents with an anti-war position in the telegram channel. They posted my photos, home address and phone. After I was beaten, photos of me with wounds appeared in this group. The publication was accompanied by comments “I got merit”. As far as I know, people whose photos are posted in this group complained about this channel in the police, but no measures were taken. When I saw a person who taught me psychology at the university in this bullying group, I hastened to find her social networks to offer the teacher help if she needs her. Of course, I understood and assumed that the blound and pursue people with a pacifist position in this group. I was glad that those who have publicity were also not afraid to speak out somewhere when it was possible and probably a little more safe at the beginning of events.

- The same group in Telegram, according to Medizona, posted the data of the bishop of the Pentecostal Church "The Word of Life" by Albert Ratkin. After that, his car was doused with paint and painted with signs V and Z. Did you try to bring to you to be held accountable?

- After the attack, I called the police. By the time she arrived, they had already managed to take me to the hospital. I called the police again from the hospital. The police promised to call back, but did not do it. I wrote a statement in the police department the next day. I still have not received any answer.

- Why did you decide to stop practicing politics?

I and other young people who disagree with the actions of the authorities will survive today's leaders of Russia

- Now it has become very dangerous. If I continue to participate in street actions, they can make me disabled or killed, they will most likely open a criminal case on me and send me to prison. I decided so far to stop engaging in federal politics, but I will find the opportunity to maintain the concept of normality, communicate with people on social science topics. My task is to preserve those who understand that black is black, and white is white, that human life is the most important value.

Even if now we are forced to choose phrases with great care, then this should not become normal. Normality is the freedom and friendship of people and countries.

- Are you not going to emigrate?

- I have no illusions about emigration. In addition, I doubt that they will give me asylum in Europe, because now there are many refugees from Ukraine who need such help more than me. I do not know how much I need me somewhere except Russia. In another country, I will have to spend a lot of time on survival, and I will not have the strength to help people.

In Russia, I will find a way to be useful and tell the residents of my country and the city the truth. I and other young people who disagree with the actions of the authorities will survive today's leaders of Russia. After all, we will have to build beautiful Russia of the future. But I will make a passport in the near future so that I have where to retreat.

Konstantin Larionov, former teacher of additional education

- When will you understand that it's time to retreat?

- Now I am doing everything so that such a moment does not come. If the persecution continues, despite the fact that I stopped speaking on foreign policy topics.

- The Russians often hear from Ukrainians and residents of other countries that they have little opposed Putin and are to blame along with the Russian authorities in the war with Ukraine. What do you feel about it?

I think there is nothing worse than war

- I can understand the insult of the inhabitants of Ukraine, but they do not represent the situation in which Russian activists fought. We worked here at the limit of our capabilities. We are beaten, arrested, planted in fabricated matters, forced to emigrate. The power structure of Russia is huge, branched and competing with each other. It is sharpened for one thing - to maintain the current power, and the security forces learned to do this well.

- You were in the Communist Party. Did the party associates support you after the attack?

-After my picket in March, I was expelled from the Communist Party at the meeting due to violation of the party’s discipline. She supported the "special operation". At the same time, I submitted an application for my own decision to withdraw from the Communist Party in connection with disagreement with the party’s position on this issue. I was always interested in the opinion of the party comrades, the majority came in support of the "special operation", and I believe that there is nothing worse than the war. I cannot call myself a communist in the understanding of the top of the Communist Party or in accordance with the communist teaching. Reforms in Russia can be not only left -wing, first of all, I advocate for the well -being of citizens, for a democratic structure and centrist policy.

- How do you imagine your future now?

-I cannot raise any federal and foreign policy topics because of my security and my loved ones. The future of my generation due to the economic situation in Russia is very vague. I will talk to people, to establish contacts. Someday, the bad period of our history will pass, and the current youth will come to the political scene, ready for reforms and the construction of democratic Russia. And I believe in change. The authorities are trying to create the illusion of the absolute support of their policy, but this is not so. This is evidenced by the data of independent polls. People very often do not want to hear many negative news for a long time, this is the property of the human psyche - to try to avoid problems. People of right views exist in any country in the world, but, in my opinion, this should not be the norm in any state. Those who go against the general line of propaganda should not be beaten. Unfortunately, this happens. Nevertheless, the nature of man is to be peaceful and friendly, which means there is a chance that good will win.

“You don't feel that you were broken?”

- They noticed how military rhetoric entered our life? So, using this rhetoric, I will say: "I will retreat, but the battle is not lost yet."