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Sergei Antonchik

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Sergei Antonchik
Сяргей Антончык
Legislator to the Supreme Council of Belarus 12th Convocation
(until 19 September 1991 – Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic)
In office
16 May 1990 – 9 January 1996
Personal details
Born (1956-04-01) 1 April 1956 (age 69)
Plyeshchanitsy, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
Political partyOpposition BPF Party
AwardsBelarusian Democratic Republic 100th Jubilee Medal

Sergei Antonovich Antonchik (Belarusian: Сяргей Антонавіч Антончык, Russian: Сергей Антонович Антончик; born 1 April 1956) is a Belarusian politician, labor activist and trade unionist. From 1990 to 1996, he served as a legislator to the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR / Supreme Council of Belarus 12th Convocation. He was a member of the opposition BPF Party, a parliamentary faction with anti-communist and pro-independence aims. Antonchik authored a 1994 report alleging corruption within the circle of President Alexander Lukashenko and Prime Minister Mikhail Chigir; the publication of which was banned by the president. Newspapers appeared with "white spots" where the report was supposed to be printed, which was described as one of the first overt examples of Lukashenko violating democratic principles and the rule of law.

Early life and education

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Antonchik was born on 1 April 1956 in the urban-type settlement of Plyeshchanitsy, Lahoysk district, Minsk region, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union, and completed his secondary education.

Career

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Antonchik worked as a galvanizer and equipment operator at the Minsk Lenin Production Association (now BiełWAR Instrument-Making Factory).[1] Starting 1988, he was actively involved in anti-Soviet opposition, laying the foundations for the Belarusian labor movement. He emerged as a leader of the labor movement and chair of the strike committee during mass worker protests in April 1990[2] (according to another source, in 1991 in Minsk).[3] On 16 May 1990, he was elected as a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR 12th Convocation[4] from the Yaseninsky Electoral District No. 17 in Minsk. He served on several parliamentary committees: the Mandate Committee, Committee on Labor, Committee on Prices, Employment Committee, Social Protection Committee, and the Temporary Committee on Privileges.[2] In 1993, he was part of the Temporary Committee to Investigate the Activities of Commercial Structures Established under State Authorities (commonly called the "Anti-Corruption Committee"), chaired by Alexander Lukashenko.[1] Alongside Lukashenko, he prepared a December 1993 report on corruption in government circles, which lead to a boost in the former's popularity and contributed to his 1994 presidential election victory.[5] Antonchik was a member of the opposition BPF Party, a parliamentary faction of the Belarusian Popular Front with anti-communist and autonomist goals. He was part of the BPF Party's "Shadow Cabinet", leading its Anti-Corruption Committee and co-heading the "shadow" Ministry of Labor, Social Protection, and Privatization Oversight. He contributed to drafting and adopting the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Belarus and preparing legislation during the session of the Supreme Soviet on 24–25 August 1991, when Belarus declared independence. He co-authored several legislative proposals prepared by the BPF Party.[2]

Antonchik participated in a hunger strike by BPF Party deputies on 11–12 April 1995 in the parliament's Oval Hall, protesting President Lukashenko's referendum to introduce Russian as a second state language, replace Belarusian state symbols (white-red-white flag and coat of arms) with Soviet-inspired symbols, pursue economic integration with Russia, and grant the president the right to dissolve parliament.[2] On the night of 11–12 April, he and other protesters were forcibly removed from Parliament by military and special services personnel, before being left on a street in central Minsk.[6] During the Minsk Metro strike in August 1995, he was violently detained by special services and held in isolation for three days in a Ministry of Internal Affairs facility.[2] His term in the Supreme Council ended on 9 January 1996.[7]

Corruption report

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A year after Alexander Lukashenko presented his corruption report, Sergei Antonchik prepared his own report on similar issues. On 20 December 1994, he presented a report to the Supreme Council[8] alleging corruption, mafia ties, and illegal commercial transactions by Lukashenko's close associates[9] and members of Prime Minister Mikhail Chigir's government.[8] In the report, Antonchik portrayed the President as the primary source of corruption through patronage and money laundering, and accused Leanid Sinitsyn [be], head of the Presidential Administration, of accepting bribes from Belarusian company Gazprom Transgaz.[10] Sinitsyn and others named in the report shortly announced their intent to resign after the presentations, although no formal resignations followed. The Supreme Council referred the matter to Prosecutor General Vasil Shaladov, who found no grounds for further action.[5] Contrary to the Supreme Council's decision[2], Lukashenko issued an order banning the report's publication in the press.[9] Alyaksandr Feduta, head of the Socio-Political Information Department, pressured journalists at Lukashenko's behest.[5] Newspapers complied but published "white spots" – blank spaces where the report was meant to appear[2] to demonstrate political pressure.[5] Editors who defied the president's orders soon lost their jobs.[9] Subsequently, the head of Presidential Affairs Ivan Titenkov [be], sued Antonchik for defamation and damage to reputation. Antonchik lost the case, and part of his property was confiscated.[1]

Brian Bennett, a former British diplomat to Belarus, wrote in 2011 that Sergei Antonchik prepared his report believing Lukashenko's was insufficient and that his own would similarly elevate his political standing. According to Bennett, Antonchik did not anticipate that parliamentary interest in corruption had waned or that the report's impact would be diminished due to limited media coverage.[5] Despite this, the report and Lukashenko's response sparked a Supreme Council debate on restrictions to freedom of speech, the introduction of censorship, and discussions about the possibility of impeaching the president.[5] According to historian Eugeniusz Mironowicz [pl], this event was one of the first overt examples of the president violating democratic principles and the rule of law.[9]

Post-parliamentary career

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In 1999, Sergei Antonchik actively participated in an attempt by the Supreme Council and opposition to hold presidential elections, which failed to elect a new president. In 1999, he led the public Fund for Supporting the Unemployed.[1] In the late 1990s, he focused on creating independent trade unions.[11] He headed the unregistered organization "Workers' Self-Help".[12] During the campaign for the 2001 presidential election, he announced his intent to run[3] and by 15 June 2001, registered his initiative group.[12] On 19 July, he claimed to have collected 116,000 signatures of support, exceeding the required 100,000. That same day, he withdrew his candidacy and joined the campaign staff of Mikhail Marynich. He explained this as a desire to set an example of voluntarily seeking a unified democratic candidate.[12] According to Alaksandr Piatkiewich and Wolf Rubinczyk, Antonchik failed to gather the necessary signatures.[3] On the evening of 9 September 2001, after voting ended, he participated in an opposition demonstration against alleged electoral law violations.[13] From 2002 to 2004, he attempted to establish the "Fatherland" social organization, focused on humanitarian activities and human rights defense. According to him, the organizing committee had representatives in 240 Belarusian localities, aiming to unite hundreds of thousands of people.[3]

Antonchik faced repeated repression and arrests. In April 1999, he was detained for allegedly organizing an illegal rally at a factory in Orsha. After witnesses retracted claims that the rally occurred, he was fined 10 million Belarusian rubles for publicly answering workers' questions, violating Article 167.1 of the Belarusian Code of Administrative Offenses.[11] Between 2004 and 2005, authorities repeatedly obstructed the founding meeting of "Fatherland" in Minsk.[3] On 5 October 2004, Antonchik was sentenced to 15 days' detention for organizing an "unauthorized meeting" at his organization's office[14] (another source indicates he was fined for an "unauthorized meeting" in a private apartment; it's unclear if this refers to the same incident).[3] Between late 2005 and early 2006, he withdrew from political activity due to heart disease but continued facing repression. On February 24, 2005, Sergei Antonchik was fined the equivalent of US $1,600 for holding an unauthorized gathering at a private apartment by a Minsk court. He was unable to secure the apartment for a congress of a humanitarian organization he founded.[15] On the morning of 10 March 2006, days before the presidential election, he and his son Aleksandr were detained at a bus stop near their home while he was seeing his son off to work. Both were sentenced to 15 days' detention for "obscene language" and "resisting police".[16] Due to his political activities, Antonchik remained unemployed for many years. In 2008, he worked as a loader.[17]

He participated in protests against integration with Russia on December 20, 2019 - the Maskouski District Court of Minsk fined him 810 rubles.[18]

In May 2021, he was fined 900 Belarusian rubles for "unauthorized picketing" (there are stones with the image of the Belarusian coat of arms and flag on Antonchik's site.[19]

Views and assessments

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During his 2001 presidential election campaign, Sergei Antonchik focused on securing trade union support and engaging Lukashenko's electorate. He aimed to convert 15–20% of voters who supported the incumbent, arguing that other opposition strategies focusing entirely on their core supporters was insufficient.[20] Antonchik pledged wide-scale economic reforms, envisioning success through empowering young, dynamic professionals. His second goal was reducing dependence on Russia in favor of the European Union. His third was repealing anti-national laws.[20]

In 2010, Zianon Pazniak described Antonchik from the early 1990s in his memoirs as follows:[2]

A well-known fighter against the communist-Soviet regime, a soulful person with keen, innate intelligence and a friendly character (...) the nomenklatura persistently hated him.

Personal life

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Sergei Antonchik is married and has three children. He is non-partisan.[1] One of his sons, Aleksandr, is married and works as a double-glazed window fitter.[16]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Kto jest kim w Białorusi [Who Is Who in Belarus] (in Polish). Białystok: Podlaski Instytut Wydawniczy. 2000. pp. 18–19. ISBN 83-913780-0-4.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Paznyak, Zyanon (2010). "Slova pra kaleh i syabróu" Слова пра калег і сяброў [Words About Colleagues and Friends]. In Navumchyk, Syarhey; Paznyak, Zyanon (eds.). Deputaty niezależnasci Дэпутаты незалежнасьці [Deputies of Independence] (in Belarusian). New York, Vilnius, Warsaw: Biełaruskija Wiedamaści. pp. 221–222, 275. ISBN 978-9955-578-11-6.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Pyatkevich, Ales; Rubinchyk, Volf (2011). "Karotkiya zvestki ab nekatorykh belaruskikh palitykakh, aktyŭnykh u 1991–2006 hadakh" Кароткія зьвесткі аб некаторых беларускіх палітыках, актыўных у 1991—2006 гадах [Brief Information About Some Belarusian Politicians Active in 1991–2006]. In Bulgakov, V. (ed.). Palitychnaya historyya niezalezhnay Belarusi (da 2006 h.) Палітычная гісторыя незалежнай Беларусі (да 2006 г.) [Political History of Independent Belarus (Up to 2006)] (in Belarusian) (2nd ed.). Białystok, Vilnius: Belarusian Historical Society, Institute of Belarusian Studies. p. 1179. ISBN 978-80-86961-16-3.
  4. ^ Dementey, N. (16 May 1990). "Postanovleniye Verkhovnogo Soveta Respubliki Belarusʹ ot 16 maya 1990 g. №5-XII" Постановление Верховного Совета Республики Беларусь от 16 мая 1990 г. №5-XII [Resolution of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus, 16 May 1990, No. 5-XII]. pravo.levonevsky.org (in Russian). Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Bennett, Brian Maurice (2011). The Last Dictatorship in Europe. Belarus under Lukashenko. London: Hurst & Company. pp. 31–32. ISBN 978-1-84904-167-6.
  6. ^ Navumchyk, Siarhei (9 April 2010). "Zbikstsyo deputataŭ BNF: khronika, fota, video" Зьбіцьцё дэпутатаў БНФ: хроніка, фота, відэа [Beating of BPF Deputies: Chronicle, Photos, Video]. www.svaboda.org (in Belarusian). Archived from the original on 8 November 2017.
  7. ^ Sharetski, Syamyon (9 January 1996). "Postanovleniye Verkhovnogo Soveta Respubliki Belarus ot 9 yanvarya 1996 g. №4-XIII" Постановление Верховного Совета Республики Беларусь от 9 января 1996 г. №4-XIII [Resolution of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus, 9 January 1996, No. 4-XIII]. pravo.levonevsky.org (in Russian). Archived from the original on 13 September 2017.
  8. ^ a b Antonchik, Sergei (1994). "Daklad deputata Syarheya Antonchyka na sessii Vyarkhovnaha Savetu Belarusi 20 snyazhnya 1994 h." Даклад дэпутата Сяргея Антончыка на сэсіі Вярхоўнага Савету Беларусі 20 сьнежня 1994 г. [Report of Deputy Siarhiej Antonczyk at the Session of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus on December 20, 1994]. Swaboda (in Belarusian). 49. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d Mironowicz, Eugeniusz (1999). Białoruś [Belarus] (in Polish) (1st ed.). Warsaw: Trio. p. 247. ISBN 83-85660-82-8.
  10. ^ Wilson, Andrew (2011). Belarus: the last dictatorship in Europe. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-13435-3.
  11. ^ a b "Ahlyad-Khronika parushenniaŭ pravou človieka ŭ Bielarusi ŭ 1999 hodzie" Агляд-Хроніка парушэньняў правоў чалавека ў Беларусі ў 1999 годзе [Overview-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in 1999]. kamunikat.fontel.net (in Belarusian). Archived from the original on 13 July 2012.
  12. ^ a b c Ekadumava, Iryna (2011). "Pratses adboru kandydatau ŭ 2001 h." Працэс адбору кандыдатаў у 2001 г. [Political Process in 2001]. In Bulgakov, V. (ed.). Palityčnaja historyja niezaliežnaj Bielarusi (da 2006 h.) Палітычная гісторыя незалежнай Беларусі (да 2006 г.) [Political History of Independent Belarus (Up to 2006)] (in Belarusian) (2nd ed.). Białystok, Vilnius: Belarusian Historical Society, Institute of Belarusian Studies. pp. 683–684. ISBN 978-80-86961-16-3.
  13. ^ Ekadumov, Andrei (2011). "Palityčny praces u 2001 hodzie" Палітычны працэс ў 2001 годзе [Political Process in 2001]. In Bulgakov, V. (ed.). Palityčnaja historyja niezaliežnaj Bielarusi (da 2006 h.) Палітычная гісторыя незалежнай Беларусі (да 2006 г.) [Political History of Independent Belarus (Up to 2006)] (in Belarusian) (2nd ed.). Białystok, Vilnius: Belarusian Historical Society, Institute of Belarusian Studies. p. 669. ISBN 978-80-86961-16-3.
  14. ^ Luneva, Liubou (5 October 2004). "Za pravjadzjenne schodu ŭ office svajŭ vlasnaj arhanizacyi Siarhiej Antončyk aryštavany i asudzany na 15 sutak" За правядзеньне сходу ў офісе сваёй уласнай арганізацыі Сяргей Антончык арыштаваны і асуджаны на 15 сутак [Siarhiej Antonczyk Arrested and Sentenced to 15 Days for Holding a Meeting at His Own Organization's Office]. www.svaboda.org (in Belarusian). Archived from the original on 19 June 2019.
  15. ^ Human Rights Watch (5 January 2006), "Belarus: Events of 2005", Share this via Facebook, retrieved 13 July 2025
  16. ^ a b Hruzdzilovich, Aleg (10 March 2006). "Byloga deputata Siarhieja Antončyka i jahoha syna Aliaksandra asudzili da 15 sutak administracyjnaha aryštu (abnowleny)" Былога дэпутата Сяргея Антончыка і ягонага сына Аляксандра асудзілі да 15 сутак адміністрацыйнага арышту (абноўлены) [Former Deputy Siarhiej Antonczyk and His Son Alaksandr Sentenced to 15 Days of Administrative Detention (Updated)]. www.svaboda.org (in Belarusian). Archived from the original on 19 June 2019.
  17. ^ "Siarhiej Antončyk vymusany pracavacʹ hruzčykom" Сяргей Антончык вымушаны працаваць грузчыкам [Siarhiej Antonczyk Forced to Work as a Loader]. Nasha Niva (in Belarusian). 31 July 2008. Archived from the original on 26 February 2016.
  18. ^ "Дэпутат Незалежнасці Сяргей Антончык аштрафаваны на 810 рублёў". Наша Ніва (in Belarusian). Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  19. ^ Навумчык, Сяргей. "Дэпутата Незалежнасьці Сяргея Антончыка ў гадавіну рэфэрэндуму-95 аштрафавалі на 900 рублёў за сьцяг і «Пагоню»". Радыё Свабода (in Belarusian). Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  20. ^ a b Kviatkowski, Seviaryn (4 June 2001). "Sieviaryn Kviatkoŭski: Siarhiej Antončyk aficyjna zajaŭicʹ pra namier balatavaćsia ŭ prezydenty 5 travańa ab 11-j hadzinie pa menskim časie" Сяргей Антончык афіцыйна заявіць пра намер балятавацца ў прэзыдэнты 5 траўня аб 11-й гадзіне па менскім часе [Siarhiej Antonczyk to Officially Announce Presidential Candidacy on 5 May at 11:00 Minsk Time]. news.tut.by (in Belarusian). Archived from the original on 8 March 2016.
  21. ^ Nawumczyk, Siarhiej (27 March 2019). "Ałeksijevič, Pazniak, Voĺski, Eryksan, Bielavus. Khto jašče ŭznaharodžany medaljom u honar BNR-100" Алексіевіч, Пазьняк, Вольскі, Эрыксан, Белавус. Хто яшчэ ўзнагароджаны мэдалём у гонар БНР-100 [Alexievich, Pazniak, Volski, Eryksan, Belavus. Who Else Was Awarded the Medal in Honor of the BNR-100]. www.svaboda.org (in Belarusian). Retrieved 25 August 2024.
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