What do we imagine when we hear about domestic violence? Beating? Swearing? Unfortunately, this is only a small part of what happens to the victims of domestic violence. The aggressor can be so sophisticated in the methods of bullying his victim that it's hard to imagine that such thoughts can come to a man's mind. These photographs reconstruct real stories that have occurred with women who have been subjected to domestic violence.
One out of Every Three Women
One out of every three women in the Belarus experience physical violence by an intimate partner every year. 77% is a percentage of Belarusian women who will be victims of different forms of violence by an intimate partner in their lifetimes. Every fourth woman suicide case is caused by domestic abuse in the country. 80% domestic abuse cases in Belarus would never come to trial.
Belarusian women de facto are defenseless while Belarusian men de jure are unpunished. Firstly, because of lack of effective and awareness-raising preventive informational measures in the country. It’s a common situation women who are in the situation have no idea how to take an action against abuser. Secondly, because of existent patriarchal tradition of Belarusian medium. Thirdly, because of lack (two in the whole country) of special shelters or shelter-type organizations for domestic abuse victims. Fourthly, because of lack of governmental or social initiatives for national action plan and legal reforms to strengthen protective and punitive measures to cope with and end domestic abuse.
Commemorative photo
While doing my journalism work in Eastern Ukraine many members of Donbas Battalion asked me to make a commemorative photo. I snapped pictures and later send it to soldiers who were depicted at photos and to their children, wives and friends. After a year and a half, I printed that pictures and travelled to Kiev to meet people who have returned from war. I asked them what happened to the people on those pictures. Number of killed in the war doesn't impress us so much. Nevertheless, when you are looking into a face of a dead man, know place where he was killed you begin to feel it in a different way. There are a lot of memory photos all around us and this issue is my attempt to direct attention at the story behind the photo of a man, who went up the line.
War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass
From the beginning of March 2014, demonstrations by pro-Russian and anti-government groups took place in the Donetsk and Lugansk region of Ukraine. These demonstrations escalated into an armed conflict between the separatist forces of the self-declared Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, and the Ukrainian government. After years of corruption of president Yanukovich’s government, army's fighting capacity critically decreased. Many Ukrainians decided that it is their duty to fight; a number of volunteer battalions were created to confront separatists. People, often without any military training began to join volunteer military formations. One of these formations is volunteer battalion Donbass. Mechanics, lawyers, businessmen and many other people decided to leave their jobs and usual way of life to defend their homeland.
Euromaidan
A wave of demonstrations and civil unrest began in Ukraine on the night of 21 November 2013 demanding closer European integration and retirement of President Viktor Yanukovych and his government. People raised up against corruption and to defend their choice of European values. The protests has been called Euromaidan or Revolution of Dignity. Protests continued for more than 3 month. According to the Ministry of Health 106 people were killed dгring the protests. In face of danger people united to defend their dreams and beliefs. They overcame fear and decided to stay on maidan to the end.
Belarus Presidential Elections
In December 2010 presidential elections were held in Belarus. The public had high hopes for fair election that would lead to a change of the current leader - president Alexander Lukashenko, who rules the country for 16 years. About 40000 people came out on the streets of Minsk. The peace rally was brutally suppressed by the army and riot police: about 700 people were detained, many of them were in need of medical care. Protesters were sentenced to 10-15 days in prison. Activists and ex-presidential candidates were convicted on the criminal case upon Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, 'mass riot' for up to 6 years in prison.