Nina Bahinskaya: Authorities Take 50% Of My Pension Each Month

The famous 72-year-old activist believes that the current authorities are illegitimate, and does not recognize their laws.

Well-known civil activist Nina Bahinsklaya has told the website palitviazni.info about her life position, endurance and endless fines.

“Last year, I was fined for a total of approximately $ 17 500,” says the 72-year-old pensioner.

Nina Bahinskaya is one of those who are not afraid to come out to the street with the white-red-white flag, she does it all the time. The police qualify this as “non-sanctioned pickets”, and have been fining the elderly lady for big sums for a long period of time. The total amount has reached unbelievable numbers which are impossible for the pensioner to handle. Nina Bahinskaya is also taking an active part in the defense of Kurapaty.

- The other day, I was summoned to the Barauliany district police department over Kurapaty, but I didn’t go, - Nina Bahinskaya says. - I told before that this power is illegitimate, and I will repeat it, and this means I don’t recognize its laws. The police arrived to the restaurant near Kurapaty by themselves though.

I don’t understand it when our activists get arrested and detained for days only for defending Kurapaty – the sacred place for Belarusians. So I defended and will defend also the interests of those who are thrown behind bars for Kurapaty. I explained the policemen that we were protecting our nation, unique culture, language and the place where our ancestors were killed.

- You participate not only in the Kurapaty defense, but in other actions, too. How many fines have you got recently?

- I only do approximate calculations, and if I am not mistaken, last year I was fined for a total of BYN 35K (this is about $ 17 500) . This year, they mostly fine me for Kurapaty – they impose fines for up to 40 base fees at a time. So I think several thousand dollars have accumulated by now.

- You don’t pay the fines because of your principles, right?

- I have never paid and I am not going to do it. However, starting since October last year, the authorities have deducted 50% of my pension every month. So, I get BYN 160, and the same amount goes for fines payment.

In a nutshell, they issue fines much quicker than I manage to recompense with my small pension. At my example, the authorities try to intimidate others, to stop their activity.

- To recover the fines, officers of court even announced an auction for the sale of your country house. How did this story end?

- They did not sell it, there was no one who wanted to buy. There were several auctions, nobody came, and the Smaliavichy district department of coerced punishment gave up the very idea to put this real estate on an auction. The case was forwarded to the Pershamaiski district department of coerced punishment in Minsk.

They tried to sell my piece of land in the Pukhavichy district, but it didn’t work out either, I think. The trial already happened, but I don’t even know how it ended. I never attend trials.

The authorities act in a weird way. With whom are they trying to struggle? How do they spend the state budget? They are struggling with the pensioner who comes to the street to protest, with posters or a white-red-white flag.

- Don’t they lay claims on your Minsk apartment?

- It’s not mine, I gave it to my children, all the documents are executed in due course.

- Will you continue your fight?

- I can tell you one thing – I do nothing illegal. All I want is justice. I am a person whose soul is weeping for Belarus.