We remember... Anatoly Krasovskij

Anatoly Krasovskij And Viktor Gonchar Kidnapped on the same day - September 16, 1999

Gonchar and Krasovsky have much in common. The first one is looking for non-standard strategies in politics, the second one - in business.

About self-respect

Krasnovkij’s firm employed more that 300 people at different times. Many people having passed through Krasnovskij’s business school set up their own business. That is, he actually made them honorable personalities and what is more vital, personalities with self-respect.

Krasnovskij had much to be admired for. Having finished school at 16, he was admitted to then prestigious Physics faculty of the Belarus State University. After his graduation he spent 15 years working at the Pedagogic Scientific Research Institute. In his free time he defended a thesis and became a Ph.D.

Do you remember the 1980-ies course “The Ethics and Psychology of Family Life”? One of its main authors, organizers and promoters was Anatoly Krasnovski who has more than 30 scientific publications and millions of the sold textbook copies behind his back. And what is more important, the secondary education system got a brand new impulse which brought us closer to the universally recognized education of high school pupils.

Theory in Practice

In one of his books, “The Future Husband and Father”, Krasovskj writes: “Under the knight we understand a strong, kind and obviously respectful to a woman man, a man who worships her”. ...By putting this very meaning into the word “knight”, we underline that knights are needed in any epoch in order to fight the evil and rebuff meanness”. Krasovsky remained such knight to his family, whatever commonplace of pompous it may sound. The pedagogue was the model of his own theory of family life. His house really meant much to him. As Irina remembers, two days of a business trip was enough for him to start calling his relations and dying to go home.

Anatoly met his wife as a senior student when he started teaching physics and astronomy at one of the schools in the city of Valozhin which Irina attended at that time. They got married when she ws admitted to the public pedagogic college. Later Irina also defended her thesis but this time in pedagogical science. Svetlana Sokolova, the Krasovskies’ close friend says: “I do not know any other family which members are treating each other with such respect and love. Anatoly cannot be called the life and soul of the party. But he was always welcomed. And it was interesting to communicate with him not only on the matters of politics and business”.

Krasovsky loved to spend his time after work with Lera, his 17-year old daughter. She finished school with honors and studies journalism at the Belarus State University. They ran circles around the Tsniansky water reservoir in the Zieliony Lug city district. They talked for hours about studies, life, love. As for Kseniya, his 21-year old daughter who graduated form the Management and Enterpreneurship College and worked in one of her father’s firms, they also liked to discuss business matters.

Life work

Anatoly Krasovsky treats everything seriously. But the most vital to him is his business started more than ten years ago. Having started to earn money at the student work in Siberia, in the last years Krasovsky is among the major and most promising Belarusian businessmen standing on rather firm ground. At the “Krasiko” group’s tenth anniversary reception the following toast was deemed as the best one: “Well done! You have managed to survive and continue your business! Today it’s a miracle!”

It is rally a miracle that a major Belarusian firm not only survived through multiple checks and inspections but continues to expand while many of those who had started earlier (Pupejko, Klimov, Samankov) either immigrated or stay in prison.

For several “Krasiko” topped the Belarusian market of exotic vegetables and fruit, offering rather competitive prices. One should take into account that this business is a very risky one as you deal with perishable goods, quite peculiar market and there is an obligatory prepayment. Nevertheless, this niche was being gradually filled as well as the “Krasiko’s” other ones: grain, tea, flour. Krasovsky was trusted, he was given credits he was simply pleasant to deal with. Maybe because he personally worked from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a maximum one day off and didn’t accept such notion as vacation. Krasovsky went abroad for 3 — 4 days, exclusively on business trips — to different seminars and conferences where, to his mind, he could discover something new and interesting for the business. He must have been a born student. In spite of his really big pedagogical past, he was never ashamed of studying. He participated in all major business exhibitions in Minsk.

The “Krasiko” employs managers holding economic degrees, knowing 2 or 3 foreign languages and easily having talks with international partners.

Krasovsky was in lack of people in order to realize all his projects, which were prepared as thoroughly as a real thesis. Not to leave it as a bare fact, I would like to give the following example. Krasovsky won a decisive victory in the recent major innovation project tender, held by the Belgian business circles and those days had to go for talks with the potential investors...

Black Sheep

Gonchar and Krasovsky have much in common. The first one is looking for non-standard strategies in politics, the secon one — in business.

While delivering exotic fruit to Belarus, Krasovsky had been earnestly working on the project of a cheap foodstuffs market development system, assuming merciless fighting of all sorts of “sponge-mediators” between a producer and consumer.

Anatoly has also thought of producing quality grape wines for prices suitable to the average Belarusian’s pockets. The necessary bottling line had been already purchased. But the good intention, as usual, had been killed for “some lack of point”...

Envy, the Engine of...

By the end of the summer, the detention center on the Voladarski Street already “hosted” as much as 5 detainees on the “Poisk” bank case. At the “top” they came up with the idea that someone had to be held accountable for the bank’s unpaid credits. That “someone” was the head of the “Krasiko” who spent the whole week in the detention. Although on the eve of the detention Krasovsky was summoned to the Ministry of Internal affairs (MVD) where he gave exhaustive information in reference to the “Poisk’s” credit which he had to repay in the coming December. However, the explanation must have seemed unconvincing one decided to put him in custody, so to say, for prevention. Krasovsky asked to pass him into the prison his favorite short stories by Chehov.

After the release Anatoly came home, changed his shirt and immediately went... to his work. Only once the “Krasiko’s” head man lost his hope. That was when his 21-year old brother, a pilot, died in the helicopter crash.

Red Jacket

Krasovkij had only two “new Belarusian’s” paraphernalia — his red jacket, bought several years ago and a shortly cropped haircut — others did not become him.

As for the restaurants, he was indifferent to them. All his and his wife’s birthdays were always celebrated at home in a close circle.

The next Marina’s name-day fell on the day of her husband’s release. Krasnovskij’s second part answered to all over-the-phone greetings that there would be no special party. As for her birthday, 15 friends came to it without invitation and about the same number came the next day. All other big family celebrations and simply holidays were the same. The doors of the house were always open for friends.

The man who could afford a vacation at literally any resort in the world, during his business career had NO vacation at all.

As for indulging oneself with expensive things, it is the uneducated youths who wear finger thick golden chains. Krasovsky had just a couple of shoes. His first money, earned in the cooperative society of a Belarusian children foundation, he spent for the “Viatka-avtomt”, a washing machine. The motive is simple — a woman’s labor should be maximally reduced. While everybody brought from abroad something “cool”, f.e. clothes, furniture, home appliances, the “Krasiko’s” leader bought a lawn-mower.

Anatoly absolutely unconditionally helped the Belarusian Children Foundation, the “Artists for the Children” foundation, actors’ art studio of the Belarusian Guild of Movie Actors, the Berezinsky nature reserve etc. Moreover, the “Krasiko” did not advertise its charity. I found out about its addresses from the firm’s accounting records.

After the husband’s disappearance his wife was advised to put candles in the church: the flickering flame is for bad, the steady one means everything is all right.

Irina bought big candles and put them in the church in their neighborhood. A strong and steady flame rocketed form them...

By Aleksander Koktysh,
The Svobodnye Novosti,
October 1-8, 1999

— I don’t want ot speak about my feelings or what have been living through: its very painful in this case, said Irina Krasovskaya in her interview to the Belarusian Newspaper (BG). — Only those who were in the same situation can understand what happened and what I feel. This situation is also difficult for understanding because of its absurdity. It is outside the normal psyche’s boundaries that two men disappear in the city center. Everyone accepted the fact of their disappearance but it’s hard to believe that they have still not been found. Even for a person with normal psyche. And this gives way to rumors and guesses.

— Have you got any new data on the incident?

— Our family has no data on my husband and Viktor Gonchar’s disappearance. We still do not have any fact, which could help us come up with the idea of their whereabouts, of what happened to them an what their fate is. It’s more than weird: two well-known persons disappear in the city center. Moreover, they disappear together with a big car and cell-phones. And this happens when one of them had been shadowed by the secret services, when city streets are actively patrolled by police cars. I am personally embarrassed with the media holding that Krasovsky and Gonchar disappeared. I want to stress that they did not disappear but were kidnapped. Moreover, there are witnesses confirming that. However, until now they have not been found. I would like to address those who organized this crime, who performed it and who knows something about it. I beg you not to keep silent. Do not keep silent because history as a rule repeats. Don’t keep silent because the number of kidnapped people has been surging. It’s not known who will be the next one. Anyone can be on the list, including you. That is why I ask you not to keep silent and think of it.

— How do you estimate the effectiveness of the investigation?

— There is only one way of judging the effectiveness of the investigation: according to its results. If Krasovsky and Gonchar are found, we can speak about the effectiveness of the investigation. Lately, I haven’t received any new information on the course of the investigation. I was told that as soon as anything new turns up, I will be immediately informed. It is all complicated because I do not know what I personally can do. I mean, I am not able to influence the course of the investigation — I can neither accelerate, nor slow it. This enhances the feeling of helplessness, poisons the life. I am convinced that the investigation agencies are busy with the investigation of this case. Criminal proceedings have been instituted. If there is a criminal case, then the investigation is going on. However, as it seems to me, it is practically impossible to work at the political version of this case. That is one can investigate into it, but to a certain limit.

— For a long time, leaflets posted by you at the crime’s site were the only signs of an independent investigation. What do you think of the 13th Supreme Soviet’s special investigation commission and the political parties’ position?

— I do not know all the details because I am not acquainted with the members of parties. However those guys made considerable effort to find Krasovsky and Gonchar.

The Belaruskaya Gazeta,
September 18, 1999

 

Husbands Left. Wives Are Waiting... Irina Kasovskaya is sharing her thoughts on the incident

— There are people those days who have the guts to put forward a version that Gonchar and Krasovsky fled to some foreign state for money reasons…

— As one of my husband’s firm, the “Krasiko”, employees I must say that there are no firm financial claims to Anatoly. Just the opposite. We had just completed a six storey office construction in the Mayakovsky Street. There were already many of those willing to rent or buy it. That is in perspective we should have had real “live” money and it seems quite a lot. And suddenly, Anatoly disappears. It’s far from being logical.

— Your husband is a friend of Gonchar, who is without exaggeration the primary enemy. Were there any well-wishers trying to talk your husband out of this friendship?

— Yes. When I went to the detention center in the Okrestina Street to support Gonchar who was there, one of my friends said: “How can you do it? Aren’t you afraid?

But what should I be afraid of in my home country? Why an entrepreneur cannot be friends with a person, whose political views differ form the President’s? Moreover, Tolya and Gonchar met long before 1994.

— But you and your husband understood that to give even moral support to the main opposition member is rather dangerous.

— Anatoly does not belong to the category of people betraying their fiends. After all, in spite of the present situation, one cannot a bastard!

— Today’s situation is very predisposing to the immigration from the country. Did your family have thoughts of that kind?

— Never, even in theory. We shall not feel ourselves at home there, whatever hard we try. Why, my husband’s and my heads are in the right place. We are sure that we would have been able to earn our living abroad too. Maybe it would have been better for the children to leave Belarus. But here we’ve got our friends and our business. Finally, why should we go abroad? We have always regularly paid taxes. We are running projects beneficial for the government. He was also supposed to conduct negotiations with foreign investors, ready with Anatoly’s help to invest money in Belarus.

On the whole, my husband is a versatile person. He is a Ph.D., the author of a book on the moral and ethical climate in the family. There was a time when he published 12 magazines. “I + I’s” circulation amounted to millions.

Krasovsky had his own financial business. We delivered and continue delivering grain, wine and other products.

— Maybe you have some influential patron?

— Everything we have Anatoly has earned himself. He started form scratch. I remember, he did not have five rubles to pay for the registration of our marriage. He went for student work in Siberia. He had earned money for cooperative housing, for the decent life of his family.

However, I must say that material welfare is of no value for me and my husband. I remember as he got involved into this absurd story with the “Poisk” bank credits and spent ten days in detention. I told him then: “Even if they take everything form you, I will still stay by your side”. By the way, the day of his detention coincided with the solar eclipse.

It seems that now we are having a total eclipse. What was your friends, neighbors and acquaintances’ reaction to your misfortune?

I didn’t expect that there would be so many phone calls of support. Everyone was indignant and offered their assistance: money, food, to loan a car etc. They advised what to do. Sometimes it was senseless but sincere.

— Thinking of it now, could this barbarity have bene somehow prevented?

— Those who play by the rules always loose to the ones who play without any. My husband would never have bodyguards. And it’s not likely that they would have been able to do anything in that situation.

By Aleksandr Koktysh,
The Svobodnye Novosti,
September 24, 1999

 

Irina Krasovskaya: “Human Life Unfortunately Comprises Not Just Happiness…”

Only the person who has been through the same or a similar situation can understand what the life of my daughters, my relatives, and mine is like, or what we feel and go through. It is difficult to explain. How can I explain my state when I don’t want to live, when nothing and nobody interests me. How can I explain my condition when I cannot eat or drink, when I cannot cry anymore, when I don’t want and am afraid to leave the house, when I don’t understand what people ask me, when I don’t remember what I answer, when any photo or thing can bring back painful memories and pain, when I start crying in response to a good, not bad, treatment. I feel this pain physically. It is the one to stall in the chest, not allowing to straighten the shoulders. I realize that many people have faced sufferings in their lives. They can empathize. Although our grief is different, but feelings are similar. They are unbearable for everyone who has faced some anguish.

No matter how bad the things are, one still lives with the pain, anguish, and goes on living, walking, eating, working. I don’t know if this is life or just existence. Every day in my mind I several times walk the path from hope to full despair and back. It helps perhaps that I don’t let in the thought of something terrible happening to my husband and Viktor Gonchar. I hope they are alive.

The most difficult thing is the uncertainty of the situation. Uncertainty about the fate of my husband and other abducted persons, the worries about their lives, the future – this depresses me most of all. When a person dies, perishes or serves time, there is at least some tragic certainty. The relatives slowly start to come to terms with the situation, somehow adapt to it and find strength to live a new life. We, on the other hand, are in a different situation. We can guess, but we don’t know the real abductors, the goals they pursued, their plans. We are at a crossroads: on the one hand, we want to help people dear to us, on the other, we don’t know how to do it and are afraid that our actions could hurt them. The futility of the search and no possibility to influence the situation are also a big burden, we have to carry. The situation is aggravated by the fact that there is no elementary sympathy or respect on behalf of the state, because no matter how this abduction is interpreted by state media, the political theory cannot but be noticed. All official media unanimously offered and continue to offer a negative interpretation of the events. This is why the families’ sufferings double: because of the situation itself and because of being deprived of the support and concern of the state.

Almost 18 months is long enough to learn to live with one’s grief. My family and my friends are the ones to help me live and uphold myself. I have two daughters. The elder is an economist, who is already working. My younger is studying in the Belarusian State University. As for the principles of survival…. I found out several: first, one cannot spend one’s strength on hatred and looking for someone to blame; secondly, when it is unbearably bad, one has to do something – at minimum, to do the dishes; and thirdly, to meet more often with friends and people, whose company you enjoy. And I do have friends. I am extremely grateful to them. I did not lose any of them. Not I have got more amiable people around – the ones I maintained friendly contacts, but did not meet regularly. Now we see each other more often. I have also found new friends – the people who have found themselves in a similar situation, who understand my problems and support me. It is a pity that our friendship evolved under such tragic circumstances.

I am not keen on interviews. Nevertheless, this time I do it because I want people who live here and now to realize that things that should not be taking place are happening in our life. I want everyone yet untouched to realize this. I do not understand how a person can be humiliated or eliminated for dissent, in the 21st century. Still, we encountered an undeniably barbarian abduction in the center of Europe. I don’t want to and I can’t accept this, but I cannot explain it either. I believe in human mind holding on to imperishable values and not to medieval traditions. The world is subject to change. I have a hope to see my husband alive.

I know that many individuals were involved in the abduction of my husband and Viktor Gonchar. The ones to issue the order will naturally stay silent. I appeal to the ones who carried out the order; remember that life is not eternal, and conscience, especially in one’s old age is not just a sound. The power is also short. Perhaps, your confession can save your conscience, and maybe life. People recall own mistakes when misfortune comes to them personally. Don’t wait for this to happen. Human life is not just happiness. Unfortunately…

 

Kseniya Krasovskaya: “Who will give us the answer?” Mother of Anatoliy Krasovkiy is waiting for her son since September 16, 1999.

“I feel he will come back soon”, she says fighting back her tears. “Is it possible: there was a man and he is gone? Anatoliy’s wife Irina cried her tears out… My granddaughters do not know where their father is… What is his fault? Who will give us the answer? Wherever Irina went nobody knows about my son’s fate. What about militia… My son disappeared.. Do you think anybody came to me, asked about him… If the authorities say on TV that he is hiding, let them investigate it. Let them come to my home, probably he is hiding at my place. Our village is small, there are very view residents: Nobody came, nobody was interested. If my son is really guilty, let him face the justice. I believe there was nothing to blame him for, that is why they just took him away. It is said we live in a law-abiding state. Where is that law? Where is the truth? When he disappeared I saw a dream: “We live at the end of the village… Behind our house, the rye is forming ears… I’m looking for Anatoliy… I’m calling him… He hid himself in this rye and was making home-brew. I think how he can make it, he doesn’t know how to make it, but then it stroke me it’s good that he is here… Nobody will find him here… People say rye means life… And, I believe he is alive…”

Man calling himself President of the Republic of Belarus! I am writing to you.

A year and a half ago you admitted to being guilty of the famous people’s kidnappings: Yury Zharenko, Viktor Gonchar and my father, Anatoly Krasnovsky. That was followed by the abduction of Dmitry Zavadsko. “Stop looking for the guilty ones. I am fully responsible for this “, you said then. Isn’t it high time to support your words with facts?

Maybe for Lukashenko two years passed unnoticed. Presidents have many responsibilities. Sowing campaign, harvesting, increasing milk yields, exposure of foreign provokateurs and spies — so many urgent processes claiming his attention.

The lives of the kidnapped persons’ wives, children, mothers are full of other worries. Every day an infinite number of times those people go their way from faith and hope to the thoughts about the most horrible, to despair. Every second they are waiting for their fathers, husbands and sons. A year and a half is a very long term for them.

My father is an honorable in all respects person. Just, kind, a man of principle — it’s all about him. Does anyone say these words about Lukashenko? They do. Open bootlickers forming the basis of power. The ones who have nothing to do with Lukashenko’s “feeder” speak about him with contempt. There will be no offenses in this letter and no lies. These are not my methods, but yours.

But I will not miss a chance to say that I hate Lukashenko. For more than twenty months I am deprived of the chance to see a dear to me person at my side and he is the one to blame. Moreover, our family has NO information about his fate. For the long months there wasn’t a single word of hope, no hint or lead.

You need five more years in office, five more years of responsibility for the nation’s fate. It is too much. Before grabbing another piece of the power pie, give answers to the questions ath have been already asked. How are you carrying the voluntary taken responsibility for the missing people’s fate? Where is Yury Zharenko, Viktor Gonchar, Dmitry Zavadsky? Where is my father, Anatoly Krasnovsky?

Valeriya Krasovskaya

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