Briefly about the case of Oksana Kolb

, the editor-in-chief of Novaya Chasa

, was detained on April 20, 2022.

Security forces with shields and sledgehammers broke into the apartment, searched it and took Oksana to the Investigative Committee.

In the afternoon she called her relatives and said that she was detained for 10 days and taken to the detention center in Akrestsin Street.

A few days later, the journalist was transferred to Valadarka pre-trial detention center No. 1, charged under Part 1 of Article 342 (organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them).

An investigation was conducted within a month.

The first court hearing took place on June 7.

The trial was conducted by the judge of the Central district of the capital

Oksana Kolb was charged with participation in the six on August 16, 2020.

In addition, "Minsktrans" filed a lawsuit for 5,980 rubles for "road closure."

Oksana admitted her guilt in part.

The journalist claimed that she had been on the road for only a few minutes.

On June 7, the prosecutor asked to punish Oksana with 2.5 years of "chemistry" in an open institution.

On June 15, Oksana Kolb refused the last word.

Judge Dzmitry Karsyuk sentenced him to

of restraint of liberty on June 15 and sent him to an open correctional facility.

Oksana is released from custody.

Educational historian

Oksana Kolb was born in Gomel, but spent her childhood in Lida.

She is a historian by education - she graduated from the historical faculty of BSU.

“Perhaps because I’m an educational historian, I see a trend, not a trifle.

Of course, globally nothing good is happening in the country now.

But the trend is still very positive.

Probably, if they stopped imprisoning people for stickers, reposts, etc., if they started producing not units, but hundreds - that would make me think that it's time to leave.

After all, it would mean that the government has calmed down, realized its superiority, its strength.

And then it's been a long time.

While what is happening in Belarus, I will not go anywhere, because I know - I will definitely survive this regime, "- wrote Oksana.

Aksana Kolb

Oksana's former colleague, journalist

also notes:

“Oksana Kolb, as an educational historian, considers all the processes we observe and experience from a historical perspective, and not just from the point of view of the here and now.

And as a historian, she knows for sure that regimes are overthrown. "

“2021 did not particularly surprise me.

The only difference is the scale of the repression. "

Oksana Kolb joined independent journalism in 1996 for the Zhoda newspaper.

Since 2007 - in the "New Time".

She headed the publication after the untimely death of media founder

in 2015.

Oksana admits that she has not had a single easy year in journalism for a quarter of a century.

“Every year is difficult in its own way, with its own specifics, with its own repressions.

There were interrogations, several confiscations of equipment ... There was a closure of the newspaper: after the 2006 election campaign, the independent "Consent" was closed - for alleged extremism and incitement to ethnic hatred.

It all happened back then.

So 2021 did not particularly surprise me.

The only difference is the scale of repressions, before it was not as massive as now. "

Aksana Kolb

The main task for the editor-in-chief was to keep the team, as Novaya Chasa journalists were also detained more than once, detained for a day, and worked without days off.

“We are faced with a huge flow of events and demolition work.

And this process did not end in a month or two.

If you realize that no, you will not be able to rest - it has become a serious psychological, moral challenge.

And one of my tasks is to support people.

But how to do it if she is exhausted?

There were sharp, emotional moments in the editorial office - they had to be extinguished.

First of all, in yourself, and find a way to help others, "- wrote Oksana.

"New Time is not just a team, but a team and even a family"

The New Time employee admits that Oksana was a common "mother" for the entire editorial office, regardless of age and status.

“Thanks to her, we were not just a team, but a team and even a family.

Probably, few of the executives can call not for work, but simply: "How are you, what worries you?".

And always add: "If you want - come to us, here is nature and dogs, it will be easier."

She always feels who cares, who could take up what topic.

And he knows how to motivate, ”Oksana Kolb's former colleague from Novy Chas recalls.

Aksana Kolb

Another colleague of Oksana, journalist Olga Hvoin, notes three main features of Oksana Kolb: freedom, responsibility and humanity.

"On humanity: in the spring of this year, Oksana noted that she, as an editor, head can not give up and succumb to pessimism, much less broadcast it to his colleagues.

Maybe sometimes her words and predictions look too optimistic and dissonant with our reality, but the recognition was about the responsibility of the leader, the ability to see a point on the horizon and the ability to go to it with his colleagues, "- says Olga Hvoin.

Oksana Kolb wrote a lot for the newspaper and the website.

She does not hide that she worked as a journalist at almost all summer and autumn protests in 2020.

It was in the most "hot spots": near the stele on August 9, near the metro "Pushkinskaya" on August 10.

Edited materials, restored the site.

“Shortly before her arrest, Oksana admitted that she could not just rest.

Her ability to work is impressive: when we all "blew up" after the protests of 2020, she still took over everything: and managing the editorial office, and filling the site, and writing materials.

When we asked where she got her strength from, she replied, "I'm used to it."

Apparently, because of her imprisonment, fate decided to give her a "vacation" in such a strange way.

We hope he won't be delayed, ”Oksana's former colleague and subordinate thinks.

Oksana is pro-Belarusian, human-oriented and sincere in her aspirations and intentions, adds journalist Volha Hvoin.

"In the system of its values ​​(however pathetic it may sound) - the chosen way of life and mission, rather than commercial interests or benefits of one moment.

That is why she constantly defends the educational element in the work of the media (the same opinion was held by the first editor of "New Time" Alexei Karol, who gathered around him like-minded people).

She does not support the idea that you need to run to a niche where it is easier and faster to win the sympathy of the audience.

"I'm not going anywhere"

The editor-in-chief of Novaya Chasa said that she was most impressed by the Sunday march on August 16, when at least 200,000 people took to the streets of the capital.

“At first I was euphoric from the number of such beautiful and exalted people.

And then I cried, “People, where have you been before?

Why did it last 26 years? ”

Oksana shared her emotions after the march.

Oksana Kolb was detained earlier: they came home and to the office with a search on October 20, 2021, took her for questioning to the Investigative Committee, but in the evening she was released.

"Hello everyone!

All is well with me, - Oksana wrote on October 21, 2021 on her Facebook page.

- I am under a non-disclosure agreement and with the duty to appear.

A sincere thank you to everyone who was excited and supportive.

I am in Belarus.

I'm not going anywhere.

We continue to work.

Long live Belarus and Smells of Thyme! ”

Acquaintances say that Oksana did not succumb to any persuasions to leave the country, although she understood well after the arrests of other journalists and the long terms for which her colleagues were sentenced that she could also be imprisoned.

“I decided for myself that I would not go anywhere in any case, although I have such an opportunity.

Not because I’m such a hero or a superwoman.

And because I can not say that not in Belarus I will be better than in Belarus.

Even behind bars. "

Builds an ecological thatched house, has four dogs

"My personal recipe for resisting blackness is to see the positive in everything," says Oksana.

She writes optimistic letters from Valadarka.

“My dream is that when I am released, I will definitely gather all my friends and acquaintances to enjoy life and the World together.

So that as many people as possible could get to know each other.

Let the smell of thyme and prosper Belarus, "- Oksana responded to a letter to a previously unknown Tatiana.

Oksana and her husband Anatoly are building an ecological thatched house on their own, mostly on weekends.

This is her dream - 15 years ago she read about ecological thatched houses, where it will be good to live and breathe freely.

“I was slowly going to this dream, and we have been building for 3 years now.

I hope we will finish this year and we will be there, we will move there forever, ”Oksana Kolb, the editor-in-chief of Novaya Chasa, shared.

Oksana Kolb's house under construction, archival photo

And she has four dogs.

“Yes, like dogs, no one will support you.

They have so much unconditional love, they are so helpful and relaxing!

I have four dogs and they are always happy to see me, they meet me with such inspiration when I return home.

You hug them, scratch your ear ... These are such emotions!

And it's getting easier at once. "

Oksana has a daughter, Catherine, and a grandson, Henry, who live abroad.

She has not seen them for almost 3 years.

Oksana Kolb with her dogs

About New Time

Novy Chas was perhaps the last non-governmental paper newspaper to be published in Belarus, with a circulation of 7,000.

And also the only independent publication that was in Belarusian prisons.

"New Time" was published in print until mid-August 2021.

In September 2020, the New Time website reached more than 1 million visitors.

Since 2008, Novy Chas has been thrown out of Belposhta's subscriptions and Beldruk's kiosks several times.

In February 2021, RUE Belsayuzdruk terminated the contract for the distribution of Novaya Chasa, and the newspaper was distributed by volunteers.

On August 12, 2021, the printing house terminated the contract with the publication, in Belarus it was not possible to publish a paper version.

The Ministry of Information has repeatedly issued warnings to the publication.

On May 21, 2021, the Ministry of Information issued a warning for three articles, including Oksana Kolb's article "The hardest thing is to accept lawlessness" (№ 14, April 9, 2021).

New Times journalists were detained during rallies and served administrative arrests.

, a journalist of Novaya Chasa

, was sentenced to 5 years in prison (he was charged with three articles of the Criminal Code).

Journalist of the publication

in prison since March 12, 2021. He was charged under Article 365 of the Criminal Code (interference in the activities of a police officer) for investigative journalism "Who or what protects the" Golden Eagle "in Belarus."

Later, Article 356 of the Criminal Code was added to Ivashin - treason.