We think it’s important to express our position on the situation that has unfolded around Mikola Dziadok after his release, as our group supported Mikola for a total of 10 years, and we shared with him the same movement and struggle against the dictatorship in Belarus.
Mikola is a long-time activist who has served two prison sentences for his anarchist activities. In 2017-2018, Mikola began a relationship with a 16-year-old girl, which developed from a comradely friendship into a romantic one. He was 29 at the time. The relationship ended after a few months.
It recently became known that around 2023, his former partner began writing on her Telegram channel that she considered the relationship to be abusive and violent. At first, these posts did not mention her partner’s name, but by 2025, it became clear that she was writing about Mikola. Mikola was serving his second term at the time and was released on September 11, 2025, and deported to Lithuania.
Learning about these accusations, the movement was concerned, but also understood that Mikola, having spent several years in isolation, experiencing torture and pressure, and being suddenly taken out of the country, was not in a stable psychological state to adequately reflect on the accusations. A decision was made to create a temporary transformative justice collective, which spent about two months trying to communicate with Mikola and his former partner about possible next steps. You can read the full report on the collective’s work at https://pramen.io/en/2025/12/report-of-the-working-group-for-the-transformative-process-of-mikola-dziadok/
Our ABC group knew about this initiative and supported it. Like other collectives in the movement, we decided not to make any public statements while awaiting the results of the transformative process. However, we informed other anti-repressive groups with whom we interact regularly about the accusations against Mikola and the measures the movement is taking.
Unfortunately, Mikola decided to leave the transformative process when he realized that the movement is critical of his actions towards the former partner. He told our collective that he considered such behavior to be treasonous and an endorsement of the liberal feminist agenda.
The case was also complicated by the fact that Mikola gave different people different information and assessments of his actions. Commenting on this story in a public post, he acknowledged his responsibility for the harm caused and said he was sorry that his actions had hurt his former partner. At the same time, in private conversations with friends, he denied the truthfulness of the allegations or acknowledged some of the facts but did not consider their consequences to be serious.
All in all, we counted about 13 different cases of inflicting harm described by his former partner, of which Mikola confirmed five meaning he confirmed that such events did take place. If he had been willing to reflect on at least those confirmed cases, it would have been a significant step forward in changing his behavior and views, but this did not happen.
Moreover, after leaving the process, Mikola shared his old book on intersectionality online. The book contains criticism that modern feminism promotes a cult of victimhood, collective guilt of men, and unconditional trust in victims of violence. This suggests that Mikola’s unwillingness to reflect on his actions is also rooted in his ideological rejection of feminism.
We see that Mikola does not understand and does not accept the power imbalance in the relationship between an adult man and a teenager, the power imbalance that makes such relationship more than simply “mutually toxic” as he described it. It is precisely in the lack of understanding of how power dynamics work in intimate relationships that the danger lies that these actions may be repeated.
During the 10 years that Mikola was in prison, the movement has indeed made great strides in terms of analyzing power, methods of regulation within the movement, and reflection on the culture of abolition and transformation. We can’t assume that Mikola and we are on the same level of political analysis. We also understand that Mikola is deeply traumatized by the prison system and that any mention of the word “justice” is associated only with punitive authorities.
We do not believe that everyone in the movement except Mikola behaves perfectly in comradely and romantic relationships. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone can cause harm, everyone can count on support and ask for a safe space. But this does not mean that one can refuse dialogue, reject any criticism, and close oneself off from attempts to talk about difficult topics, acknowledge problematic issues, and compensate for the harm done to the best of one’s ability.
We see that Mykola does not understand and does not accept the power imbalance in the relationship between an adult man and a teenager, which means that they cannot simply be considered “mutually toxic.” It is precisely in the lack of understanding of how power dynamics work in intimate relationships that the danger lies that these actions may be repeated.
It is not okay to say that someone is lying when they say that they were hurt by your actions. It is not okay to assume that anarchists only fight against state power, while dismissing all other power dynamics as unimportant.
It is also worth mentioning that discussing this case was not easy for the movement and for our collective. For many of us, Mikola is a valued comrade who has proven himself in many other situations.
Our ABC collective has reached a consensus that we consider the relationship between an adult man and a teenage girl to be problematic, and that its consequences, as described by the former partner (and partially confirmed by Mikola), are very dangerous, especially if they are not deeply reflected upon.
We were unable to reach a consensus on the issue of our further interaction with Mikola. Most of the group was in favor of suspending interaction until the transformative process with Mikola is resumed in some form. One person felt that this was too strong a measure and amounted to a cancellation, and that it would be sufficient to publicly condemn Mikola’s actions and notify other women that he has a history of violent behavior/harmful conduct in relationships for which he does not take responsibility.
Since the majority of the group was against interacting with Mikola, we decided to stop any cooperation with him by majority vote. The decision to change the consensus to a vote in this case was approved by everyone in the group.
We have decided not to sell Mikola’s books in our distro, not to collaborate with him in the media, and not to share his comments about his prison experience on our website and social networks.
It is important to note that we have fulfilled all our obligations to Mikola in terms of supporting him as a prisoner: all donations sent in his name have been transferred to him in full, as the funds that we typically give to every anarchist or antifascist prisoner after their release. We are also passed him his books stored in our warehouse free of charge.
We remain open to further cooperation if Mikola changes his position and is willing to engage in a transformative process.
Comments
Eat is another abusive cis dude
anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/27/2026 - 07:31
Anarcho-celeb Eat (there have been recent posts about his incarceration since the indonesian uprising) beat & raped his ex Anzi Matta, who detailed that he also physically abused anarchist comrades of his he wasn't in a long term romantic relationship with. There were tweets about it at least a year or two ago.
Fuck you "dude". Eat almost…
BMA (not verified) Thu, 01/29/2026 - 05:54
In reply to Eat is another abusive cis dude by anonymous (not verified)
Fuck you "dude". Eat almost died and was repeatedly tortured. He has HIV and is paralysed for life. Anzi Marta is the daughter of a rich fascist military family who is a desperate woke influencer. These incidents did not take place. She is a delusional fantasist who is a confirmed snitch that celebrated the imprisonment of Eat. Fuck Anzi Matta. And fuck all you shit stirring pieces of shit. You know who you all are. Fuck you cops.
very difficult subject…
anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/27/2026 - 09:38
very difficult subject. respect to the comrades for trying to find an ethically correct way forward. i can tell there is a lot of grief behind these words.
when you post random shit…
anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/27/2026 - 09:39
when you post random shit like this about a different person a continent away and you have no evidence besides claiming "there were tweets about it" you sound like cointelpro
So you push these people away further??
anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/28/2026 - 05:11
I wish to speak up on this one.
First, anarchists ought to see the value of helping the young woman (16!) to HELP her loved one. Not by making his alienation worse! But by being part of a network that gets MORE involved, tho very carefully! To alienate such otherwise well-standing comrades further only drives them, feeling unfairly dealt, into a WORSE place!
You think you're protecting anyone by severing him further? Sounds to me like you all have internalized the prerogatives of statecraft! You think you're doing the young woman a favor by Restricting her from Trying to Help him?? She will always carry that!
You COULD help her and him build up POWER WITH each other. AND STOP/INTERVENE ON the normal flailing anyone can get stuck in in this lifetime. Especially coming out of the Beast!
The consequences of pushing away fellow Politically Incorrect comrades, seeking to dedicate their hearts to anarchist ideals, is to uncritically buy into the neocolonialism that allows its believers no nuance! And to be Fooled into Attacking POWER SPOTS that have been under concerted attack for reasons OTHER than those presented!
How many of you are "College Educated" in this belief? Do YOU THINK that such an "education" is going to lead you to TRULY liberate yourself???? Why would they do THAT?? So you all need to apply your anarchist principles more thoughtfully!!
It's the Patriarchy that tries to "tool" people into Doing Its Bidding, but those with anarchist desires CAN escape such, even when it is firmly planted in our heads!! And that's where the love aspect of anarchist ideals comes in! Where you all DESIGN radical sanity!! And find that at least a few HUNDRED THOUSAND, at the very least, would VERY MUCH LIKE to join you in anarchist excellences!! Because, right now, they're firmly under the jackboot of The System.
On the feminist thing, well, one faction got the Big Funding (that one, the so-called "radical" feminists who were deemed LESS OF A THREAT than the other faction, the 'Liberation Feminists')(that's my analysis, so far, anyway). The other faction got NO FUNDING.
That's where your comrade is missing things!
His feeling is right, but missing out on crucial nuances! (To be expected, given how the over-arching propaganda game works!) So, we DON'T ALLOW ANYONE to TRAMPLE anyone, and yet we recognize the value of HEARING EACH OTHER OUT, IN PROCESS!!
Freely-found relations, no matter of what age, have excellences that are being systematically separated from our awareness!!
Reminds me of an old R.D. Laing quote I found in his book "The Politics of Experience":
"As domains of experience become more and more alien to us, it will take greater and greater open-mindedness to conceive of their existence."
Okay, LET THE SPARKS BEGIN! ! ! !
Note: I learn from all speakers, i.e. R.D.Laing, regardless of their ideology! Regardless of their blindspots! Why can't you??
anarchoboomerism
anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/28/2026 - 07:58
In reply to So you push these people away further?? by anonymous (not verified)
anarchoboomerism
you're pretty much right,…
anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/28/2026 - 10:56
In reply to So you push these people away further?? by anonymous (not verified)
you're pretty much right, but how can we weigh in from afar, except in a general sense as you do?
A thought for the Belarus…
anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/28/2026 - 08:33
A thought for the Belarus Collective that I want to "tease out":
Yes, violence sucks, but don't you know that those who are not good at articulating themselves, trust physicality over intellectual-type dialogue??
And don't you know that youngsters of 16 are often wanting so bad to "get to the bottom of" a challenge, and solve it, that they will try to engage that person (who falls back on the physicality they know or learned in prison) as an equal. And then tend to go into the flailing person as a project?
But fail to include their affinity group in that project. And seem to fail in organizing this Belarus Collective into being able to hear her heart! (I.e. She is a CHAMPION too, and wants SOME recognition for her ability, too!! She does NOT want to be treated "like a child"! And kept Restricted in, as John Holt articulated, "The Prison Garden" of childhood!
(in his book "ESCAPE FROM CHILDHOOD: The Needs and Rights of Children")
But the neocolonialism PLANTED IN your HEAD has us Believing that this SIXTEEN YEAR OLD Has To Be Kept Out of the Affairs of 'Adults'! And so you unwittingly work in the neocolonial interest!!
Now, for the word "abuse":
That word is a cammoflauged word, because it is widely used by neocolonialists to Coerce their Way of Believing under-handedly!
For the ideologically challenged amongst them, it means ANY ILLEGAL relations (a curious subordination to statecraft).
And, due to, what, AT LEAST 40-some years of anti-bonding PROPAGANDA and other imposed fascisms on this topic (i.e. Hyping up prisoners to take their pain out on WHICHEVER SCAPEGOAT they're Told To Hate)! Yes, many people, including early-process anarchists, do not think this shit thru!
Duh! Kept in such a state of affairs, we soon 'Burn Out and try to Get Back into our Privilege (of whatever sort). And tyranny gets stronger.
So, popularly, we tend to think that 'ABUSE **IS** abuse', and that the use of this word is benign, even when paired with another word, in this case violence.
The youngster's unhappiness with the situation does NOT automatically mean that they want you to sever them from their romance interest, tho!! More likely, they would want to be a PART OF a solution that ALSO benefits the one who may feel cornered or not understood!
And then there's the old one where how many women want to Tame their lover (usually as soon as they Get Married; but in the younger crowd, they seem to often have this Narrative Strong in their heads, still, long before marriage!). I think.
They have often uncritically INTERNALIZED some ideas about getting their lover to Fit In to the FRAMES OF REFERENCES that THEY bought into, usually meaning, Get A Job, A White Picket Fence, a car, and a couple kids, all living a Nice Middle Class lifestyle (like their TV mentor pushed over and over).
Well, is it not so???
So there are INTRIGUES inherent in human relations, when people "just want to help". And if we cannot explore these, being Cajoled with hierarchical EMOTIONS as we so often are (not just y'all in Belarus), then we fall into VERY SNEAKY traps! Laid by neocolonials who aren't in this for the fun of it!
That these neocolonials have whole colleges set up to study dissent and try to keep steps ahead, is insightful. It is also powerful for us, since we are "merely" standing, often solo, with the truth as it occurs in our hearts! ! Think about THAT! "Realize the value!"
We ARE power, when we see it! But it usually takes shedding most of what we've been Taught early on!
(This view is in process and invites thoughtful challenge!)
"It is not okay to say that…
anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/28/2026 - 15:55
"It is not okay to say that someone is lying when they say that they were hurt by your actions"
What about when they're lying tho? Sounds like dude is a creep, but he's also our comrade locked up for a decade. Imagine being sent to prison in another country, & the few people outside you still interact with demand that you enter a humiliating formal process of shame about an ex girlfriend from over a decade ago.
I've been in the movements for 20ish years, and am finding myself just rolling my eyes when an ex girlfriend starts retroactively calling their ex "abusive". Which feels terrible! But what do I do when it is *always* some bullshit? How do we get out of this situation other than by actively engaging on *specifically* what happened?
if it is "always" some…
anonymous (not verified) Wed, 01/28/2026 - 20:17
In reply to "It is not okay to say that… by anonymous (not verified)
if it is "always" some bullshit, then you're ignoring some serious shit.
outing yourself as an unreliable narrator there, sonny.
demystify the bullshit in jubilee-style engagement!
anonymous (not verified) Thu, 02/05/2026 - 23:01
In reply to "It is not okay to say that… by anonymous (not verified)
I guess it comes down to Who Gets To Decide what is bullshit? (Watch out for those hierarchies, folks!)
The usual scenario in my experience is that the man cannot adequately articulate a defense so he resorts to physicality. Or, he's been led to believe, thanks to his pals at the bar, that females' "sentimentality" is bullshit. And that they're not worth trying to side-stand (including when that means that males need to have an "attitude adjustment"!). Maybe they're so overwhelmed and cynical from all the bullshit in their lives that they ASSUME that "sassy" females are ALSO stuck in that same bullshit?!? Or, they "just" need to VENT. (And this can play out BOTH ways)
Anyway, their bar pals tell 'em, "The Only Way to Deal With Women" is to "knock sense into them". Talk about bullshit! But it comes back down to "Men are from Mars, and Women are From Venus"! (Basically, women have been socialized to be emotional supporters, and men have been socialized to be killers without emotion!)
So how to INSPIRE MEANINGFUL COMMUNICATION?
Well, like another poster postulated, how about having something along the lines of an ANARCHIST JUBILEE CHANNEL?!!? That is, a place where we see all of our arguments being played out in arguments with a wide variety of folks, and, as we see their arguments, we begin to demystify the bullshit!! Eh?
neat idea
anonymous (not verified) Fri, 02/06/2026 - 17:19
In reply to demystify the bullshit in jubilee-style engagement! by anonymous (not verified)
neat idea
Add new comment