State of Denial

© Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project © Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project © Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project View all images ↓
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  • Dates
    2023 - Ongoing
  • Author
  • Topics Social Issues, War & Conflicts
  • Location Warsaw, Poland

“State of denial” project explores human functioning in a digital reality full of fake news, deep fakes and media manipulation or propaganda, which is a common experience in our lives.

My name is Sasha. I’m a political exile from Belarus — an isolated country, where a repressive dictatorship rules and freedom of speech has been destroyed. State-controlled media conceal the real situation: in 2020, after the presidential elections, mass protests erupted, the number of political prisoners rose from 1 to more than 2,000. Disappearances became more frequent, the laws and Constitution ceased to protect citizens. In Belarus, you can be imprisoned for speaking Belarusian, for praying or wearing white-red-white — the colours of our historical flag, now labeled extremist.

My project State of Denial explores what it means to exist inside a distorted reality. We live in a world of fakes and propaganda — forces that shape not only the content of information, but also how we perceive it.

The project consists of two parts. The first is a series of staged photographs based on real and frightening arrest cases in Belarus. These stories seem absurd, but they happen every day.

The second part features images generated by artificial intelligence, based on headlines from state media published on the exact days of those arrests. Instead of facts, there’s a flood of irrelevant, bizarre, distracting news. For each case, I selected 12 headlines published on the day of the arrest—to show how, in moments of crisis, propaganda generates visual and informational noise.

Propaganda is not just a Belarusian problem. It exists everywhere. In some places, it is aggressive and obvious; in others, it is subtle — embedded in interfaces, entertainment, and algorithms. But the goal is always the same: to rewrite reality, erase the truth, and conceal state crimes.

This project addresses global questions of freedom, information manipulation, and human rights — questions relevant to everyone facing repression and distorted realities.

© Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project
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A well-known vascular surgeon in the city of Grodno was put on trial. He went out into the street with an icon and a cross, praying for peace in Belarus. A report was filed against him for "participating in an unauthorized event."

© Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project
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The "Circle Dance" case is the largest mass trial of demonstrators in Belarus. On September 13, 2020, during the street action, people came to the intersection of Cosmonauts Boulevard and Masherov Avenue in Brest. They danced in a circle and sang songs. Nevertheless, the police brought water cannons and dispersed the people.

© Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project
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A resident of Zhdanovichi was detained after being identified in a photo of a tea gathering where white-red-white flags were present, which was deemed illegal picketing. Despite stating he was just having tea with neighbors after picking up his children, the court found him guilty of violating mass event regulations. After his release,his phone and personal belongings were not returned.

© Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project
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In Gomel, a man was reported for making a snowman with a red scarf and the inscription "Zhyve Belarus!" near his house. The evidence of the picket was a photograph, likely taken by one of the neighbours. A protocol was drawn up for the owner of the melted snowman under Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code ("Violation of the procedure for holding mass events").

© Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project
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A court hearing was held in Hrodna on the "gnome case": according to the prosecution, a man held an unauthorized solitary picket by placing a toy—a decorative gnome with a white-red-white flag—on the windowsill of his apartment. The administrative case against the man was brought under Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences (“Violation of the procedure for holding mass events”).

© Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project
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A 65-year-old pensioner was detained in Minsk. On April 21, police burst into his apartment and searched it for six hours. The reason was a complaint from neighbors that "he annoyed everyone with his use of the Belarusian language." After the detention, the man was taken to Akrestsino. His family says that the court sentenced him to 15 days of arrest.

© Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project
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A 27-year-old young man from Minsk was arrested and sentenced to 15 days in prison. According to the judge, "he took part in a picketing by placing a white-red-white paper cloth on the glass of the balcony at an unspecified time. The man left an LG SmartTV box on the balcony.

© Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project
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The owner of the apartment where prosecutor's assistant Alina Kasjanczyk lived asked her to move out. Alina agreed, and the lease was terminated by mutual consent. However, soon a criminal case was initiated against the apartment owner under the article on violation of rights and civil equality. As a result, the woman was sentenced to two years of restricted freedom.

© Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project
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A 26-year-old programmer and his wife were detained in Minsk after returning from Poland for sharing news from Telegram channels labeled extremist. They faced repeated administrative arrests, with the wife spending her 27th birthday in jail and being forced to record a "confession video" used in state propaganda.

© Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project
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In March 2022, a high school history teacher in Minsk wore blue and yellow ribbons in her hair. Colleagues questioned her, the administration claimed it violated the dress code, and the principal demanded a written explanation before calling the police. The court found her guilty of organizing a mass event and fined her 700 euros.

© Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project
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On September 28, 2021, security forces raided the apartment of a Minsk IT specialist, but instead of the usual brutal arrests, a shootout erupted, leaving both the owner and a KGB officer dead. A journalist who wrote an article in which acquaintances spoke positively about the deceased was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison.

© Sasha Velichko - Image from the State of Denial photography project
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In September, a young man from Navapolatsk visited a gym in Minsk, where he saw the propagandist Azaryonka. He mentioned it on Twitter and was subsequently detained. Later, he was forced to record a video with security forces and Azaryonka himself. Under pressure, he had to reveal details of his personal life and endure humiliation. A criminal case was opened against him.