Jauhien’s game 4
16 February 2021
Police conduct a house search
Note! Jauhien was imprisoned from 13 September 2022 to 11 September 2025.
Read more here!
On Wednesday morning, 16 February, the police suddenly carry out a house search at the home of cardiologist Alexander in Homel. His son Konstantin also lives there; he has mental health problems and therefore spends most of his time in front of his computer. The police who enter the house are looking for the journalist Jauhien Merkis, Alexander’s son, but he has already been living at another address for several years.
Jauhien learns that his father’s and brother’s home is being searched, but he cannot reach his relatives himself. The police have already confiscated all phones and computers from his father and brother.
Act out the scenes below or come up with your own.
Approximate duration: 15 minutes.
1. First, act out a scene between the cardiologist Alexander and his son Konstantin during a normal morning at home in the city of Homel.
2. Act out the scene where 2–3 police officers knock loudly on the door, look for the son Jauhien (a journalist), and enter to conduct a house search, even though Jauhien does not live there.
3. Act out the scene where Jauhien learns about the house search: how he reacts and how he then discusses it with a friend or colleague.
4. Act out the scene after the house search, when cardiologist Alexander and his son Konstantin are left alone in the house without phones, computers, or any way to contact relatives. Alexander eventually manages to get hold of a phone. He is worried about his job, even though he is a skilled and well-known cardiologist in his hometown. Many of his younger colleagues are already working in Poland.
5. Act out the scene where cardiologist Alexander and Jauhien meet in the city several weeks after the events.
Roles
- Game leader + minimum 4–6 participants
- Jauhien
- Jauhien’s father, the elderly doctor and cardiologist Alexander
- Jauhien’s brother Konstantin
- Jauhien’s colleague
- 2–3 police officers
If there are fewer than four participants, the same person can play both a police officer and the brother Konstantin (who may have left the house during the search). Jauhien and his colleague/friend can also be played by the same people who play Alexander, Konstantin, or one of the police officers.
Props
- Phones, a tablet, and a computer (or objects representing them)
- Red and white clothes and/or fabrics
Locations
- At Jauhien’s father Alexander’s home
- At Jauhien’s home
Material
Listen to the audio files:
- 14 April 2021: Jauhien about the search of his father’s home
- 14 April 2021: Jauhien has not been able to meet his brother
16 February 2021 – Sergei reports to Ingrid on Telegram:
“Sad news: today police/KGB/Belarusian militia—you name it—are cracking down on the Belarusian Association of Journalists, with searches across the country. Human rights organizations are also under fire today (most likely arrests will follow).”
16 February 2021 – Jauhien reports to Ingrid:
“The official reason stated by the militia is the search for various forms of protest support. But it varies. I read in the news that there was also a search at my father’s home.”
12 March 2021 – Jauhien writes to Ingrid:
“Hello Ingrid! I’m so sorry for not contacting you. These past weeks everything has been spinning like a carousel—work, troubles with my family after the searches, safety measures in front of the local police.”
For questions about the game or workshops related to it, please contact: Ingrid Svanfeldt
The project has been granted funding from the following foundations:
The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Foundation for Journalistic Culture – Jokes and the Foundation for Media and Development – Vikes.
Copyright © 2026 Svanfield OY