Larissa game 1

In this game, you will act out the events of Wednesday, 16 February 2021, when the police in Belarus carried out searches in the homes of many journalists and people working with human rights.

Freelance journalist Larissa lives with her 14-year-old son in a house in the city of Homel (Gomel). She wakes up to the police banging on her door. Even before the raid, Larissa has been anxious and tense. Still, she has a plan. She also has equipment she does not want the police to take. The police confiscated her old computer at the border when she returned from a holiday trip last autumn.

Her son is worried and does not want the police to take his phone, but Larissa does not have time to deal with him. Eventually, Larissa opens the door to the police, who search her entire house as well as her garage and the sauna in the yard. The garage is full of old clutter. The police search wardrobes and take, among other things, an old computer, her bank card, papers, books, and old electronics. One police officer is responsible for taking photos and videos to show their superior that they are actually working to suppress activism.

1. First, act out a scene where two to three police officers meet in the morning at the police station to prepare for a day of searches at the homes of various journalists and human rights activists. The officers have received orders from authorities to carry out as many searches as possible, and it is important that they actually find evidence that can be used in potential trials against activists who want to “make a revolution.” The activists’ red and white colors work well. The most important thing now is to show their boss that they are “working hard.” There are demands from above for “results,” and the police want to show that they can handle this better than, for example, the KGB at the local level.

2. Act out when the police begin knocking on the door outside Larissa’s and her son’s house. Larissa wakes up but does not open the door; instead, she starts running around trying to follow her “plan.” She is protective of her equipment. The son has also woken up and is worried about his phone. Larissa does not have time for him. The police shout and bang harder on the door, and eventually Larissa has to open it.

3. In the third scene, the police search Larissa’s house and behave in an intimidating manner. Larissa tries to remain as calm as possible and repeats that she has done nothing wrong. The police try to find evidence, first inside the house, and take with them, among other things, an old computer, her bank card, papers, books, and old electronics. The son is allowed to keep his phone.

4. In this scene, the police search Larissa’s garage in the yard. It is full of old clutter, and the officers become frustrated when they do not find anything interesting. Larissa repeats that there is nothing there and becomes more confident, angry, and upset. The son hides. Eventually, the police leave with three cardboard boxes of “evidence.”

5. Larissa and her son try to clean up after the police, and the son is angry with Larissa for working as a journalist. Larissa tries to defend herself as best she can.