Live stream by Pavel Latushko addresses allegations of harassment by Olga Karpushonok
In the heart of Europe, a series of accusations and counter-accusations have been unfolding between Pavel Latyshko, a key figure in Belarus's opposition, and Olga Karpukhonkova, a member of the Coordination Council.
Latyshko, who has been under constant threat, including over 150 threats of physical elimination, claims that the primary goal of these attacks is to discredit him and his team, particularly the People's Anti-Crisis Management. He further alleges that the main objective is to remove him from the public sphere and prevent him from articulating the importance of criminal prosecution of Lukashenko.
On the other hand, Karpukhonkova claims that after refusing Latyshko's repeated invitations to a restaurant, he threatened "problems in Poland," promising to "tell such things about her" that she would either be "sent to prison or deported to Belarus."
The controversy deepened when Karpukhonkova published accusations against Latyshko on Facebook, accusing him of sexual harassment and threats. In response, Latyshko states that he has no personal life.
Suspicions arose at the National Anti-Corruption Action Center (NAU) about Karpukhonk's possible cooperation with Belarusian special services. She was offered to take a polygraph test, but she left the team without taking it. Information has been received that Karpushonok took a polygraph test at the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine) and failed.
Latyshko also states that there have been two attempts to eliminate the threat to his physical elimination. He claims that Pablo Gonzalez, Pavel Rubtsov, a colonel from the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, visited his office under the pretext of an interview.
On May 14, Latyshko warned that special services of Belarus were preparing a special operation aimed at discrediting him and his colleagues. He and Artem Brouhan presented screenshots of messages and emails aimed at recruiting members of the People's Anti-Crisis Management and committing illegal actions on the territory of Poland on July 31.
Prior to her stay in May 2022, Karpukhonkova was registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She worked as a volunteer with the People's Anti-Crisis Management team and had no employment contract. Olga Karpukhonkova, before her involvement in the Belarusian opposition, previously worked as a lawyer in the "Maslov, Gasinskiy and Partners" firm and defended political prisoners, including journalist Andrei Aleksandrov.
As the situation continues to unfold, both Latyshko and Karpukhonkova have expressed their intentions to defend their reputations. Latyshko intends to defend his reputation in court by filing a complaint with the prosecutor's office for a crime committed against him or by filing a civil lawsuit to protect his honor, dignity, and business reputation. Karpukhonkova, according to Latyshko's information, is currently not in Poland, but in Spain.
