{{Short description|Belarusian political activist}} {{Infobox person | name = Ivan Kravtsov | image = Ivan Kravtsov, Minsk, August 22, 2020.jpg | alt = {{langx|be|lvan Yauhenievich Kravtsov}} | caption = Kravtsov in 2020 | native_name = Иван Кравцов<br>Іван Краўцоў | native_name_lang = ru | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|06|10|df=y}} | birth_place = Minsk, BSSR, Soviet Union | citizenship = Belarus | occupation = Architect, manager | education = Master of Economics | alma_mater = BNTU, BSEU | political_party = "Razam" | other_party = Pavel Latushko's Team and the Movement 'For Freedom' | known_for = 2020 Belarusian presidential election }}
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'''Ivan Yevgenyevich Kravtsov''' ({{langx|be|Іван Яўгеньевіч Краўцоў}}; born June 10, 1989) is a political activist, architect, manager, executive secretary of the Coordination Council of the Belarusian Opposition,<ref name=":0">{{cite news|date=2020-09-01|title=На допрос вызван исполнительный секретарь совета белорусской оппозиции|trans-title=Executive Secretary of Belarusian Opposition Council is Brought to Interrogation|url=https://www.interfax.ru/world/724109|language=ru |work=Interfax |location=Moscow|access-date=2021-08-26}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Coordination Council of Belarus |url=https://rada.vision/en |website=Coordination Council |access-date=3 June 2021}}</ref> member of the organising committee of the party "Razam" and the team of presidential candidate in 2020 Belarusian elections Viktar Babaryka.<ref name=":2">{{cite news|date=2020-09-01|title=Штаб Бабарико подал ходатайство в КГБ, чтобы Виктора выпустили из СИЗО|trans-title=Babaryka Team Pleads to KGB for Viktar to Be Released|url=https://www.the-village.me/village/city/news-city/283655-osvobodili|language=ru|work=The Village Беларусь|location=Minsk|access-date=2020-07-28|archive-date=2021-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507122331/https://www.the-village.me/village/city/news-city/283655-osvobodili|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Early life == Ivan was born in Minsk on June 10, 1989. His mother, Kravtsova Lyudmila, is a Belarusian pop artist and singer.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bezkorovakny|first=Dmitry|date=2002-03-11|title=CD-ОБЗОР|trans-title=CD REVIEW|url=http://www.belgazeta.by/ru/2002_03_11/cd-obzor/3809/|language=ru|work=BelGazeta|location=Minsk|access-date=2021-06-03|archive-date=2021-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506191555/http://www.belgazeta.by/ru/2002_03_11/cd-obzor/3809/|url-status=dead}}</ref> His father, Yevgeny Kravtsov (deceased in 2012<ref>{{cite news|date=2012-12-24|title=Умер известный белорусский банкир|trans-title=A Well-known Belarusian Banker is Dead|url=https://belaruspartisan.by/economic/225391/|language=ru|work=Belarusian Partisan|location=Minsk|access-date=2021-11-23|archive-date=2021-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123164717/https://belaruspartisan.by/economic/225391/|url-status=dead}}</ref>), was a shareholder and chairman of MinskComplexBank, a Minsk-based commercial bank, liquidated in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|date=1999-09-01|title=Belarus: Living With an Image Problem|trans-title=|url=https://www.euromoney.com/article/b1320gk9nf9xw9/belarus-living-with-an-image-problem|language=en|work=Euromoney|location=|access-date=2021-11-23}}</ref> Grandmother, Kravtsova Halina, is a professor of economics at BSEU.<ref>{{cite news|date=2020-09-19|title="Я з 13 гадоў ведаю, што такое КДБ"|trans-title="I've known since I was 13 years old what a KGB is"|url=https://www.svaboda.org/a/30846442.html|language=be|work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|location=|access-date=2021-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scholar.google.ru/citations?user=4Iy1bmgAAAAJ&hl=ru|title=Кравцова Галина Ивановна, Halina Kravtsjova}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== Pre-politics === Ivan is also a founder and art director of Architectural bureau 35, based in Minsk.<ref>{{cite news|last=Malakhov|first=Dmitry|date=2017-06-29|title=Строить брутально|trans-title=To Build Brutally|url=https://dom-expert.by/ivan-kravtsov-interview/|language=ru |work=dom-expert.by|location=Minsk|access-date=2021-11-23}}</ref> Until May 2019, Ivan Kravtsov worked as Chief Strategy Officer at Minsk Watch Factory "Luch."<ref>{{cite news|date=2019-05-19|title=Главный стратег завода "Луч" покинул свою должность|trans-title=Chief Strategist of Minsk Watch Plant Has Left His Job|url=https://marketing.by/novosti-rynka/glavnyy-strateg-zavoda-luch-pokinul-svoyu-dolzhnost-vspominaem-samye-yarkie-proekty-sozdannye-brendo/|language=ru|work=Marketing.by|location=Minsk|access-date=2021-11-23|archive-date=2021-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506193045/https://marketing.by/novosti-rynka/glavnyy-strateg-zavoda-luch-pokinul-svoyu-dolzhnost-vspominaem-samye-yarkie-proekty-sozdannye-brendo/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== 2020 Belarusian presidential election === {{main|2020 Belarusian presidential election|2020–2021 Belarusian protests}} In May 2020, Ivan Kravtsov joined the campaign team of Belarusian banker and presidential candidate in the 2020 Belarusian presidential elections Viktar Babaryka, as public relations executive manager.<ref>{{cite news|last= Becchio|first=Anastasia|date=2021-07-21|title=Viktor Babaryko, l'homme politique le plus populaire de Biélorussie, devant Loukachenko|trans-title=Viktor Babaryko, Belarus' most popular politician, ahead of Lukashenko|url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/européen-de-la-semaine/20210703-viktor-babariko-l-homme-politique-le-plus-populaire-de-biélorussie-devant-loukachenko|language=fr |work=Radio France Internationale|location=|access-date=2021-11-23}}</ref> On July 28, 2020, together with Maria Kalesnikava and other Viktar Babaryka team members, he petitioned the KGB of Belarus for a change of restraining order of Viktar.<ref name=":2"/>
After the election day, on August 18, 2020, political and civic activists formed the Coordination Council. The Coordination Council members aimed at holding talks with the Belarusian authorities on a peaceful transfer of power.<ref>{{cite news|date=2020-08-19|title=Оппозиция в Белоруссии призвала власти страны немедленно начать переговоры|trans-title=Opposition in Belarus Demands to Start Negotiations|url=https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/9241175|language=ru|work=TASS|location=Minsk|access-date=2021-11-23}}</ref> Ivan joined the Coordination Council as its Executive Secretary.
On September 1, 2020, Kravtsov was summoned for questioning in the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus. He was interviewed as a witness within the frame of a criminal inquiry under Article 361 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (organization of an extremist group).<ref name=":0" />
==== Maria Kalesnikava's abduction and criminal charges ==== {{main|Maria Kalesnikava}}
On September 7, 2020, the media reported that the coordinator of the Viktar Babaryka team and one of the political activists, Maria Kalesnikava, had disappeared. She had gone missing along with Ivan Kravtsov and the press-secretary of the Coordination Council, Anton Radniankou.<ref>{{cite news|last=Davies|first=Guy|date=2020-09-07|title=Key opposition figure in Belarus disappears after weekend of mass protests|trans-title=|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/key-opposition-figure-belarus-disappears-weekend-mass-protests/story?id=72861997|language=en |work=ABC News|location=|access-date=2021-11-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2020-09-07|title=В Минске пропала Мария Колесникова|trans-title=Maria Kalesnikava Disappears in Minsk|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4482764|language=ru|work=Kommersant|location=|access-date=2021-11-23}}</ref>
As it turned out later, Kravtsov was escorted to the Financial Investigation Department (FID), where unknown security officials threatened him with 12-year imprisonment. They demanded Kravtsov to bring Kalesnikava out of the country using his private car. According to the officials, the operation was meant to "de-escalate" the political situation in Belarus through its later media coverage as "leaders gave up on the protest movement".<ref>{{cite news|last=Aris|first=Ben|date=2020-09-09|title=More details of Belarus' failed attempt to expel opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova emerge|trans-title=|url=https://www.bne.eu/more-details-of-belarus-failed-attempt-to-expel-opposition-leader-maria-kolesnikova-emerge-191493/|language=en|work=Bne IntelliNews|location=Berlin|access-date=2021-11-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-09-08 |title=Родненков и Кравцов — о том, как покинули Беларусь без Колесниковой |website=TUT.by |url=https://news.tut.by/economics/699770.html |access-date=2021-06-03 |archive-date=2020-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908182146/https://news.tut.by/economics/699770.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=CCTV footage said to show car carrying Belarus opposition figure at border – video |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2020/sep/08/cctv-footage-said-to-show-car-carrying-belarus-opposition-figure-at-border-video |website=The Guardian |date=8 September 2020 |access-date=3 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Levchenko |first1=Grigory |title=That's why she's one of our leaders |url=https://meduza.io/en/feature/2020/09/08/that-s-why-she-s-one-of-our-leaders |access-date=3 June 2021 |agency=Meduza |date=8 September 2020}}</ref>
The same day Kravtsov's apartment was searched by FID.<ref>{{cite news|date=2020-09-07|title=Обыск прошел в квартире пропавшего белорусского оппозиционера|trans-title=Searches conducted it the apartment of the disappeared Belarusian opposition activist Kravtsov|url=https://www.interfax.ru/world/724914|language=ru|work=Interfax|location=|access-date=2021-08-23}}</ref> Though KGB operatives threatened Maria Kalesnikava with imprisonment or murder, she managed to stay by deliberately tearing up her passport at the Belarus-Ukrainian border.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kozhedubov|first=Artyom|date=2020-10-09|title=Колесникова в деталях рассказала хронологию ее похищения и ареста|trans-title=Kalesnikova describes in detail the chronology of her abduction and arrest|url=https://www.mk.ru/politics/2020/09/10/kolesnikova-v-detalyakh-rasskazala-khronologiyu-ee-pokhishheniya-i-aresta.html|language=ru|work=Moskovskij Komsomolets|location=Moscow|access-date=2020-06-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Belarusian Coordination Council member Maria Kolesnikova detained at the border |url=https://tass.com/world/1198335 |access-date=3 June 2021 |agency=TASS |date=8 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Harding|first=Luke|authorlink=Luke Harding|date=2020-09-08|title=Belarus opposition leader 'ripped up passport at Ukraine border'|trans-title=|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/08/maria-kolesnikova-germany-and-uk-call-for-release-of-snatched-belarus-opposition-figure|language=en|work=The Guardian|location=|access-date=2021-11-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Gordeev|first=Vladislav|date=2020-09-08|title=Белорусские оппозиционеры сообщили о погоне на границе с Украиной|trans-title=Belarusian opposition activists reported a chase on the border with Ukraine|url=https://www.rbc.ru/politics/08/09/2020/5f57c5379a79470658c06d2b|language=ru|work=RBK Group|location=Moscow|access-date=2021-06-03}}</ref> Kravtsov and Radniankou were able to reach Ukraine, despite Alexander Lukashenko announcing the request for the extradition of both.<ref>{{cite news|date=2020-09-08|title=Лукашенко попросил Киев вернуть двух белорусских оппозиционеров|trans-title=Lukashenko asked Kiev to return two Belarusian opposition activists|url=https://www.interfax.ru/world/725090|language=ru|work=Interfax|location=|access-date=2020-06-07}}</ref>
On September 11, the State Control Committee of the Republic of Belarus opened a criminal case against Kravtsov under Part 4 Article 210 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus for theft through abuse of power.<ref>{{cite news|date=2020-09-08|title=Уехавший на Украину белорусский оппозиционер Кравцов стал фигурантом уголовного дела|trans-title=Belarusian opposition activist Kravtsov, who left for Ukraine, became a defendant in a criminal case|url=https://www.interfax.ru/world/726585|language=ru|work=Interfax|location=Moscow|access-date=2020-06-07}}</ref>
On September 17, Ivan Kravtsov applied to the Investigative Committee for opening an investigation over his abduction and illegal extradition.<ref>{{cite news|date=2020-09-08|title=Секретарь совета белорусской оппозиции Кравцов требует открыть дело по факту его похищения|trans-title=Secretary of the Belarusian Opposition Council Kravtsov demands the opening of a case on his kidnapping|url=https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/9480989|language=ru|work=TASS|location=Minsk|access-date=2020-06-07}}</ref>
=== Party "Razam" === {{main|Razam (Belarusian political party)}}
In August 2020, Viktar Babaryka and Maria Kalesnikava announced the foundation of the "Razam" political party in a video message. They said that soon the team would submit documents for registration of the party.<ref>{{cite news|date=2020-08-31|title=Belarus opposition leaders creating political party: video|trans-title=|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-belarus-election-party-idUSKBN25R2PD|language=en|work=Reuters|location=Moscow|access-date=2021-11-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Ivanova|first=Polina|date=2020-09-01|title=Belarus opposition leaders to create new political party|trans-title=|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/belarus-protests-opposition-election-maria-kolesnikova-lukashenko-together-a9697916.html|language=en|work=The Independent|location=|access-date=2021-11-23}}</ref> However, Maria Kalesnikova and several other members of the Babaryka team were arrested shortly after. The creation of the political party resumed at the end of March 2021. Ivan Kravtsov joined the organizing committee along with other team members and activists.<ref>{{cite news|date=2021-03-29|title=Штаб Бабарико заявил о создании партии "Вместе"|trans-title=Babariko's headquarters announced the creation of the "Together" party|url=https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/11015617|language=ru|work=TASS|location=Minsk|access-date=2021-11-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=2021-03-31|title=В штабе Бабарико заявили, что будут пытаться зарегистрировать создаваемую им партию|trans-title=Babariko's headquarters said they would try to register the party he was creating|url=https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/11044367|language=ru|work=TASS|location=Minsk|access-date=2021-11-23}}</ref>
=== The Coordination Council === {{main|Coordination Council (Belarus)}}
Kravtsov has been the secretary of the Coordination Council since its formation in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title="Special proceedings" were also launched against the secretary of the Coordination Council |url=https://belsat.eu/ru/news/23-01-2024-protiv-sekretarya-koordinatsionnogo-soveta-takzhe-zaveli-spetsialnoe-proizvodstvo |access-date=2024-01-27 |agency=Belsat TV |date=2024-01-23}}</ref> On January 23, 2024, the Belarusian Investigative Committee announced that charges where brought against Kravtsov, which are related to his activity in the Coordination Council. He has been accused of conspiracy or other actions committed to seize government power, creation of an extremist group, and other articles of the criminal code.<ref>{{cite news |title=A criminal case has been opened in Minsk against Kravtsov, a representative of the opposition council. |url=https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/19796945 |access-date=2024-01-27 |agency=TASS |date=2024-01-23}}</ref> Previously, the Belarusian authorities recognized the Coordination Council as an extremist organization in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Ministry of Internal Affairs recognized the Coordination Council, Tikhanovskaya's team and a group of analysts as "extremist formations |url=Coordination Council (Belarus) |access-date=2024-01-27 |agency=Zerkalo.io |date=2023-01-26}}</ref> On May 16, 2024, Kravtsov was sentenced to 11 years of prison ''in absentia''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.golosameriki.com/a/belorussian-court-in-absentia-gave-secetary-of-coordination-council-of-opposition-ivan-kravtsov-11-years-of-prison/7615283.html|title=В Беларуси суд заочно назначил исполнительному секретарю Координационного совета оппозиции Ивану Кравцову 11 лет колонии|trans-title=In Belarus, the court sentenced in absentia the executive secretary of the Coordination Council of the Opposition Ivan Kravtsov to 11 years in prison|work=Voice of America|date=May 16, 2024|language=ru}}</ref>
== See also == * Viktar Babaryka * Maxim Znak * Coordination Council (Belarus)
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kravtsov, Ivan}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:People from Minsk Category:Belarusian architects Category:21st-century Belarusian politicians Category:Politicians from Minsk Category:People convicted in absentia Category:People of the Belarusian partisan movement (2020–present)