Anna Khizhnyak, a former member of the Zarnitsa children's choir, accused his teacher, Honored Teacher of Ukraine, of harassment and rape. The girl told her story so that everyone would know: behind the mask of a respected person, there is a monster that needs to be punished.
Anna published her story online
Artist Anna Khizhnyak published her story on social networks. 24 The channel talked to the girl about how she will seek justice and what punishment she considers deserved for “deserved”.
Anna came to the famous Kiev children's choir “Zarnitsa” when she was 12 years old (2012). A girl in love with singing has just moved to the Ukrainian capital. I have not yet met new friends, but, as Anna recalls, there were many teenage complexes. They were used by the perpetrator.
Everything was innocent at first. Anna enjoyed her new hobby and met new people. Then there were the first concerts in my life and a trip abroad.
Important! We do not disclose the name of the “deserved” and the name of the institution, since preparations are underway to apply to law enforcement agencies. It is not yet possible to publish this data.
“Honored teacher molested and even raped” minors
Everything changed in the winter of 2013. After the concert, Anna went to bring the costume. Of all the teachers, he was the only one. Anna said that the “deserved” teacher then harassed her for the first time. The girl fell into a stupor, and the monster kissed her cheeks and lips, and then grabbed her chest. Anna was shocked. Then she was saved by the fact that another member of the choir entered the office.
It's always the perpetrator's fault. But, unfortunately, this rule does not apply in the Zarnitsa choir, where the honored teacher of Ukraine molested, harassed and even raped underage girls, says Anna.
The unfortunate teacher took an alto-type voice (very rare) for rehearsals. Anna had a viola, so the “teacher” took her to a separate room to create ideal conditions for his inhuman actions.
The harassment did not stop during the trips of the choir. In particular, Anna spoke about the trip from Skadovsk to Kyiv. He bought train tickets and chose who would sleep where. The unfortunate teacher took the bottom shelf for himself – Anna was supposed to sleep on the right side below.
In the middle of the night, the girl woke up from the fact that she was pawed. The unfortunate teacher was not even stopped by the fact that his wife, also the leader of the choir, was sleeping nearby.
Anna recalls that she was afraid. In particular, she was afraid of the reaction of the “maestro's” wife: her cries that she had actually seduced an elderly teacher.
“And with this fear, I walked and was silent for 9 years. I felt guilty that nature gave me 6 breast sizes, a proportional figure and plump lips. Touching, molesting, sex. With a minor me,” Anna shares.
The terrible story of a “deserved” marriage
Anna said that his age difference with his wife is 35 years. One of the ex-members of the choir told Anna that these “relationships” developed before her eyes. The future wife of the “deserved” came to the choir as a child. Then all her underage colleagues saw how he “touched his future wife on the bus and how she, as a child, tried to” satisfy “him.”
Subsequently, the girl gave birth to two sons from him , and then joined the teaching staff of the choir.
It is still covered
Anna found the strength to share what was happening only at the age of 22. The husband and parents supported the girl.
“What do you think it's like to tell your husband that the first person you had was a pervert grandfather who is in his 70s, who has a wife and two sons? The grandfather who took you to a separate apartment to rape you. Grandfather, who is in the next office, bending your head so that you give him a f * no, when behind the wall his wife is singing with other girls, “says the girl.
Anna's mother immediately told everything to the director of the institution. The meeting was attended by the director, head teachers, he , his wife and Anna and her husband. Finally, Anna said everything she thought to the “deserved” one. For myself and the girls who have suffered abuse for years. Some of the victims already have grandchildren, but they are still afraid to admit what they had to endure. He was fired.
He has his own cult. For 50 years has collected a whole group of fans. Resisting victims in such circumstances is extremely difficult.
Only three friends from the choir believed Anna. Other girls with whom she sang for 10 years turned away. But no one believed in the victims of the “deserved”, whose youth fell on the times of the USSR. Then only one girl decided to tell her terrible story to her mother. The woman began to find out, and in response she heard only – “do not invent, this cannot be.”
Anna says that he is still being covered. They are afraid for the reputation of the institution and do not want to “spoil the life of a good person.”
“He” created a real paradise for himself – a women's choir, in which “he” manipulated children and raped, “says Anna.
She added that she was no longer afraid. The girl has support, a psychotherapist and a lawyer. Anna is determined to fight. She wants the victims to no longer be afraid. Anna encourages victims to write to her in order to achieve justice together.
It's always the rapist's fault, not the victim's.
Editorial staff of Channel 24 talked to Anna
The editors of Channel 24 talked to Anna. We didn't want to ask for details that could cause injury. They asked if other victims responded after Anna's post, whether they would sue, what punishment would be fair for the “deserved”. Anna also shared what to do for girls who are subjected to violence, but who are afraid to seek help.
After you voiced your story, did other ex-members of the choir write to you? Maybe someone finally decided to admit that they had experienced such a terrible experience?
Yes, other victims have responded. Not only the girls who sang with me, but also much older. Some of them were not victims, but were witnesses to something. People began to respond.
Responding girls will also sue? Or are they not mentally prepared yet?
I hired a lawyer. We are doing this. If the girls who were also victims want to join, they will join. Some have already done it.
What would be the right punishment for him?
I understand that my situation is very difficult. This is a person with a certain authority. He has fans who still adore him. But the truth is on my side. If the girls are not afraid, we will be able to punish him in the most fair way. Legal.
Do you think these fans who still remain with him understand everything, but turn a blind eye to obvious things?
There are girls who said that they did not witness this, but they remember that there were always certain rumors. I'm sure those who say “this can't be” are just closing their eyes. He spent 50 years in the choir, where girls from 10 to 21 years old maximum study.
He really excels in his profession. But these inclinations were still from youth. A 50-year-old woman shared her story. For generations people have been afraid. Ever since he was a boy. The tendencies were there from the very beginning.
About 3 thousand girls went through the choir and its classes. I'm sure a thousand of them could have been hurt. I had a very difficult situation – rape. Many girls he just pawed. He took care of many. This is also violence. There are a lot of such stories. Maybe not all girls even realize that they have become victims.
What advice can you give to girls who are having a similar experience but don't know how to deal with a bully?
You need to find at least one person you really trust. If this person believes you, there will be much more strength to tell others about it. I told the person I trusted the most. Then I found the strength to tell friends, parents, write a post on social networks.
