Former political prisoner Pavel Seviarynets spent more than 11 years behind bars and, after being deported from Belarus, is starting life in exile from scratch. He plans to resume his public work, publish books, and launch a YouTube channel – and is asking for support.
My name is Pavel Seviarynets. I am a writer, artist, and politician. I was detained on June 7, 2020, and spent five and a half years in prison. In total, I have served more than 11 years behind bars.
In Belarus, I published my books (I have written 14) and was engaged in public and political activity. On December 13, 2025, I was forcibly deported from Belarus without documents. My family left everything behind and followed me. We are now together in Vilnius, waiting for our documents to be processed.
After my sudden release and deportation, I continue to believe in a better future for Belarus – even from abroad. That is why I have decided to continue my work. I plan to create and develop a YouTube channel that will inform Belarusians about events in Belarus and around the world, produce a series of videos about Belarusian history and national identity, and organize and support Belarusians living abroad.
While in prison, I drafted several books and managed to send them to relatives via letters. I want to finalize and gradually publish them.
To carry out these plans and restart my public work, I need your support. Our family is deeply grateful to the organizations and individuals who have already helped us with basic needs and medication. However, rebuilding public activity from scratch in exile is difficult. We need to purchase video equipment, invest in book publishing, launch and promote the YouTube channel, and produce video content.
If active, creative Belarusians abroad are forced to work part-time and spend all their energy merely on survival, we risk losing Belarus's future. The regime pushes the most capable and creative people out of the country. But if we support one another – if each of us can do what we do best for the sake of Belarus — we will rebuild the Belarus of our dreams.
Photo: Violeta Savchits
Fundraising goal
€7000
Equipment:
Camera and audio – €800
Lighting – €200
Publishing costs:
Partial coverage of printing a book of prison drawings, poems, and proverbs – €2,500
Media and outreach:
Development of a YouTube channel – €1,000
Organizing book presentations in Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine – €1,000
Production of a video series on Belarusian history and identity – €1,500