My name is Pasha and I am a Belarusian activist. In Belarus, I was a volunteer for the now defunct NGO “Radislav”, which for 20 years provided assistance to women victims of domestic violence. I've been expressing my civic position since 2020, openly speaking out against violence from the authorities. I participated in protests and car rallies.
In August 2020, after seeing mass torture and detentions, I decided to offer my services (I work as a hairdresser) to people whose hair was cut or torn out during the August events. Against the background of repression against the organization “Radislav,” I feared persecution and left Belarus in the summer of 2021 for Ukraine.
In February 2022 videos of the actions in which I took part were leaked to the pro-government channels.
In Ukraine I became a volunteer of “LaStrada Ukraina” — a public law enforcement organization that works on gender equality, fighting gender violence and resisting human trafficking. On March 9, 2022 the NGO “Radislav” was liquidated.
After the outbreak of war in Ukraine, I was forced to leave for Poland, where I am now. Now I am dealing with issues of legalizing my presence in the country, trying to preserve my badly broken mental health. I am looking for support because I do not and have not been able to provide myself with financial security in any of my forced migrations. I don't always have the ability to provide for basic needs such as paying for housing and food, not to mention medical treatment, which I desperately need due to my mental diagnosis and physical ailments.
I am looking for a job, but I need a little more time than the average person because I have been diagnosed with bipolar personality disorder. It worsened very much against the background of the election, the first emigration, and then against the background of the war. It is very difficult for me to exist through it, because initially I need to go into remission. So I decided to organize this gathering.
My main need is to find funds to pay for two months of housing, food, psychiatrist and medication, so that I can afford to concentrate on my treatment and at a quiet pace to legalize my stay and look for work.
How much is needed?
1,500 € — rent for two months; food; medication.