A year after participating in the August protests — they came for me. Identified by a photo that was posted online on the morning of August 10, 2020. In the summer of 2021 I decided to change something: I quit my job and wanted to go to Kiev to my friends and like-minded people to realize my project. My plans also included moving my family. At the border, without any explanation, I was refused permission to leave the country. Realizing where my feet were growing from, I made my way back to Minsk and waited. Unfortunately, I did not have to wait long…
A week later, going to the city on business, I got a call from my wife. A man's voice on the phone told me: “Vadim, don't even think about running. There was really no point in running away: the family would be held hostage, and there would be horror at home. After the call they picked me up in Niamiha, recorded their favorite video and gave me twenty-four hours. Then I was blackmailed: they said I was lucky I came on my own and did not run away, and for this reason alone they gave me three years of home confinement, not jail. The result: no equipment, documents restored, difficulties with work, debts in the bank. I am sitting at a broken trough, deprived of all opportunities, in debt and under the strictest control. I am still being harassed to this day.
Now I need help to close debts and buy a laptop, so I can reanimate my life, learn a new profession and work from home, without giving reasons to change the punishment to a harsher one. I can't run, as I have a young daughter that I can't do without. My dreams include writing a book.
How much is needed?
1200€ — debts that were incurred while I was on remand to provide for my family, my wife on maternity leave and buying a computer.