Activist with terminal HIV infection forced out of the country

  • Story

I am an emigrant from Belarus, fleeing the Lukashenko regime, seeking asylum in Lithuania. I was diagnosed with the last stage of HIV infection. I am not a drug addict! I just somehow got infected with it in the household.

At the moment, since September 30, 2021, I am in Vilnius. I am one of the founders of the district initiative “Free Lošica”, which was created in August 2020. On August 11, 2020 I was detained on Pushkinskaya Street, severely beaten during the detention and then on Okrestina Street. Three days later he was taken out of Okrestin in a truck and dumped near Kalvarijskoe cemetery. Volunteers picked him up.

He was also detained and beaten in mid-September for holding a regional protest against the illegitimate government. Convicted and sentenced to 14 days of administrative arrest. Repeatedly appealed against the first and second case of lawlessness by the so-called authorities. To no avail.
Since June 2021 I began receiving phone calls with an instruction to come either to the Investigative Committee or to the State Security Committee, in order to ask me some questions. With a statement that it was better to come to us — we would find you anyway!

After the leader of our initiative was detained and charged under several criminal articles, he, as a father with many children, was released on his own recognizance and had to flee Belarus. After he fled, they started calling me every day, and I realized that I should not delay either. I had to run away, too. I left Belarus on September 25, 2021.

I have no money at all. There is nowhere to live in Lithuania. I cannot rent a place to live, and even if I fall ill (which is elementary in my situation), there is nothing to buy medicine for.

I am taking antiretroviral therapy, I have two more months of medications (I brought them from Belarus).

How much is needed?

2060 € — rent in Vilnius; medications I have to take regularly.

The collection is over. Сollected:
€ 276
The collection is over. Сollected: € 276