My name is Catherine and I am 64 years old. In 2020, like thousands of citizens of Belarus, I took the most active part against the existing Lukashenko regime. My activities started with a speech at Sergey Tikhanovsky's stream in Polotsk, where I and other local activists expressed their dissatisfaction with the inaction of regional authorities with the issues of improving the city, road construction, as well as housing and communal services.
My desire for change evolved into support for Svetlana Tikhanovskaya's candidacy for the 2020 presidential election. Together with the initiative group I participated in a number of meetings with voters in various cities of the Vitebsk region (Ushachi, Sharkovschina, Polotsk, Postavy), where I spoke about the current situation in the country. As a result, persecution began against me, my associates, and members of my family (my son in particular).
On February 19, 2021 we were forced to leave Belarus. After our departure police officers came repeatedly to our residence address in Polotsk. We stayed on the territory of Ukraine for a month, and then on the basis of humanitarian visas we moved to Poland, where we live now.
Upon arrival in Poland I managed to adapt to the new country and get a job. However, on August 9, 2022 I was admitted to Krakow hospital with a suspected heart attack again (the first was in 2009). After examination and treatment, the doctors concluded that I should exclude physical activity. I am not working at the moment. The only stable source of money is my pension, which is 750 PLN, which of course does not cover my current expenses (rent, food, transportation, medicines, paid medical visits). For this reason, I will be very grateful and appreciative to everyone who will be able to provide me with financial support and assistance.
How much is needed?
1500 € — payment of the rent for the near future; food; travel; medicine; clothing (the amount is based on the next three months).