On his way from Vilnius to Berlin for a conference, Andrei Kvashevich was robbed by a fellow passenger, who stole his belongings, money, and documents.
Hello. My name is Andrei Kvashevich. In September, I experienced what every emigrant fears most. While travelling by bus from Vilnius to Berlin to attend a conference, I was robbed in Poznań by the passenger sitting next to me, who stole all my belongings — including my documents, passport, driver’s licence, residence permit, travel pass, bank cards, tablet, and all my cash.
I realised the theft had happened just a minute after the bus departed. Other passengers confirmed that the man sitting next to me had grabbed my things and run off. In a state of shock, I got off the bus and called the police — luckily, my phone was still in my pocket. Thanks to the support of Alyaksei Lyavonchyk, Viktar Baranau, and the Belarusian organisation Likhtar in Poznań, I was able to get food and a place to stay for the night.
After long bureaucratic procedures at the local police station, I finally received a temporary replacement document the following day and was able to continue on to Berlin, since my participation in the conference had already been arranged and paid for. Thankfully, I also managed to return safely to Vilnius afterwards.
I have lived in Vilnius since 2021, after being forced to leave Belarus. I faced the threat of arrest for actively supporting the actions of the Lithuanian and Polish authorities in defending their borders during the migration crisis on the Belarusian border. In Lithuania, I was granted political asylum and live under the protection of the Lithuanian state.
Before all this, I worked as a producer, am a Merited Artist of Ukraine, a Belarusian public figure, and a member and head of the Society of Belarusian Culture in Vilnius.
After the robbery in Poznań, I was left without all my savings that I had with me on that fateful day. I now need to gradually restore my documents and simply have something to live on for the near future.
I am in a desperate financial situation. I’m asking for help, as I currently have no other means to rely on.
Fundraising goal
€2000
€600 – rent and utilities
€600 – food and replacement of stolen essentials (until next paycheck)
€400 – expenses for restoring documents
€400 – replacement of the stolen tablet (my main work tool)