Andrei Salapura, a foreign language teacher from Brest, took part in the protests in 2020. He was arrested in 2024 and spent a year and a half in a correctional facility. After his release, he left for Poland, where he now needs support for his family while applying for residence and settling in exile.
The law enforcers came to Andrei only three years after the events of 2020 – in February 2024. He was identified from a video showing him at the protests. Riot police broke into his home with a search. Later, the Telegram channel of the Brest anti-extremism unit published a video of the violent raid on his apartment along with his forced confession video.
Eventually, the court sentenced the teacher to one and a half years in a correctional facility under Article 342 of the Criminal Code (“organizing, preparing or participating in actions that constitute a severe breach of public order”).
“I joined the peaceful protests because I could not stay silent when my country’s future was being stolen,” Andrei says. “Looking back, I would walk this path again, no matter what.”
On May 27, 2025, Andrei was released, having fully served his prison term in Mogilev Correctional Facility No. 15. According to the former political prisoner, “there is no real freedom for me in Belarus anymore, because absolutely any action can be interpreted the way the system wants.” After his release, endless visits from law enforcers, inspections, and threats began.
On August 19, 2025, Andrei left for Poland. He is now applying for international protection, as he moved very recently. He is looking for a job, trying to adapt to life in exile, and urgently needs support, since he and his family left with nothing but a single backpack.
“My task is to stabilize within a few months, provide my family with minimum security and sustainability, legalize our stay in Poland, and start working. But for the first two months we need support to rent housing, buy food, and cover necessities.”
Fundraising goal
€2500
€1500 – housing rent
€500 – food expenses
€500 – necessities, transport, and communication