My name is Bulybenko Anastasia. I am a former political prisoner, a defendant in the “students' case”, repeatedly convicted in politically motivated cases in Belarus. I am 21 years old.
In 2020, during the presidential elections, I was 18 years old. Faced with lawlessness, injustice and violence on the part of the government and “law and order” officers, I could not stay away and started to actively participate in peaceful protests. For the first time I could not stay at home on June 18 — the day of Victor Babariko's detention.
In September 2020, I was detained at the women's “shiny” march. However, I was released the same day.
After I came out with the white-red-white flag “BNTU” and walked along the main building, I began to be pressured at the university. Constant conversations, threats of expulsion and police.
On October 17, 2020 I was detained again in Minsk at a student protest against violence (march of youth). I was given 10 days of administrative arrest under Article 23.34 (violation of public order). During the detention I was marked with red paint (forehead and arm). My mother did not know where I was for 5 days, it was simply not reported.
After serving my sentence I was illegally expelled from the university (BNTU). I signed the order of expulsion with the words “LIVE BELARUS”.
On November 12, 2020 I was detained by KGB officers under criminal article 342 part 1 (gross violation of public order). “The case of students.” I received 2 years and 6 months of imprisonment and fully served my sentence.
I was released on November 30, 2022, but the persecution by law enforcement agencies continued — I was unreasonably banned from leaving the country, repeatedly summoned to the police and came home.
I sued the police department and the ban was lifted, but when I left the courthouse I was detained for another 30 days (from April 27 to May 27, 2023) under Articles 19.1 “petty hooliganism” and 24.3 “disobedience”. During this arrest, I was repeatedly threatened, psychologically abused, and verbally forbidden to leave the country, threatening that they would find me.
Immediately after my release (May 27, 2023) I left Belarus for Lithuania.
Because of the last detention, I did not have time to enroll in university this year. It so happened that I finished school, studied one course, blinked — and I am almost 22-year-old girl in a foreign country and without education, who needs psychological rehabilitation.
In the colony I constantly collected feathers and dried flowers to make cards from them and design interesting letters for my mom. That's when I decided that after my release I wanted to start creating epoxy resin jewelry. I managed to try it on rings — I liked it :)
Besides, I have been dancing since childhood. In the colony I did not abandon my hobby. Toward the end of my sentence I was given permission to put on dances for local competitions. I want to continue dancing even now, but in a more in-depth way.
I need to find myself in this world, to learn to live again, to try something new and, of course, to learn something specialized to work. I want to take courses in SMM and graphic design :)
I will be very grateful for help in my creative endeavors and of course I will definitely share the results!
How much is needed?
€2560
- SMM courses €400 for 4 months of training — I need to learn social media marketing (SMM) to promote my business.
- Graphic design courses €1000 — I want to learn how to create attractive designs for my products and improve my professional skills.
- Language courses €300 for 3 months — improving my language skills will help me to better adapt to a new country and increase my chances of a successful career.
- Dance classes €360 for 3 months — dancing is my passion and the subscription will help me to continue to develop in this area and find joy in creating.
- Jewelry materials €500 — These funds will go towards buying materials and tools to start my epoxy resin jewelry making business.
I will be very grateful for your support and am committed to sharing the results of my creative endeavors with you.
Thank you for your kindness and understanding.