The family of Emiliya Pranskute and Vladimir Tikhonovich found themselves in Lithuania because of political persecution. Having left their entire past life in Belarus, they lived on Vladimir’s modest earnings. In September, he was hit by a car, and during his treatment and recovery, their family ended up in a desperate financial situation.
My name is Emiliya. I am originally from Lithuania but lived in Belarus for over 35 years. I worked at the Gorky Theatre for 26 years, on television in the Kalykhanka programme and other projects, and taught at the University of Culture and the Belarusian Academy of Arts. Every time I renewed my residence permit, I had to sign many documents, all of which made it clear that any unlawful action on my part could lead to deportation.
In 2020, for my donation to BYSOL, I was first heavily fined and then dismissed from the university and academy where I had worked for many years. Later, I was also fired from the theatre. I found out that I was considered a “threat to national security” from a deportation notice.
Thus, after decades, I ended up in Lithuania, with a 10-year ban on returning to Belarus. Everything I had stayed behind there — my apartment, relatives, friends — in short, my entire life.
My husband, Vladimir Tikhonovich, worked for many years as a cameraman at BT (Belarusian Television). In 2020, he took part in the strike and somehow managed to work until the end of his contract, which, of course, was not renewed. Vladimir tried to find work in Belarus, but for an “unreliable” cameraman, that was impossible.
Now we both live in Lithuania. My husband became the only breadwinner in the family. I have not been able to find a job due to poor health after a leg injury. I earn a little from tutoring, but it’s not enough to live on.
What forced me to turn to you for help was a tragedy. In September 2025, Vladimir was hit by a car and suffered a serious hip injury. He has already undergone surgery and is now at home, but he cannot walk for several months and will need a long rehabilitation period. Since in Lithuania he worked as a self-employed person, he is not entitled to sick leave or any payments.
Vladimir is bedridden now, dreaming of recovery. We hope everything will heal well — the doctors said that if the blood supply in the hip joint is preserved, there is a chance; otherwise, a joint replacement will be necessary.
I am registered here as unemployed, but since I never worked in Lithuania (I lived and worked in Belarus), I am not entitled even to a small allowance.
We have both found ourselves in a desperate situation, and I am asking for help to get through this difficult time for our family in exile.
Fundraising goal
€3000
€1600 – rent
€1000 – medical expenses and rehabilitation
€400 – food