Olga* is one of those who, for actively taking part in peaceful marches against the current authorities in Belarus, ended up caught in the gears of the repressive system.
Having gone through a humiliating arrest in 2021 by officers of the anti-extremism unit, when she was not allowed to get dressed after being taken out of bed; spending a day in the Minsk temporary detention facility on Okrestina Street, and half a year in the Minsk remand centre on Valadarski Street, in a basement cell with mold and dampness, Olga was in a severely weakened moral and physical state.
But once in the correctional facility, her life turned into sheer torture. “From the very first days of my stay in the correctional facility, I was subjected to moral abuse and humiliation aimed at breaking my spirit,” Olga recalls.
“They put me in a cage that was located in the yard of the facility. It was placed in such a way that all employees and prisoners could see it. They picked on me, as they did with other political prisoners, for any reason, and after several months I already had three violations. Because of that, I was classified as a convict who was persistently violating the general regime, and I was practically deprived of visits, shopping at the local prison store, and care packages.”
Due to meager food rations, Olga’s hair began to fall out, and she developed serious dental problems that were not treated but simply dealt with by pulling her teeth out.
“Constant humiliation and accusations of things I had not done became the norm. I was insulted with horrible words, taken for “checkups” to a gynecologist in a demonstrative manner. Several weeks before the end of my prison term, I was placed in a punishment cell, from where I was released only upon completion of the term.”
Once free, with a travel ban and subject to regular checks, Olga has been without work for two years. State organizations refuse to hire her, and private employers are afraid of persecution and inspections.
“I am asking for help to raise a small amount of money so that after the travel ban expires I can leave and find protection outside Belarus,” says Olga. “While waiting for departure, I would like to take care of my health, which I will need in a foreign country, but I have absolutely no money for this. My detention seems to go on, and I am only living with the dream of breaking free from this trap as soon as possible.”
*This is an anonymous story. For security purposes, we have changed the hero's name. The image is generated using AI.
Fundraising goal
€2000
€500 – dental consultations and treatment in Belarus
€1500 – travel costs, initial rent, and some food