Hello!
My name is Kirill.
Before my arrest, I lived in Minsk and worked in ordinary state institutions, where my political and human views were not supported. I was not an activist, but I was always worried about what was happening in our country and wanted something to change. Therefore, since 2020, it was hard to refrain from commenting on social networks, seeing the rise of society against lies and lawlessness on the one hand, and the violence of the regime on the other. I generally tried not to insult anyone in my comments, but I could not always restrain myself and one of my rude comments did get noticed.
Two years after that unfortunate comment, when I had already forgotten about it, I was broken into my house by officers of the State Department for Combating Organized Crime in full armor and taken away for questioning. While they were taking me there, they kicked me in the face and used a stun gun. When they found out that I had epilepsy, they began to beat me less. During the interrogation they did not beat me at all, but tried to make me sign even things I had not done.
I spent three months in Zhodino prison, then the court held a trial and sentenced me to two years of “home chemistry ”*. I was even happy at first that I would finally walk on the street. But the joy did not last long.
After my release, I had to register, come to the police every Monday to check in, and on Thursdays attend lectures on social topics. I was given three weeks to find a job, and as luck would have it, I was lucky enough to find a place in a private firm, because usually people with a political article are not wanted anywhere.
In “home chemistry” I had a strict schedule: I could not go to the stores and had to be home at a certain time. This made my life very difficult and kept me under constant stress. Also, because of my epilepsy, I can't jump up quickly and run to the door. Therefore, unexpected inspections at night were also a kind of torture — if you didn't open the door in time, it would be counted as a violation of the regime.
During one of the inspection visits, they checked my phone and found my correspondence with a relative from Ukraine, where I expressed my support for her and condemned the war. This made one of the inspectors angry. He shouted that I was a zmagar, a Russophobe and not a human being at all. I was directly threatened that I would go to the colony. I realized that they could not carry out their threats and decided to run away.
Now I am safe in Lithuania, people have taken me in for a while. I don't want to burden them, but the lack of money and work forced me to abuse their hospitality. I lost everything I had in Belarus completely, except my faith in people, that's why I decided to ask for help.
I am asking for financial support to rent an apartment or a room in Vilnius for the first time. I plan to find a job first of all, and in the future to be able to help other forced emigrants like me.
Thank you so much to everyone for your support!
*“Home Chemistry” is a type of punishment where the convict remains free, but with restrictions. The convict has a schedule for both work and personal activities, including going to the store or taking out the trash. The police can come every day and at any time to check on them.
BYSOL Note
How much is needed?
€2000
€1300 — rent for three months
€700 — food and basic necessities for the first time