Konstantin* left Belarus in 2019 due to the threat of criminal prosecution. He was blogging about weapons, which could attract the attention of law enforcers. “Officially, it is unknown whether they had already initiated criminal proceedings against me, but in April 2020, before the elections, my name appeared in the wanted list,” says the man.
Since the forced departure from Belarus, he lived with his family in Poland: he worked, participated in the activities of the Belarusian diaspora, helped the repressed.
“When the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine, I started volunteering, organizing humanitarian aid collections in Gdansk,” says Konstantin. — And then I became a volunteer directly in Ukraine. I accompanied cargoes and drove cars to the frontline areas — Pokrovsk, Kupyansk, Kramatorsk.
Working on the front lines took a toll on his health. “I saw how difficult it is for volunteers in winter, especially with injuries,” he says. — I was offered to sign a contract, but because of my health at some point I realized that I could not physically bear another campaign and left for Moldova to return to Poland from there”.
However, the road home proved difficult. In 2021 in Poland, the man was involved in an incident that led to a criminal case. He believes it was provoked by business rivals, but the court gave him community service and a fine. Later, it was this episode that became the reason for the denial of international protection.
At the end of 2023, the Belarusian applied for asylum in Poland, but after 7 months he was rejected. The appeal did not help — the authorities decided to deport him. Before leaving the country, he and his lawyers filed a supervisory appeal, and the court reviewed the case. Now he has a chance to return to Poland and resume the defense procedure.
“We found the money, got into debt to file the documents,” says Konstantin. — Now everything depends on the court, but without a lawyer I will not be able to pull this process.
Now the man is in Moldova, continues to work as a volunteer and earns a part-time job to support his family in Poland: his wife, son and pets. His wife's passport is about to expire and the family has no additional funds.
“I believe that this path will lead me home — to where my family is,” Konstantin is confident, but to do so he needs help paying legal fees.
*Hero's name has been changed for safety reasons
How much is needed?
€3000
€1200 — lawyer's services and legal support,
€1000 — debt incurred to pay previous expenses of the case,
€800 — logistics (travel, lawyer's accommodation, administrative fees).