My name is Ksenia Chyndarava, I am a journalist. My civic position was formed long before 2020. I actively participated in various events and actions in Homel, both political and cultural. I popularized Belarusian culture in my city as much as I could. For example, when I worked in a publishing house, all our social networks and advertisements were exclusively in Belarusian. As well as holiday greetings for partners. I also organized Belarusian-language quizzes, held thematic intellectual games together with “Mova Nanova Gomel” and not only.
I remember what a deep shock 2010 was for me. There were independent candidates, there were protests, but there was no hope, because most people didn't even know that the country was in dark times. But 2020 gave me hope for the first time in a long time. It changed the impression about Belarusians, showed that we are a worthy nation, that there are a lot of wonderful people in the country, which means that sooner or later we will wait for changes.
When the protests subsided, I continued to live in Homiel. By 2022, almost all Homiel journalists either went abroad or were imprisoned. And my publications in social networks became a reason for proceedings more than once. That's why I was offered cooperation by the regional media outlet “Shtodzen”. In 2023, when this resource was recognized as extremist, I continued to work. Why? I had no opportunity to stop the airplanes flying through Homel to bomb Ukraine, I could not do anything to make political prisoners go free. Perhaps the only thing left was to write articles.
The problems began in the fall of 2024. First, I had to visit the cybersecurity department at the police. They told me that my phone was allegedly sending phishing links, they needed to check what was going on. In the end, nothing was found. Only now I realize that the law enforcers needed confirmation that the pictures from our portal were taken with my device.
I was detained in January of this year at the Polish border. They called me in for inspection, checked my phone and found some likes. But I was lucky: the officers were exceptionally adequate, they treated me politely and only used “you”. A few days later there was a trial in the detention center. It resembled a conveyor belt. A man with a tired face mechanically read out the same wording, because there were many similar cases. In the end, I was given a fine, which I paid.
At first I had the impression that the detention was accidental. But I immediately decided that it was not safe to stay in Belarus with an administrative offense. I decided to leave, but in a planned way, to close all the cases. However, I had to do everything differently, because a few weeks later the KGB “invited” me for a conversation. They threatened me with imprisonment, reprisals against my relatives — the standard set. I came out of there in a state of deep shock. I realized that I had to leave immediately.
It took a few weeks abroad to regain my appetite and sleep, and in general, the paranoia disappeared. Although I still react a little nervously to unfamiliar cars under my windows or calls from unknown numbers. Being an avid traveler, I'm used to adapting to changes quickly, so so far I don't feel any problems with adaptation (maybe not enough time has passed). What I will do globally is still an open question, but journalism will remain in my life one way or another.
I have some savings for the first time, but I took a minimum of things with me when I left. That's why I left all my equipment at home, and it's impossible to work without a laptop. I would be grateful if you could help me to solve this problem and return to my profession as soon as possible.
How much is needed?
€1500 — purchase of a laptop