My name is Natalia Nikolaevna Kukisheva. I am a medical doctor by profession, and now I am a former political prisoner in the “Zeltser case”.
When I was released after 2 years of imprisonment, pressure and threats from the police forced me and my family to leave the country. Police markings and propaganda meetings, regular checks on compliance with the regime and the contents of my phone, threats to use a stun gun and send me back to prison. I could not bear it any longer, and my family and I decided to leave.
We ended up in America, where I felt safe and free for the first time in a long time. I was happy to be saved. But soon I began to have difficulties with adaptation, which was aggravated by post-traumatic stress disorder. The psychological problems I faced came as a result of my experiences over the past years.
I spent almost two months in inhuman conditions in Zhodzina prison in complete informational and social isolation, in cramped conditions, without household amenities, hot water and medical care. Another year and two months I spent in Vitebsk pre-trial detention center in very difficult conditions, without sunlight, air, normal food and medical care. Then the colony. These torturous conditions greatly deteriorated my health — both physical and mental. During this time I experienced a lot of things I was not prepared for.
The therapist's recommendation is that I should take the medication for about a year, and that I should see a doctor for a prescription and follow-up about once a month. I don't have enough money for that.
The move has really knocked me out financially, and my health and adjustment issues are preventing me from finding a better paying job. It's like I'm going in circles. No money — no treatment, no treatment — no money.
In addition, my husband and I have difficulties with legalization. We urgently need to apply to the court for political asylum. We cannot do this without a lawyer because of the language barrier and lack of understanding of the law, and we cannot afford lawyers without outside help.
I am asking you to help me to pay for treatment and lawyer's services in order to recover from prison and adapt. No one is going to give me my two years of life back, but I hope that with your help I can get my life back to normal.
Thank you each and every one of you for your help!
How much is needed?
€4000
€2500 — lawyer's services (first installment)
€1500 — rent (for two months + utilities)
€1000 — doctor's visit (one visit costs €120) and medicines