When the man was released from a penal colony, his mother was already seriously ill. He moved in with her and took care of her, but she lived less than a year and passed away in her son’s arms.
My name is Uladzimir*, I am a former political prisoner. The year 2020 did not come as a surprise to me – judging by the mood of the majority, it was clear that something was about to happen. But the huge queues of people signing for opposition candidates were truly shocking. Even my mother, who had a heart condition, went to sign – unsteady, but determined. It felt as if all of Belarus would finally become free.
But later, when everything quieted down, they came for me. I was detained for an “insult.” What followed were several years in a penal colony: endless searches, threats, time in solitary confinement, and open hatred toward me and other “white-red-whites,” as they called us. My health, of course, did not improve there – I already had chronic illnesses before prison, and after years in inhumane conditions, everything only got worse.
Sadly, when I was released, terrible news awaited me at home. My mother – my only close person – was terminally ill. Naturally, her son’s arrest had seriously undermined her health. She was diagnosed while I was still in the colony, but no one told me. After my release, I lived with my mother and took care of her as best I could. But constant visits from security forces and my mandatory weekly check-ins at the police station gave her no peace.
A few months after my release, my mother passed away – in my arms.
Now I am in a very difficult situation: health problems, problems with work, and no clear understanding of the future, especially with retirement age approaching. But the most important thing for me is to fulfill my duty to my mother and install a gravestone on her grave. This requires a significant amount of money. I will deal with my own problems somehow, but I simply cannot leave my mother’s grave unattended.
That is why I am asking for help. I will be grateful for any support.
*This is an anonymous story. For security purposes, we have changed the hero's name. The image is generated using AI.
Fundraising goal
€2500
Restoration of the grave and installation of a gravestone