My name is Natalia Dulina. I am a former associate professor at the Italian Language Department of MSLU, and I spent my whole life living and working in Minsk.
In 2020, after participating in the nationwide strike (which I informed the university administration about in writing), I was dismissed. Since then, I was subjected to five administrative arrests of 14 or 15 days each for my political activity.
On 3 October 2022, I was arrested on suspicion of criminal offenses for actively participating in mass events at MSLU and “assisting extremist activity” – I had given an interview to an “extremist channel” – and sentenced to 3.5 years of imprisonment in a correctional facility under general regime, Correctional Facility No. 4 in Homiel. I spent about two years there. When I had six months left before the end of my prison term, I was suddenly taken, along with a group of other political prisoners, to Lithuania. I was not given a release certificate and all case-related documents were confiscated, leaving me with only my passport. That’s how I ended up in forced exile.
I now need to find a way to stand on my feet, support myself, continue living in a new place, and find a job. I cannot return to Belarus – it is dangerous and may result in another arrest. It is emotionally very difficult for me because I have been stripped of my home and any legal status. I am released, but I have no documents proving it. I am a Belarusian citizen, but I cannot live in Belarus. I am a pensioner, but due to the lack of documents, I cannot receive my retirement benefits. I have been cut off from my former life, and in order to start a new one, I need help.
Fundraising goal
€5000
This will make it possible to secure housing for at least the first few months and address urgent health issues, as I need dental prosthetics.