In 2020, at Sergey Tikhanovsky's request, I coordinated the collection of signatures in support of Sviatlana Tikhanouskaya, a candidate for President of the Republic of Belarus, in the Viciebsk region. After Sviatlana's registration as a presidential candidate, I organized electoral campaigning in the same Vitebsk region. Although our activity was 100% legal, it caused, as you know, a lot of mental suffering.
Revenge was not long in coming. Surveillance and wiretapping of the “Country for Life” activists had been going on since the spring of 2020. Even before the elections five administrative reports were drawn up on me under the people's article 23.34. After the elections checks were carried out with the purpose to bring criminal proceedings against me under articles 240 and 243 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. After I was detained on February 9, 2021 I was charged under Art. 328 part 1, 328 part 3 and a suspect under Art. 293 part 1.
As a result, I was sentenced for (I want to emphasize) intentional possession of 0.0057 grams of marijuana (there was nothing else to charge) and sentenced to two years and three months in prison. I spent 11 months in jail, 30 days in solitary confinement and the rest of the time in Babruisk penal colony no. 2. I was released at the end of my sentence on 9 December 2022.
During my detention a private company, of which I was the founder and director, underwent bankruptcy proceedings. My family, which includes my daughter and me (my wife died of cancer in 2019), was left practically without means of subsistence. That is why I have to turn to you for help. Thank you in advance!
How much is needed?
1700 € — debts incurred during my imprisonment; to live on until I find a source of income.