Vadzim Kaushou was imprisoned after someone reported him to the KGB, where his health seriously deteriorated. After his release, he faced the threat of renewed persecution. Now, at the age of 55, he is trying to rebuild his life in a new country.
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Nikita Zolotarev was arrested at the age of 16, after which he ended up in intensive care and then in a remand centre. He spent almost six years behind bars in a juvenile correctional facility and prison, where he was beaten, tortured, and denied the necessary medication for epilepsy. In March 2026, Nikita was forcibly deported from the country to Lithuania.
My name is Yury Averkov. I am 54 years old. I am a former political prisoner, and I now live in Warsaw. I never prepared for exile or imagined that I would have to start my life over in another country. I was simply forced out of Belarus without my belongings or any money. With my long list of health conditions, I have been unable to find work and am now asking for support.
Elena Meshcheryakova nearly died from COVID, survived repression by law enforcers, and was forced to leave the country. When Russia attacked Ukraine, she became a volunteer, but now she needs help herself.
One of the main defendants in the “Pinsk case” was extracted to Poland after being released from prison and is asking for support to start working and become financially independent.
Anna is 50 years old. She was an associate professor, headed a university department, and worked on projects aimed at making Belarusian cities better. But in 2023, she was arrested when she returned home to visit her mother.
The couple left Belarus, fleeing the threat of criminal prosecution. To obtain residence permits in Spain, they need help paying for document preparation and the assistance of an immigration specialist.
Furniture assembler Aliaksei Sanchuk joined the protest movement in 2020. Together with his friends, he organized unusual protest actions and was one of the drummers who set the rhythm of the protests.
A transgender woman from Belarus was forced to flee urgently to Spain after facing pressure and threats from the security services. She is now living in a shelter but has no money even for necessities.