In 2020, I went to the polls for the first time in my life. I wore a SYMBOL.BY T-shirt and a white bracelet, at the polling station I took a picture of the ballot, folded it in an accordion, threw it into the ballot box, and then went to the city. It was scary. But I had no idea that the next day I would become a participant in the conflict myself.
The next day, when it became known about the murder of Alexander Taraikovsky, I drove past a spontaneous memorial in his honor and, stopping at a traffic light, honked together with other drivers in solidarity. And next to me, in the neighboring lane, there was a car with a red-green flag and the driver of that car looked at me unfriendly. Then, when the signal turned green and the flow moved, this driver started cutting me off and creating a dangerous situation on the road. To avoid a conflict, I overtook that car and wanted to drive away, but the driver hit me from behind.
Later, when there was a trial, I was found guilty of the accident. And the video from the street surveillance camera, which could have confirmed my innocence, strangely disappeared. The court ordered me to pay a hefty fine and compensation to the red-green flag driver.
The next time I got into a bind was on October 13 — the day when pensioners were thrown with smoke bombs. I was driving along Pritytskogo and saw OMON beating a man at a bus stop. I took out my phone and managed to take a video. Five minutes later I was cut off by two minibuses. People jumped out, smashed my car, dragged me out onto the pavement and beat me until I lost consciousness.
I woke up in the Frunzensky police department with a head injury. I was taken by ambulance from there to the trauma center in Borovlyany. The doctor insisted on hospitalization, and so I was able to avoid Okrestin. After that I recovered my health for a long time, and I could no longer go on marches.
On February 2, 2021, officers of the Frunzensky police department came to my home in Hatezhino. They detained me and wrote in the report that I was allegedly drunk and walking in the streets, swearing, waving my hands and insulting the police. Then I was sent to Okrestina. There I declared a dry hunger strike. In response, after 72 hours I was again transported to the police department and 2 more protocols were drawn up for alleged antisocial behavior and a fine of 25 basic units was imposed, but I was released.
To come to my senses, I temporarily moved to the village, where I bought a house. However, on June 3, 2022, they came for me again. This time some kind of show circus was organized for my sake, because 7 cars came to pick me up, some special units with machine guns ran out of there, and the process was filmed on cameras (including from a copter). Later these materials were used for propaganda videos.
I was taken to an overcrowded cell at Okrestsin, then I was transferred to Volodarka, and then to Mahiliou Prison No. 4. After that there was a trial. I was convicted under articles 130* and 342** and given two and a half years in penal colony in IK-3 in the village of Vitba. As a sign of protest, I went on two dry hunger strikes and cut my wrists twice, but this only resulted in me being kept in SHIZO and PKT for more than half a year.
There were a few other minor situations that are not worth mentioning yet.
After my release, I could not return to my work. I had my own event agency (I am a saxophonist and orchestra conductor, graduated from the University of Culture and Arts), and I was organizing events. But I had to close it down, because otherwise I would have been fined and put into debt. And most importantly, during the searches they stole almost all the equipment I had.
I tried to find another job, but it is almost impossible for a person, who has a sentence under a political article, to do it in modern Belarus. Private companies are afraid to hire me, and state enterprises refuse to hire me right away. Therefore, having weighed all the risks, I decided to leave.
Of course, it is very difficult for me in emigration. However, after all the trials I went through, I learned to appreciate freedom and realized how important it is for the laws to work. I really want my Belarus to be free from the yoke, and I know that it will happen. Therefore, despite my difficult condition, I am optimistic about the future and plan to start a new life.
But to be honest, during the time I spent in the colony, I lost a lot of health. Constant stress, hunger strikes and the conditions of detention have weakened my body a lot. Old problems have worsened and new symptoms have appeared, which I cannot ignore.
I need to get tested and start treatment. I also need money to rent an apartment for the first 2-3 months, while I organize my life.
If you have the opportunity to support me during this difficult period, I will be eternally grateful.
*Article 130 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus — incitement of racial, national or religious enmity or discord
**article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus — organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them
How much is needed?
€3000
€1000 — funds for a full check-up of my body
€1000 — 2 months rent for an apartment
€1000 — funds for a “rainy day” and for living while I get back on my feet.