Hello!
My name is Sergei Monich. I am from Zaslavl.
In 2020 I was arrested for drawing protest inscriptions, beaten, humiliated and tortured. As a former political prisoner, I continued to be persecuted even after my release. My family and I managed to leave for the safety of Lithuania, but now we find ourselves in a difficult financial situation and I am asking for your help.
I spent three years in Mogilev penal colony No. 15. Serving time in this colony was an incredible trial for me, both physically and mentally. The head of the colony considered himself above the law, reveled in his role as a torturer and reputation as a villain. His word was enough to deprive you of everything.
From the very beginning, I received the status of a “serious extremist”, and therefore I did not receive a single visit during my entire term, I was mercilessly sent to a punitive isolation cell*, where I spent a total of 150 days. In the SHIZO, I was not allowed to go for walks or call my relatives, and the conditions of detention were simply inhumane: food was scarce, and in winter it was bitterly cold. I found myself there again and again for any formal reason, and this torture seemed to last forever.
In September 2023, I was released from prison, but a month and a half later I found myself behind bars again, this time under an administrative article. When they checked my correspondence, they found a “wrong”, in their opinion, message and sent me to a temporary detention center. These 15 days in an overcrowded cell in torture conditions were enough for me to realize that I had to leave. I realized that two more violations and I would be sent to the colony again. Therefore, as soon as I was released, my family and I took only what we could carry in our hands and left Belarus.
Being safe in Lithuania with my family, I feel that I did the right thing to leave. But I didn't have the opportunity to prepare for the move, so now we are in a very difficult financial situation. We do not have enough money to rent an apartment and prepare for winter, all our clothes and shoes are left in Belarus. Please support us while my wife and children are trying to adapt in a new country and unfamiliar environment.
I will be grateful for any possible help!
*A SHIZO (punitive isolation cell) in a Belarusian prison is a room where prisoners can be placed for various violations of the prison regime. It is a kind of punishment inside the prison, applied to those who violate discipline or rules set by the administration.
BYSOL Note
How much is needed?
€2500
€1500 — rent for three months
€600 — clothes and shoes for the family for winter
€400 — food, household expenses