My name is Stas Padimaskas. I am a former political prisoner.
In October 2021, I was arrested by the officers of the State Department of Political Prisons. First they sent me to a half a year in a pre-trial detention center, and then there was a court that sentenced me to 2 years of “chemistry with referral” for participating in the 2020 protests and for “insulting” Lukashenko.
There are 2 types of chemo. With a referral to a correctional facility and without.
If “chemistry” with a referral, the convicts live in dormitories or barracks and must comply with all the rules of internal order. Work is selected for them at the place of referral. Usually it is low-skilled labor.
If “chemistry” without referral, the convicts live at home. Specific conditions (how many times to check in, what time to be home, etc.) are determined by the penal inspection — BYSOL note.
To avoid punishment, I tried to escape from Belarus, but without success. I was detained by border guards near Astravets at the border. I was lucky that the Border Guard Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have little communication with each other, so I got off with an administrative offense.
After that I asked BYSOL for help. The evacuation team helped me to build a route and leave. That's how I ended up in Lithuania, where I received political asylum.
At the moment I have no opportunity to work in my specialty because I do not speak spoken English or Lithuanian. In the summer I worked on construction sites, but now it's the dead season, so things are very difficult with work.
I need help to re-build myself. In the future I plan to take language courses and regain my specialty.
How much is needed?
€1200
€700 — accommodation with a deposit for 1 month
€500 — English language courses.