Tatiana is 54 years old. Before her arrest, she had a stable life: she worked as a chief accountant, owned her own apartment, and had just finished paying off her mortgage. But in March 2023, she was sentenced to four and a half years in a penal colony under nine politically motivated criminal charges.
During her years in prison, Tatiana's health deteriorated significantly. She developed an autoimmune thyroid disease, joint problems, chronic pain, and constant fatigue.
“For the past two years, I can't remember a single day without pain. Before, I could push through anything: sports, swimming, intense workouts—and a month later I'd be back in shape. Now, even a little physical activity can set me back for days. It's as if my body is whispering, 'This is old age. This is how it will be from now on.' And I have to gently convince myself that it isn't true.”
Before her arrest, Tatiana spent more than twenty years working as a chief accountant. After her release, she dreamed of completely changing her life and trying something new. But for now, her priority is simply to regain stability.
“I had an apartment. I had a job. I'd paid off my mortgage. For the first time in my life, I felt I could finally breathe. And then—everything was gone. Now I have no permanent home, no clear prospects for work, and no certainty about my future pension. First, I need to meet my basic needs: housing, food, and a sense of stability. Only then can I think about dreams.
I've lived my whole life guided by the word 'must.' The children, their education, extracurricular activities, the apartment, renovations, work, side jobs. It was always: must, must, must. Now I'm trying to remember what I actually enjoy. And it turns out that's not so easy.”
Prison changed Tatiana. She says she learned to accept help and realized that a person needs far less to live than they usually believe.
“Everything I truly need fits into a single mailing box. I learned that I can survive even under the harshest prison conditions. But now all I want is a simple, peaceful, maybe even a slightly boring life.”
Tatiana is learning to enjoy ordinary things again and to build a future in a country where she never planned to live.
“There isn't a little girl inside me anymore who needs to be hugged and protected. There's a tired woman trying to remember what it feels like to be happy, to be surprised, and to enjoy life. I still don't fully understand how to live from here on. But I keep trying. I truly hope that, in the end, everything will work out.”
Your support will help Tatiana pay for housing, receive medical treatment and rehabilitation, continue learning the language, and take her first steps toward rebuilding an independent life after imprisonment.
Fundraising goal
€3000
€1300 – medical care and recovery after imprisonment: joint examinations, specialist consultations, physiotherapy, massage, and rehabilitation for chronic pain
€900 – two months of rent
€800 – integration support to help her return to work as an accountant