A Belarusian man was forced to flee his country after fully serving his sentence as a political prisoner, leaving behind his mother who is battling cancer.
After serving his entire prison sentence, former political prisoner Vitaly continued to face pressure and harassment from the authorities. Eventually, he was forced to leave Belarus for his own safety, leaving behind his seriously ill mother who is undergoing cancer treatment.
Hello, my name is Vitaly.
I am a former political prisoner from Brest. I was detained for participating in a peaceful protest on August 10, 2020 – but only three years later. Officers from GUBOPiK acted in their usual manner: they arrested me at my workplace, demonstratively and with the use of force; interrogated me using psychological pressure; confiscated my phone; and later turned my entire home upside down during a search.
I was sentenced to two and a half years in prison and sent to serve my term in Penal Colony No. 3. Enduring the unbearable conditions imposed on “political prisoners,” which I was classified as, was extremely difficult. What helped me survive was the support of people who sent me parcels and letters. My mother sent them in her own name, because parcels from outsiders were not accepted. Support from other prisoners inside the colony also gave me strength.
However, the psychological pressure from the administration only intensified. I was forced to write a petition for clemency under threats that my sentence would be extended. Around that same time, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I wanted to hug her, and I couldn’t risk having my sentence prolonged, so I signed the petition.
I was released from the colony in November 2024 and believed I was finally free. But the repression did not stop. While under supervision, I was required to report to the police once a week, and officers regularly came to my home for inspections.
At first, I did not even consider leaving the country. I could not abandon my mother and tried to take care of her while she was undergoing cancer treatment. Time passed, but I was unable to find a job because of my political conviction. Meanwhile, pressure from the security forces intensified: I was summoned more often for interrogations and searches on fabricated grounds. They constantly repeated, “You’re an extremist.” And they hinted: “You’re not banned from leaving the country – so why are you still here?”
Starting in November 2025, searches began again, along with intimidation and threats of a new criminal case.
Without the ability to work, I could not support my mother as I had planned. The constant visits from the security forces were harming her health, and my re-arrest felt like only a matter of time. So I made the painful decision to leave.
With the help of the BYSOL evacuation team, I am now safe in Lithuania and have applied for international protection.
Being free – not fearing prison or a knock on the door – is a feeling I had long forgotten. But the euphoria of the first weeks has passed. In a foreign country, without knowing the language, I feel helpless. While waiting for a decision on my protection status, I cannot legally work and simply have no means to live. And back home, my mother is still fighting her illness – I wish I could at least support her somehow.
I am asking for help for this initial period, as I am in a desperate financial situation.
I will be grateful for any donation.
Fundraising goal
€3000
€1200 – rent a flat
€700 – restoration of driving rights (once permitted, working as a driver will allow me to earn a living)
€600 – medical examinations (my health severely deteriorated in prison)
€500 – food, clothing, and seasonal footwear