On August 30, 2020, I was in the column of a big march in the center of Minsk. We approached the Palace of Independence and ran into a barrier with special equipment. Toward evening, it started to rain, and people began to slowly disperse. When there were fewer of us, the OMON suddenly jumped out and started grabbing everyone. Some were beaten.
Even though I tried to stay away from the riot police, at some point the crowd took me to the front of the line. There I came face to face with Karpenkov, who was swinging his baton and trying to hit someone. At that moment I didn't know who he was, I thought he was an ordinary OMON officer. Defending myself from the blow, I grabbed Karpenkov and pulled him away from the protesters.
I was not captured that day. I returned home. However, I later realized that Karpenkov remembered the moment when I pulled him away and ordered me to find me.
A month and a half later, on October 12, I was at work and my spouse was at home. They rang the intercom and said in a commanding voice “open up”. My wife was frightened and opened the door automatically. She opened both doors at once: the intercom and the front door. We lived on the first floor, so before she knew it, the security forces had burst into the apartment and started turning everything upside down. They were waiting for me.
Soon I arrived from work. They grabbed me and beat me up. I tried to resist, but it was useless. I was taken to the police station, beaten again, interrogated for 8 hours, and then forced to record a “repentance” video. After that they sent me to a temporary detention center for three days.
For two days I was not fed at all. When I asked for some water, the lady on duty said: “This is not a hotel. Put your hands on the table and I'll pour boiling water in them! On the third day they gave me some prison food and let me go after a couple of hours.
The second time I was taken away from work on July 7, 2021. Immediately they gave me 10 days in a TDF, then added another 15, allegedly for disobedience.
Then they came for me in December 2021. 30 days in TDF. My mom was very worried about me, because none of us understood why they were paying such attention to me. Shortly after I got out, she died. Her heart gave out.
I was charged under two articles at once: 368 and 369 of the Criminal Code (Article 368 of the Criminal Code — insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus; Article 369 of the Criminal Code — insulting a representative of power) and scheduled a trial for March 15, 2021. However, the day before the trial, on March 14, at 7 a.m., 12 GUBOP officers broke into my apartment, breaking down the front door. I had no time to realize anything, as handcuffs were snapped on my hands and I was taken to Leninski District Police Department. There I spent 3 days without food and water. Then I was given 10 days on Okrestina, they brought me to sign some paper, but I refused. They added another 13 days.
I was tortured on Okrestin: my hands were broken and I was beaten on my knees. The thing is that they didn't have 100% proof that it was me who had once pulled Karpenkov away at a rally. So they wanted to beat a confession out of me. But I didn't sign any papers.
After I was released, I quickly packed my things and left. I made my way to Vilnius. Here I applied to the ByHelp medical program and they helped me pay for the surgery on my knee, which was damaged during the beatings. And now it was time to deal with my arm. After all the tests, I was diagnosed with a massive right shoulder rotator cuff tear and scheduled for a new surgery. I applied for the ByHelp program again and it was paid for. But the problem is that this program doesn't cover rehabilitation, and for the next few months I won't be able to move my arm or work. So I am asking for your help:
I need to pay for a course of therapy, which includes physical therapy, classes with a rehabilitation therapist, and medication. I also need help paying for housing while I recover and get my life back to normal.
Thank you for listening to my story and responding.
Sergei Yukhno.
How much is needed?
€3200
€2200 — sanatorium treatment for 20 days + all medical procedures and medicines.
€1000 — rent of an apartment for 2 months while my arm is recovering.