Mikalai Dziadok is an activist of the anarchist movement in Belarus, a writer, journalist, and blogger who has spent a total of about 10 years in prison and was twice recognized as a political prisoner. Together with 50 other prisoners, Mikalai was released from prison and forcibly expelled from the country without documents. He is now trying to rebuild his life in a new country and continue the activities he was engaged in before imprisonment.
“My name is Mikalai, I am originally from Homiel. In the past, I graduated from the Law Faculty of the Belarusian State University and even managed to work in my field. Then I enrolled in the Faculty of Political Science at the European Humanities University, worked as a journalist at the newspaper Novy Chas, ran the video blog Radix (an educational and awareness-raising project about anarchism), and thematic blogs on social media.
I am now 37 years old, 10 of which I spent behind bars for political activity. In 2003 I joined the anarchist movement in Belarus and was part of it for many years. In the last two years before my arrest in November 2020, I was a blogger and political analyst, striving to bring political awareness to the masses and to develop the civic consciousness of Belarusians. For this, I was arrested, tortured, and spent the past 5 years behind bars.
After my sudden and violent release, finding myself abroad, I decided not to give up. I plan to continue my work, to further develop the Radix channel on YouTube, as I see my mission in countering the propaganda of Lukashenka and the Kremlin. In addition, I want to write several books about the years I spent in prison and translate them into other languages so that the world does not forget what is happening in Belarus, and so that my years behind bars were not in vain.
The books will become a detailed testimony about prison conditions in Belarusian prisons and correctional facilities, about the system of torture and psychological pressure on prisoners, as well as about how political prisoners survive under repression. This should become an important document of the era and evidence of the crimes of the regime, which is why I plan to translate it into other languages (with the associated expenses).
In the Radix video blog I want to share those stories and reflections that will not go into the books, as well as continue political analysis and discussions of social issues.”
To realize these projects, Mikalai asks for your help in purchasing all the necessary equipment for running the video blog and writing the book.
photo: spring96.org
Fundraising goal
€8000
Advertising:
Telegram €500
YouTube €1000
Equipment:
Lighting €300
Sound €700
Video editing services: €1500
Book printing: €2000
Book translation: €2000