Aleksandr, father of six children, an environmental activist and a skilled stove-maker with extensive experience, was extracted after three and a half years of detention. He needs help to start his stove-making business in Lithuania.
My name is Aleksandr. After three and a half years of detention, thanks to BYSOL evacuation , I found myself in safe Lithuania. I managed to escape, and now my task is to survive and support my family. I try not to give up. I have six children, two of whom have disabilities. I have always relied only on myself, and the years in prison only tempered me. But now, after extraction to Lithuania, I am forced to ask for help.
By profession, I am a stove-maker. Twenty years ago, my hobby became a profession. Having achieved mastery in my craft, I organized conferences for experience exchange among craftsmen, participated in the creation of training programs for young specialists, and founded a thematic information portal “Belarusian Stove Centre.” Together with my children we created the youth initiative “Ecological Landing of Belarus,” within which we promoted ecological awareness among the younger generation and participated in cleanup actions at forest lakes not only in our country, but also in Ukraine, Russia, Central Asia, and various regions of the Caucasus.
In December 2021, masked men broke into our apartment, ransacked it, frightened the children and took me to the anti-extremism unit. From that moment began a dark period for me and my family, which lasted for 3.5 years. My prison term was hard, since it was difficult for me to hide my attitude towards those who had seized power in our country. Hunger strikes, punishment cells, strict confinement followed me throughout this period.
A month before release I was told that a new criminal case would be opened against me under Art. 130 and 361 for incitement of enmity and “donations.” A search was conducted in my apartment, all documents and many personal belongings were seized, and my family was told that I was facing a new prison term. But for some reason I was nevertheless released. On the day of release I was forced to sign a travel restriction, preventive supervision was set for 2 years, and I was told that in the near future they would “deal with me.” Before release I was beaten, my clothes were cut, and in that condition I was thrown out beyond the gates. Without waiting for the threats to be carried out, with the help of the BYSOL evacuation team I left Belarus immediately after release.
I am confident that even in Lithuania my craft will not leave me without work. To start working here, I need to purchase tools, complete theoretical and practical advanced training courses, and obtain a license for this activity. I will also need an old working vehicle and a driver’s license, since during the search in Minsk all my documents were confiscated.
I believe that all problems can be overcome, and I very much hope for the support and solidarity of Belarusians!
Fundraising goal
€5000
€1500 – stove-maker’s tools
€700 – driving course, category B
€1000 – practical course in tiled stove installations
€700 – theoretical course with licensing
€1100 – working station wagon Volkswagen Passat B3