A Belarusian journalist left for Lithuania because of the risk of criminal prosecution. He is currently unable to find work in his profession and is asking for support to cover housing, daily expenses, and food.
Andrus* is 52 years old. For more than 30 years, he worked in independent Belarusian media as an editor, journalist, and contributor to various publications. He reported on events in Belarus and worked in journalism back when independent media could still operate openly inside the country.
After 2020, pressure on independent media outlets and journalists intensified dramatically. In 2022, Andrus himself became a target of repression. He was detained, interrogated in connection with a criminal case, had his equipment confiscated, and his documents seized.
“Formally, I was a witness in the case, but it was made clear from the very beginning that my status could be changed to ‘defendant’ at any moment,” the Belarusian journalist recalls. “As soon as I had the opportunity, I obtained a new passport, secured a visa, and left for Lithuania to stay free.”
In exile, he continued working in journalism. At first, he managed to remain in the profession, collaborating with various editorial teams on a freelance basis. But over the past few years, the financial situation of the Belarusian media sector in exile has deteriorated significantly. Some projects have shut down, while others have cut budgets and reduced fees. Finding stable work in journalism became increasingly difficult.
“Until last year, I somehow managed to survive on the bare minimum,” he says. “Then the rejections became more frequent. Newsrooms increasingly preferred younger candidates or were unwilling to hire someone on a permanent contract.”
The result was unemployment and a lack of income, at a point when even decades of professional experience were no longer enough to cover basic living expenses.
To survive, Andrus began looking for any kind of work. The first job turned out to be a disappointment: he was promised €50 a day but ended up receiving only about €20.
“After changing jobs several times, I found work with a company responsible for maintaining the city of Vilnius. Essentially, I clean city streets. But the work is still unstable: there are few working days, and the income is irregular. I’m not giving up, but because of the forced period of unemployment, I’ve exhausted all my savings and simply have no way to cover my current expenses.”
He is prepared to continue working outside his profession, but he needs time to stay afloat in Lithuania, keep his housing, and recover from financial hardship.
“For the first time in many years, I am asking for support because I’m unable to pay for the essentials—rent and food—until my current job starts providing a stable income.”
*This is an anonymous story. For security purposes, we have changed the hero's name. The image is generated using AI.
Fundraising goal
€1950
€1500 – housing costs for 3 months
€450 – food expenses