A Belarusian woman went through searches, interrogations, and evacuation by BYSOL with her children from Belarus and managed to find safety in Poland. It seemed that the worst was behind her, her family began to rebuild life in a new place – but then another misfortune struck.
Dear friends, I am asking you for help anonymously, because part of my family in Belarus is under criminal prosecution.
In 2020 I worked as a journalist for Belsat, and during filming of those events I was arrested. At that time, I was already pregnant, and the detention and interrogations affected my condition. Almost the entire pregnancy I spent in hospital because of stress-related complications, which then saved me from arrest and a long prison term.
After giving birth I continued to work as a journalist remotely, and I helped send care packages to political prisoners (I managed to send more than 130). In 2024 they started to target me closely. First I was summoned for interrogations in connection with the activism of a close relative. Then they showed me they knew where I worked. Some time later I was invited for a “friendly chat” regarding alleged cooperation with extremist entities. I managed to postpone this meeting for a few days. I immediately contacted the BYSOL extraction team, and within two days I was evacuated from Belarus with two children, one backpack, and a laptop.
I went through searches, interrogations, and evacuation from Belarus, and I found safety in Poland. It seemed the worst was behind me and I could manage everything. We received refugee status, my husband joined us, and we were just beginning to rebuild our life in a new place – but then another misfortune struck.
Here in Poland, my four-year-old son, who already has a heart defect, was diagnosed with autism and speech delay. He has been prescribed rehabilitation marked as “urgent” (all confirming documents are with BYSOL).
Since I am not working at the moment (my program was shut down, and I have no one to leave my little son with), we live only on my husband’s salary. This barely covers rent and food. I also have an older daughter who started school, which requires additional expenses.
We cannot afford the upcoming rehabilitation for my son, which gives him a real chance to improve his condition. It is a very costly program consisting of sessions with three different specialists. And my child needs help already now, or, as the psychiatrist said, “yesterday.”
We are struggling both morally and financially. Please help us withstand this blow.
Our family’s only hope left is Belarusian solidarity!
Fundraising goal
€1144 (the course lasts 8 weeks, €143 per week for sessions)