Dzmitry Paliyenka, a former political prisoner and activist of the anarchist movement, has found himself in a difficult situation after a serious hand fracture. He needs help to pay for treatment, medication, housing, and rehabilitation during a period of forced incapacity.
My name is Dzmitry Paliyenka. I’m from Minsk. I used to work at MAZ and for many years was an activist of the anarchist movement. My life in Belarus took place under constant pressure: I was detained many times, spent time in administrative arrest, and twice became a political prisoner. All of this was for peaceful actions, flash mobs, gatherings, and my civic stance.
In April 2016, I took part in the Minsk cycling event “Critical Mass”. When the police stopped the column, a conflict broke out. I was accused of “attacking an officer”, although in reality I was simply trying to protect another participant who was being beaten. That’s how I received my first criminal case under Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Belarus. In October 2016, I was sentenced to two years of imprisonment with a suspended sentence.
Later the suspension was cancelled by adding three “violations”: participating in the defence of Kurapaty, collecting signatures, and allegedly “calling” for a march against the “social parasites” decree. At the trial of my antifascist friends, I was also accused of shouting “Hanyba”. After that, I was sent to a remand centre (SIZO) and then to a colony.
In 2019 a new criminal case was opened against me under Part 3, Article 339 (“especially malicious hooliganism”). Formally – for self-defence against a drunk aggressive man. But investigators also “added” Article 130 (inciting social hatred toward the police, insulting Minister Shunevich) and Article 341 (property damage) for graffiti against construction in Kurapaty and the inscription “Police kill people” dedicated to the suspicious “suicide” of a detainee in a police car. It was a politically motivated case. The court sentenced me to three years of home confinement (“domashnyaya khimiya”) with a travel ban.
The repression continued. In July 2020 I was arrested for 15 days for a photo with a pot on social media – it was treated as a call for a flash mob. Then again I was persecuted for calling people to marches with portraits of political prisoners and much more. In November 2020, ahead of the clearing of the Square of Changes after the murder of Raman Bandarenka, I was forced to leave Belarus. That protest was the last one I managed to attend.
Today I am in a difficult life situation. Recently I fell and broke my wrist. The injury is serious. At the hospital they tried to set the bone, but unsuccessfully. So I had to undergo urgent surgery. Doctors say my hand will never function the way it used to.
Because of the injury, I am temporarily unable to work at the warehouse where I was employed. I need help to pay for treatment, necessary medication, housing, and further rehabilitation.
Any support right now will help me simply stay afloat.
Fundraising goal
€2500
€1250 – housing for 3 months until Dzmitry can return to work
€250 – medication and medical expenses
€600 – rehabilitation course (10 weeks), massage, and restorative training
€400 – support during the period of incapacity