In the autumn of 2020, Dzmitry Sushchyk joined the protests in Navahrudak. He dressed up as Santa Claus, handed out red-and-white balloons to children, and flashed the “victory” sign to cars. Although he acted within the law, he was soon detained by the political police: they took him to the woods, broke his nose, and seized his phone. The law enforcers removed restrictions on his social media account, which contained collages of Lukashenko and a swastika (posted back in 2015), making it public. These images became the basis first for administrative arrest, then for criminal prosecution.
“At first, they gave me 10 days for administrative charges. Then I learned they were going to fabricate a criminal case — for insulting Lukashenko and state symbols (Articles 368 and 370 of the Criminal Code),” Dzmitry recounts.
In 2022, he attempted to escape: he went to Russia and tried to cross into Ukraine, but was detained and extradited. In Belarus, he was sentenced to one and a half years of imprisonment. After being transferred to the Orsha correctional facility, he was immediately sent to a punishment cell, then to a cell-type unit. Later, his conditions were toughened: he was transferred to ST-1 high-security prison in Hrodna, where a new case was opened against him under Article 411: “malicious disobedience.” Another transfer followed, another sentence, and the status of “particularly dangerous.”
After two years and seven months of imprisonment, Dzmitry was released but placed under preventive supervision as a “person prone to extremism,” with an expired passport and debts to the system — over 3000 Belarusian rubles.
“I tried to get any job: as a loader, furniture assembler. But as soon as they ran a check on me — I was fired. The police regularly summoned me for 'lectures'; the pressure didn’t stop.”
Before the 2025 election, in order to avoid arrest, he twice broke his own little toes: he was granted medical leave, gaining time until the end of the supervision period. When he tried to renew his passport, he was bluntly told: “people like you get imprisoned from time to time.”
In the spring, he was granted permission to leave for Russia under the pretext of employment but flew to Tbilisi and from there, on June 1, to Poland. He is now living in a shelter, where he can stay for one month.
During his imprisonment, he had three teeth pulled, developed bladder problems and psychosomatic disorders. He needs treatment and basic stabilisation.
“My main goal now is to learn the language, find a job, and finally live like a human being. I really hope that fellow Belarusians in solidarity won’t leave me at this rock bottom,” Dzmitry says.
Fundraising goal
€2500
€1200 – rent (2 months with deposit)
€700 – two missing dental crowns
€600 – food and basic expenses