Kirill and Karolina left Belarus for Lithuania after Kirill was sentenced to three years of “khimiya with assignment” in the “Hajun case.” Karolina has multiple sclerosis, and because of her health condition, she could not have survived four years without her husband. The couple is asking for support until they can work independently.
We are Kirill and Karolina from Maladzyechna. We lived quietly and built our future as best we could. We believed that normal life lay ahead of us and that we would be able to take care of each other. But everything changed very quickly.
Karolina has multiple sclerosis. This is a chronic disease of the nervous system that gradually limits mobility, causes weakness, pain, and severe fatigue. In 2021, she was officially recognized as having a third-degree disability. The illness requires constant monitoring and regular treatment, without which her condition may worsen.
“Before my arrest, I worked and fully supported our family, while Karolina, as much as her health allowed, continued working in her profession as a manicure and pedicure specialist,” Kirill says. “This work helped her stay active and maintain mobility in her hands. We tried to live peacefully and manage the illness together.”
In 2022, Kirill sent a message to the “Belaruski Hajun” chatbot about the movement of military equipment. Later, this became the basis for a criminal case against him.
“On March 26, 2025, we officially became husband and wife, and on May 6, 2025, I was detained by security forces. On October 27, I was sentenced to four years of restricted freedom with assignment to an open-type correctional institution. The appeal changed nothing.”
“When Kirill was taken away, I was left alone, and within six months my condition worsened significantly,” Karolina shares. “Stress directly affects the course of the disease: the pain intensified, it became harder to move around, and exhaustion came much faster.”
After the failed appeal, the couple decided to leave Belarus while they still had the chance. They have now been in Lithuania for several months, where they applied for asylum and are waiting for a decision. While their case is being reviewed, they are not allowed to work officially. After leaving Belarus, Kirill was added twice to the “extremist list.”
“The most important thing for me now is to see a doctor here and continue therapy,” Karolina emphasizes. “In two months, I need to undergo my next course of treatment.”
In the near future, Karolina will see a doctor in Lithuania to confirm her diagnosis and determine дальнейшее treatment. Belarusian medical documents will need to be verified, so additional examinations will most likely be required. Another serious issue is housing. We rent an apartment and must pay rent and utility bills every month. Since we are not yet allowed to work, we have no stable income.
We are asking for help because without support we may lose access to treatment and even our housing. But most importantly, we want to preserve Karolina’s health and simply begin a new life without fear.
Fundraising goal
€3700
€500 – initial doctor’s appointment and medical examinations
€1300 – continuation of treatment and the next course of therapy
€1100 – purchase of necessary medications
€800 – rent assistance for two months