In August 2020, Pavel Lukoyanov was outraged by how cynically the authorities deceived Belarusians. “I just went out to express my disagreement with what was happening,” says Pavel. “I took part in signature collection campaigns and joined the marches for two months after the election.”
It turned out that he had been captured on video recorded by law enforcers, and in June 2021 officers of the anti-extremism unit (GUBOPiK) came for him.
“The formal reason was a check under Article 339 of the Criminal Code (‘hooliganism’) in connection with a case about ‘a broken window at some judge’s place’ where other people were involved,” the Belarusian recalls. “It was just a pretext to detain me.”
After his detention, he spent three days in the Minsk temporary detention facility, then his case was reclassified, and he was charged under Article 293, part 2 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (participation in mass riots) and placed in a remand centre. On 1 October 2021, the court reviewed his case in a single day and sentenced
Pavel to four years in a high-security correctional facility. Later, he was transferred from prison No. 4 to correctional facility No. 2 (Babruisk) and then to correctional facility No. 22.
“Courts or not, it was four years of what you might call ‘eventful times’ — repression and all that,” he recalls. “I spent about a hundred days in a punishment cell, had restrictions on communication, like many political prisoners.”
In March 2025, shortly before his release, the court imposed two years of preventive supervision.
“Two years — that says it all. Apparently, they decided I was ‘too problematic,’ didn’t learn my ‘lessons’ in the camp,” Pavel says with irony. “Formally, the sentence ended, but in reality, the regime continues, and every step is under surveillance. Sometimes they came twice a night.”
The former political prisoner tried to find work, but the state was clearly “protecting itself” from an employee with a “political” background.
“I called MTZ about a job. At first, they said ‘come over,’ but when they heard I had served time under an ‘extremist’ article — immediate refusal.”
The supervision and constant visits forced Pavel to leave Belarus at the end of May 2025.
He first urgently left for Georgia, fearing that the next visit from law enforcers would end in another sentence, and later moved to Poland. He now has a one-year humanitarian visa.
“In fact, I had to start from scratch,” says Pavel. “I hardly speak Polish yet, but I’m determined. I’m looking for work, though it’s difficult so far.”
After years of imprisonment, Pavel has developed health problems, primarily dental ones: he needs four implants.
“It’s a significant amount of money, and I don’t have any savings,” he says. “It’s important for me to get back on my feet and just work and live in peace. Right now, I need the most basic things and will be grateful for any support.”
In addition to treatment, he needs funds for rent and essential living expenses during his first months in Poland — food and necessities.
Fundraising goal
€2500
€1200 – temporary housing
€500 – winter clothing and essential items
€800 – dental treatment