Until August 2020, Valentina* lived with her family in the Hrodna region. Her husband, a former political prisoner, served three and a half years for participating in peaceful protests and was forced to emigrate in order to avoid ending up behind bars again. After his departure, the law enforcers turned their attention to Valentina. Although she has not been detained, the woman lives in constant stress and a sense of threat.
“After my husband left, they do not let me live in peace: the KGB keep calling, demanding I reveal my husband’s whereabouts. I have lost count of how many ‘friendly chats’ I have had. The conversation is always the same – threats and promises that I ‘won’t see my children soon’ if I do not cooperate.”
Valentina officially works but for minimum wage because, as the wife of a ‘political,’ no one will hire her for another job. Now she alone supports the family because her husband abroad is also trying to find work but cannot yet support her and their two sons, aged 5 and 9.
“Since my husband left, all the responsibility – moral, daily, and financial – is on me,” the Belarusian woman shares. “When my husband escaped, I could not leave with him because the children did not have documents, but now the threats from the law enforcers have become almost daily, and I understand they will easily find a reason, and these people, to put it mildly, do not follow any moral principles.”
Help is needed to leave the country as soon as possible, reunite with her husband, and cover basic needs for the first period while Valentina arranges documents at the new place and cannot work, because saving up anything on her current job is simply unrealistic.
The funds raised will go towards arranging the departure, travel, temporary housing, and basic needs.
*This is an anonymous story. For security purposes, we have changed the hero's name. The image is generated using AI.
Fundraising Goal
€3000
€800 – departure arrangements and tickets
€1200 – daily needs and food expenses
€1000 – rent for the whole family