Vladislav Yatsenko was imprisoned in 2022 for supporting Ukraine. Now in exile, he wants to start his own business and work as a tattoo artist, just as he did before his arrest. However, this requires significant investment that he currently cannot afford.
Hello everyone, my name is Vladislav Yatsenko. I was born, raised, and lived in Gomel. By education, I am a physical education and sports teacher.
Before my imprisonment, I was developing a career in the tattoo industry, which I became interested in in 2021. Before that, I had been drawing since childhood and even attended an art-focused school. Eventually, I abandoned it, but later decided to return to art through tattooing: first I tattooed friends with a basic machine, and then clients started to appear.
Then the war in Ukraine began. It completely shook me. I could not sit silently and watch what was happening. In fact, I had been attending protests since 2017, but until then I had managed to avoid serious consequences.
In 2022, I started with small actions: reposting content in support of Belarusian volunteers and creating graffiti in support of Ukraine. Later, I announced that I would do Ukrainian-themed tattoos and donate the proceeds to Belarusian volunteers.
That eventually led to my arrest. I was charged with “vandalism” and “preparation to participate in military actions on the territory of a foreign state.” I received a five-year sentence in a medium-security penal colony and served my time in one of the most notorious “red” colonies in Shklow. I spent almost four years behind bars before being transferred through Ukraine to Lithuania.
Now I am trying to start my life over. I am working on restoring the health that was badly damaged during those years, and I plan to start learning English. Most importantly, I want to continue developing my career in tattooing. Because of the nearly four-year interruption, I am essentially starting from scratch. However, I want to make a living from this work, which is why I am asking for your support.
It is not easy for me to ask for help, especially because many others are facing even more difficult circumstances. However, I cannot afford all the necessary equipment on my own, including a tattoo bed, proper lighting, a dry-heat sterilizer, various supplies, ink, and workspace rental.
Still, I believe there are kind and compassionate people in the world. As the saying goes, every little bit helps – and with your support, I will be able to return to my profession.
Thank you!
Fundraising goal
€1100
€500 – workspace rental
€400 – tools and equipment
€200 – consumable supplies