In 2020, Zhanna worked in the housing and utilities sector and refused to cut the white-red-white ribbons — as a result, she first found herself unemployed, and then in exile. After the birth of her daughter, she faced financial difficulties.
Full description:
My name is Zhanna Lesnevskaya, I originate from Polotsk. Since 2016, I have worked in the city housing and utilities sector. When alternative candidates appeared in the summer of 2020, I watched what was happening with hope: there was a feeling that everything was about to be fine. But then they imprisoned Viktor Babariko, for whom I signed, and kicked out of the country Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, for whom I voted. This made me very angry. And when during work the foreman called me and told me to go cut the white-red-white ribbons, I was indignant and refused — for me they were a symbol of the struggle for freedom and independence. For this, the management promised me problems. I decided not to wait for them, and when large-scale arrests and calls for strikes began, I quit myself.
Several times I went to rallies with my child — I was not detained, but the police wrote down my details. Later they came to our home and started asking why we were at the rally. And when social services started coming and looking at how we live, and then made a request to the kindergarten about my son, I realized that things would get worse.
I didn’t want to risk losing my child, so in August 2021, our whole family left for Poland and asked for asylum. My son went to school, we started learning Polish and got jobs: my husband at a construction site, and I cleaned. It was difficult, I lived like in a dream for a year, but we tried, because we had a child in our arms.
Over all these years, I did not ask for help, we managed on our own. But now it’s not working. After the birth of my daughter (she is three weeks old), financial difficulties began. Sometimes there is not enough money left for formula and diapers, we have to ask friends. My husband's money is enough for housing and food, and not always. And he already works late.
In addition, my daughter has a blocked tear duct, and the prescribed massage does not help. She needs an ophthalmologist, and the state clinic has an appointment with an ophthalmologist only for next year. But we ourselves cannot pay for the appointment.
I would be grateful to everyone for help!
How much is needed?
€1500
€1000 — apartment rent and groceries
€500 — visits to doctors in a private medical center