We continue to introduce you to the residents of the charitable foundation "A Country to Live in" shelter. This time, Vladimir answered our questions — a Belarusian who went through the "corridor of batons" in 2020 and fell under the "Hajun case" in 2025. After "khimia" and a real threat of new persecution, he fled to Lithuania with a small backpack. Today Vladimir lives in our shelter, where for the first time in a long while he feels safe and at peace.
My name is Vladimir. I am an ordinary Belarusian who has always cared about the history, culture, and fate of my homeland. That's why during the 2020 elections I was a member of the initiative group of one of the presidential candidates and an independent observer. I saw and felt the "corridor of batons," the humiliation and insults that later became the reality of Belarus for the coming years...
With the start of Russia's war against Ukraine, I felt shame for Belarus, which allowed Russian troops to attack from our land. I began sending information about the movement of Russian military equipment across Belarus. I hoped that this would somehow help Ukraine prepare for Russia's next attack.
Unfortunately, the database of the channel collecting information about Russian military equipment (known as "Belarusian Hajun") fell into the hands of Belarusian security forces. Mass detentions began in the country, which continue to this day. Despite this, I remained in Belarus, thinking it would pass me by.
It didn't... I met the fifth anniversary of the 2020 events already in a pre-trial detention center, where I ended up because of the "Hajun case." I was sentenced to "khimia" (restricted freedom). I knew that some people were tried even while on "khimia," with new charges added and new criminal cases opened. Therefore, I decided to leave Belarus to preserve my physical and psychological health, as well as precious years of my life.
When I crossed the Lithuanian border, I could finally breathe easy... The "BYSOL" initiative provided coordination and assistance with the evacuation in every sense, for which I am immensely grateful!
Although I was safe after the evacuation, I understood that I found myself in a foreign country, without acquaintances, housing, food, or money (I only managed to take the bare necessities that fit in a small backpack). However, through coordination of Belarusian organizations, I found a place in a shelter (a safe place for refugees) from the "A Country to Live in" initiative, where I could finally catch my breath — feel warmth, experience coziness and peace! Finally, I could sleep and rest, wash and eat (there was necessary food + the local guys fed me like family 🙂)
What pleased and comforted me most was that you don't feel abandoned and forgotten. Belarusians are learning to stand up for their own and help their compatriots, like Israel and the States. It was nice to arrive and lie down on an already prepared and made bed. Besides food, there was all household chemicals, personal hygiene products, a washing machine. There were clothes and underwear, which turned out to be very timely — many upon arrival didn't even have anything to change into! Also, the shelter administrators always asked what was needed, what was missing, what else to bring. Along with necessary items, they brought treats — to cheer up and somehow lift the emigrant spirit 🙂
Today I feel much calmer and easier. In the warm and cozy shelter, I have the opportunity to think about what to do next, where to live and how to earn in the new reality. Belarusian initiatives provide financial, food, medical, and psychological assistance that help to recover, breathe out, and slowly switch from one track to another. The main thing is not to be afraid and not to be lazy about starting a new life. After all, it's better to start anew than to lose what you have in Belarus.
I want to express enormous gratitude to each and every person who is connected with the foundation and shelter or helps them! This is truly a very important initiative. It helps not only with words but with deeds everyone who was forced to leave their homeland, found themselves in a foreign country, who is confused and doesn't know what to do next. Thanks to such an initiative and the people who fill it, there is an opportunity to breathe out, get yourself together, and understand where and how to move forward in life.
Good question. I would like all of this to end one day — everything that has been happening to us for these 5 years. So that we could simply live at home, independently arrange it and together make it better. I dream of Belarus returning to Belarus. And I believe that we deserve a better future, where everyone will be needed, important, and valuable. People are the most valuable Belarusian resource. And when we come together, we will definitely make Belarus "great again"!
If Vladimir's story resonates with you and you want to help those who are just beginning their free path after prison — support our shelter via this this lin. Thank you!
Every donation helps support political prisoners and their families, giving them hope and the means to overcome challenges.
