They escaped the regime. "The climate of Orwell is punished even by a crime"

In Belarus, the dictator, who has ruled for more than 30 years, Alaksandr Lukashenko, is present seeking a seventh presidential term. Kamil Kłysiński of the Center for east Studies calls this election a “farce and nativity scene”. We reached respective Belarusians, who came to Poland on different roads. There is something else that connects them – each of them had large hopes for the brutally suppressed protests in 2020. It was then that Lukashenko rudely falsified the erstwhile presidential elections, which in a consistent opinion of the observers and the free planet won Swiatlan Cichanouska. no of our interlocutors can imagine going home, not while “that person” lives. “This person”, or Lukashenko.

– I have no problem saying his name – says 20-year-old Mr. C. (requests no name). – However, it is hard to have sympathy for individual who called protesters "rats" from the helicopter. I was not straight affected by repression, even though I saw the militia beating anyone. I remember that for a fewer days there was no net throughout the country, and then, like today, 1 should be careful what is on the telephone – All it takes is simply a white-red-white Belarus flag or a subscription to the opposition channel on Telegram to go to jail.

– I was threatened by 3 years of gulag for playing music on the street during protests. We played mainly a part of Viktor Coja's "Transchange", an opposition hit from russian times – adds 38-year-old Dima, a musician who presently resides in Warsaw and travels across the continent with concerts.

– It wasn't always like this, I'm 38 years old, at simple school I started walking behind free Belarus, there was a white-red-white flag, our language and coat of arms with Pogoń. Then in 5th grade. Lukashenko came and took us back to Stalin’s times. After the 2020 election, in factories, people made rallies – who behind Swiatlana Cichanouska? Everybody rise their hands. Who is behind “Batch”? Meanwhile, Lukashenko officially has 80 percent of the vote. People were sick of it, no wonder. They stole our future and our opportunities. – continues Dima.

Katia, who was a writer in Belarus, most actively participated in anti-government protests. besides for localization reasons.

– On 9 August, false elections took place, and my husband and daughter and I received an flat on the 3rd level of the block at the Prospekt Winners. Protests happened virtually under our windows, says the journalist.

The militia was very violent. I go out to the balcony in my Minsk house, and here they shoot automatic weapons, like in a war.. Alaksandr Tarajkowski was killed virtually a fewer 100 meters from where I live. Then the critical mass was exceeded, and people got truly angry – Dima tells us.

Paradoxically just before the bloody trial with the opposition continued the Belarusian carnival of freedom. You could breathe a full breast, of course, for the conditions there.

– After the 2015 election (of course falsified) any air was allowed into our home. Since 2016, there has been a wave of hope, which was primarily manifested by the expanding usage of the Belarusian languageand was opposed to the Russian dictator preferred. His own from the “Japanese” (i.e. those who were behind Baczka – Lukashenko) distinguished the language first of all – We greeted each another with the words “Living Belarus – Eternal Life” and it was already known who was who. quite a few people came to support meetings for Wiktar Babarica, the opposition presidential candidate. The run was besides on the Internet, Lukashenko does not hide that she does not know how to operate the Internet, she prides herself on it. Even in the small Żabinka close Brest, people managed to transcend fear and went against Lukashenko. In my opinion, about 70% of the population was against the dictator – this is Katia.

– There were quite a few provokers, that's normal, but besides people in banks. Even the Minister of abroad Affairs, Uladzimir Makaj, walked in a dish, our folk costume – says a writer who, even while in Poland, writes articles in her native language, stressing that Since 2021, militia can arrest even 2 people talking to each another in their native language while walking. What Katia writes is printed and handed over to older people who do not necessarily usage the global network. This is opposition content, information on who and for what he was arrested, as well as news about the Kalinowski Regiment, who fights on the Ukrainian side in the war.

The carnival of freedom rapidly and violently ended.

– Three times the militia came to my house.The editors said the 4th time they wouldn't come. 1 of the militia boys I interviewed said they were asking about me. I mean, it's not about me, it's about the individual who runs the channels on the Telegram, who has thousands of people. If individual told them she was 1 weak woman, they wouldn't believe it. My husband and I actually decided in 1 day that I had to leave with my daughter.. First I was in Odessa, then in Lviv, from there (I went – ed.) to Poland – he says.

– The strategy in Belarus provides for an appeal, you're under home arrest for 10 days, you can only go to the store or you can take care of the most crucial things, then the conviction falls. I decided not to wait for Belarusian justice, I got to Poland on a circular road. First illegally across the river on a boat to Russia, from there to UkraineWhere I applied for a Polish visa. From there to Warsaw – Dima says.

– Parents matured for this decision to leave, Dad had the chance to work for his company while in Poland, so we took advantage. It wasn't hard. present the journey is inactive possible, but there is simply a much longer queue to make a visa, it is almost impossible to make a tourist destination – Mr C tells us.

– I don't talk to household members about elections.. In addition to the individual who has been president for 30 years, any full candidates start out – admits C., who is in the 4th grade of advanced school in Poland.

– Silly people in 1994 chose a fraud and populist who promised that the sausage would be cheaper at the store. And this 1 started creating a totalitarian state. I don't know what the statistic are, but there's most likely a 100 people out there, 1 uniform, 3 patrols in all neighborhood. This is like in Orwell’s book “1984”, you can be convicted of reasoning a crime—literally. At first the strategy included politicians, then businessmen, then increasing layers of society. The stench is getting bigger, it's covering everyone, you can't do anything, you gotta leave. If you didn't live there, you wouldn't understand. There is no alternate to “Batka” today; all who could defy either left or are in prison. In order for something to change, he must die – he pictures the situation of Dima's musician.

– I can't go back there.. Since I was 18 years old, I've had mandatory military service, and now it's been about a year and a half. Our household members who have stayed there disagree with politics, but do not want to leave, any are already old. In Poland I have parents, friends, here and in the European Union I see my future. Unfortunately, I don't see a chance to fix Belarus with this president.Every day in 2020, I believed it would work. present it's quiet, everyone's gone or in prison, it's even worse than 2020," says Mr. C.

I'm extremist number 639. erstwhile I escaped, I was facing 3 years in prison, most likely at least twice as much for moving away. I don't want to sit in a gulag for playing music. Dima admits.

– The last protest march I attended was on 16 January 2021. 350 people took part, 18 of them were detained. erstwhile I left in the fall of 2021, a 7am march was organized, individual tipped off the militia that took everyone. I have contact with those who stayed there, we are trying to support them," says Katia, who emphasizes that on the day of the elections on January 26th worldwide there will be protests of Belarusian diaspora. She will not participate in them, due to the fact that the pictures of these gatherings will go to Belarus, and her parents stay there. – Our country is in a dramatic position, Through the war in Ukraine the Belarusian economy revived. There was no work before, any bets made employees come in for 2 days a week, now working 3 shifts for Russia – money does not stink. For now I stay in Poland, the most crucial for me is the daughter who goes to Polish advanced school and is doing great. possibly she'll find Belarus free.