We continue to work towards supporting political prisoners, their families, and Belarusians who have been repressed by the regime. Here are the results of our activities for the third quarter of 2024.
Psychological Assistance Project "Psychologist Nearby"
During July-September, 30 people sought help. 19 individuals continued therapy from the previous period.
Issues for which people sought help included:
Migration specialists received 43 new requests, which can be divided into several categories:
As part of the legal assistance project, specialists reviewed 50 requests from Belarusians, 7 requests from partner NGOs, provided 41 consultations, drafted 10 documents, and referred 14 individuals to other organizations/projects.
Most requests came from relatives of political prisoners. Key issues included:
As part of the information security project "Digital Support: Security Together," the technical support team handled 17 requests, spending 30 hours on this work.
The most common requests concerned:
The "Humanitarian Ambulance Service" also organized two children's camps for the children of political prisoners and activists as part of a cultural exchange program. One camp was held in Poland with the aim of integrating Belarusian and Ukrainian teenagers into the Polish community. Partners of the camp included the sports-educational club "Kryvichi" in collaboration with the Belarusian pastoral service in Warsaw, the Fundacja Zachod Wschod Wsparcie (Poland-Belarus-Ukraine), and the Fundacja Caritas Diecezji Lomzynskiej (Poland). Additionally, the "Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Service," with support from partners, organized a summer camp in Germany for the children of political prisoners.
Together with the "Association of Belarusians in America" and with the support of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, the "Humanitarian Ambulance Service," is planning a Christmas holiday in Romania for the children of political prisoners. Initially, the holiday was scheduled for September but has been postponed to Christmas.
The head of "A Country to Live in" Foundation, Volha Zazulinskaya, participated as a speaker at the "New Belarus" conference in a side event titled "Belarusian Initiatives and Global Support – How to Build Effective Working Structures Together?" At the main conference, Zazulinskaya participated in a panel discussion on "Actions for Political Prisoners in 2025: From Rehabilitation to Release."
There was also a presentation of the International Humanitarian Aid Fund, a new structure focused on helping former political prisoners in Belarus and the families of current political prisoners. Assistance will also be provided to those affected by repression but who do not have official political prisoner status.
The "Humanitarian Ambulance Service" became a partner in the global solidarity relay "Voice Across Borders" in support of Belarus. The service will take responsibility for distributing resources collected during the relay to political prisoners, their families, and those who have gone through the prison system and need rehabilitation.
"A Country to Live in" Foundation reported on the use of funds raised during the solidarity marathon "We Care."
Volha Zazulinskaya also participated in the strategic anti-conference in Warsaw, where participants discussed joint steps for national revival and effective resistance to ideological and cultural assimilation.
Zazulinskaya was appointed as the representative for social policy of the United Transitional Cabinet. She will combine this role with her leadership of the Foundation.
In her new role, Volha Zazulinskaya attended the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, where discussions focused on opportunities for the release of political prisoners.
The Foundation opened applications for participation in the "Family Friend" program.
"A Country to Live in" Foundation provides assistance to political prisoners and their families. We care about the safety of people inside Belarus. We support those forced into exile. We are passionate about our work, and we hope to see as many like-minded people as possible along the way. Through your support, we can do even more than we have done and are doing. Therefore, we encourage you to join our cause and become part of the famous Belarusian solidarity! Please do this safely and from outside Belarus.
Psychological Assistance Project "Psychologist Nearby"
During July-September, 30 people sought help. 19 individuals continued therapy from the previous period.
Issues for which people sought help included:
- Depressive states
- Feelings of loneliness
- "Serotonin depletion" after using substances that alter physical states
- Alcoholism
- Relationship problems
- Heightened anxiety
- Fear and anxiety about the future
- Lack of motivation for life and issues adapting to new environments.
Migration specialists received 43 new requests, which can be divided into several categories:
- Refusal of asylum by Lithuania for various reasons. Most often, this happens due to insufficient grounds, but there are also cases of refusals due to national security concerns. We reviewed such cases and provided recommendations on possible actions.
- Procedures for applying for international protection, application of the "Dublin III" Regulation.
- Procedures for obtaining visas or residence permits on humanitarian grounds.
- Procedures for obtaining a foreign citizen's passport when a Belarusian passport has expired.
- Procedures for providing evidence in the context of international protection applications.
- Cancellation or refusal of a residence permit (including for national security reasons).
- Exiting the asylum procedure.
- Completing forms for the Migration Department (residence permits, visas, passports).
As part of the legal assistance project, specialists reviewed 50 requests from Belarusians, 7 requests from partner NGOs, provided 41 consultations, drafted 10 documents, and referred 14 individuals to other organizations/projects.
Most requests came from relatives of political prisoners. Key issues included:
- Procedures for establishing visitation rights for grandparents.
- Migrants' rights and migration procedures in Poland.
- Procedures for inheritance in Belarus for individuals living abroad.
- Establishing guardianship over the child of a political prisoner.
- Review of a criminal case in the first instance court.
- Appealing a decision in an administrative offense case.
- Lifting the arrest on property and bank accounts in a criminal case.
- How to behave when summoned for interrogation by the Investigative Committee.
- Social security rights in Lithuania and Poland.
- Removal from registration through court proceedings.
- Procedures for preventive registration.
- Execution of a sentence involving restriction of freedom without being sent to a penal institution.
- Dismissal of an employee on maternity leave.
- Consequences of including a media outlet in the list of "extremist materials."
As part of the information security project "Digital Support: Security Together," the technical support team handled 17 requests, spending 30 hours on this work.
The most common requests concerned:
- Configuring the Partisan Telegram.
- Cleaning phones.
- Cleaning devices after surveillance/arrests and before crossing the border.
- One-time payments of €4,200.
- €660 spent on medical assistance.
- Payments under the "Family Friend" solidarity program totaled €11,500.
The "Humanitarian Ambulance Service" also organized two children's camps for the children of political prisoners and activists as part of a cultural exchange program. One camp was held in Poland with the aim of integrating Belarusian and Ukrainian teenagers into the Polish community. Partners of the camp included the sports-educational club "Kryvichi" in collaboration with the Belarusian pastoral service in Warsaw, the Fundacja Zachod Wschod Wsparcie (Poland-Belarus-Ukraine), and the Fundacja Caritas Diecezji Lomzynskiej (Poland). Additionally, the "Emergency Humanitarian Assistance Service," with support from partners, organized a summer camp in Germany for the children of political prisoners.
Together with the "Association of Belarusians in America" and with the support of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office, the "Humanitarian Ambulance Service," is planning a Christmas holiday in Romania for the children of political prisoners. Initially, the holiday was scheduled for September but has been postponed to Christmas.
The head of "A Country to Live in" Foundation, Volha Zazulinskaya, participated as a speaker at the "New Belarus" conference in a side event titled "Belarusian Initiatives and Global Support – How to Build Effective Working Structures Together?" At the main conference, Zazulinskaya participated in a panel discussion on "Actions for Political Prisoners in 2025: From Rehabilitation to Release."
There was also a presentation of the International Humanitarian Aid Fund, a new structure focused on helping former political prisoners in Belarus and the families of current political prisoners. Assistance will also be provided to those affected by repression but who do not have official political prisoner status.
The "Humanitarian Ambulance Service" became a partner in the global solidarity relay "Voice Across Borders" in support of Belarus. The service will take responsibility for distributing resources collected during the relay to political prisoners, their families, and those who have gone through the prison system and need rehabilitation.
"A Country to Live in" Foundation reported on the use of funds raised during the solidarity marathon "We Care."
Volha Zazulinskaya also participated in the strategic anti-conference in Warsaw, where participants discussed joint steps for national revival and effective resistance to ideological and cultural assimilation.
Zazulinskaya was appointed as the representative for social policy of the United Transitional Cabinet. She will combine this role with her leadership of the Foundation.
In her new role, Volha Zazulinskaya attended the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, where discussions focused on opportunities for the release of political prisoners.
The Foundation opened applications for participation in the "Family Friend" program.
"A Country to Live in" Foundation provides assistance to political prisoners and their families. We care about the safety of people inside Belarus. We support those forced into exile. We are passionate about our work, and we hope to see as many like-minded people as possible along the way. Through your support, we can do even more than we have done and are doing. Therefore, we encourage you to join our cause and become part of the famous Belarusian solidarity! Please do this safely and from outside Belarus.
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