"My four printers worked for the whole of Belarus"

In 2020, Alexander lived in Minsk, worked at a wholesale fair.

He says that since 2019 he has been interested in the activities of Sergei Tsikhanovsky.

In 2020, he started printing campaign materials, leaflets, and distributing them.

"I printed newspapers, leaflets on my printer.

It was a crazy pace, I was printing everything day and night.

BySol, which then supported yard initiatives, helped me buy a printer.

Because this is such a thing that goes out of order.

I had a total of four printers that worked for the whole of Belarus," Alexander recalls.

Campaign products printed by Dobryanik in Minsk

He went on marches, was detained many times.

He says that he has been to Akrestin three times and to Zhodzin twice.

A criminal case was opened against him under the "people's" article 342 of the Criminal Code (organization or participation in group actions that grossly violate public order).

But as a result, Dabryanik was released on recognizance.

The interlocutor says that even after that he continued to print and distribute campaign materials and newspapers.

Campaign products printed by Dobryanik in Minsk

"I wanted to convey the truth to people in those conditions when the media were closed, there was not much information.

Older people trust print media more.

I worked at a wholesale fair, so I had a customer base.

I had Pogonya at my workplace, there were copies of Narodnaya Volya.

That's why people knew where to get newspapers and materials," says Aleksandar.

"I had time to report that I am ""under the hood""

On April 7, 2021, Alexander went to the Investigative Committee for another interrogation.

When he left the office, people approached him, introduced themselves as employees of the Department of Financial Investigations and "invited" him to be searched.

"I lived in a rented apartment, even a "secret" one, nobody knew about it.

But they took me there for the search.

Did they count me out, or did someone pass.

These were employees not of the Federal Security Service, but of the KGB.

They took away all the equipment and offered an agreement - cooperation with them.

They knew that I was active, that I participated in Zoom conferences with Svetlana Tsikhanovskaya.

I agreed to cooperate, but the important point was that I managed to warn the Office that I was "under the hood".

From that moment, a peculiar game began.

I was moved to another apartment.

I was under guard there day and night," says Aleksandar.

The interlocutor claims that he was guarded by former employees of the Ukrainian "Berkut".

Dobryanik says that he was interesting to the KGB, because through him they wanted to reach the entire chain of distribution of leaflets and newspapers, it was important for them to count everyone.

"I led them around my finger, and they understood it over time.

I also hinted to them that I managed to record my guards on video.

They called me a "rare face", they threatened to take me to the forest," says Aleksandar.

But instead of the forest, he was taken to Belarusian television to be filmed in a propaganda film.

"I only said on camera that I was offered to leave Lithuania illegally"

In 2021, Belarusian television released a propaganda film about Belarusians who illegally moved to Lithuania.

Dobryanik also starred in it.

"They gave me a sheet of paper, told me to read it into the camera, and they say my life in prison will depend on it.

I said that I will not say this, because you will not let me go anyway.

The only thing I said on camera (I don't consider it such a terrible crime) was that I was offered to leave Lithuania illegally and I refused.

Running ahead, I later ended up illegally in Lithuania," recalls the Belarusian.

Aleksandar Dabryanik

After that, he was sent to the pre-trial detention center on Volodarsky, where he spent four and a half months awaiting trial.

At the trial, Aleksandar Dabryanik received 3 years of "chemistry" and was released.

He says that he did not wait for a referral to "chemistry" and went to Lithuania illegally, swimming across the river in November 2021.

Former fugitives told him a convenient place to cross the border.

Later, when Alexander himself was in Lithuania, he helped other Belarusians cross the border illegally.

"Lithuanian border guards greeted me well.

They are nothing like our people in uniform.

Polite, adequate.

No collisions," says Dobriyanik.

"He undermined his health while still in prison, everything escalated in Lithuania"

After illegally crossing the border, Alexander was engaged in legalization in Lithuania, waiting for a residence permit, working part-time, looking for housing.

After receiving a residence permit, he found a job in the construction industry.

But serious health problems began.

"They are still from the prison.

I couldn't get to the dentist there, as a result I developed gum disease.

Moreover, so much so that the jawbones were also damaged.

In Lithuania, not having a residence permit, I could only relieve the pain.

The Red Cross helped me because I had no insurance.

As a result, the teeth "flew".

When I found a private clinic with my own money, I was examined there.

It turned out that nothing could be saved, all the teeth had to be removed.

There is even a pit in the jawbone," says Aleksandar.

He received an award from Tikhonovskaya

According to Dabryanik, even after the teeth are removed, he will not be able to put on dentures - "there is simply nothing to attach them to."

Now he is collecting money for implants.

Own funds are not enough.

According to Alexander, the cheapest option is about 1,500 euros.

BySol has opened a special fee to help political refugees.

Aleksandar Dobryanik with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya

What about the future of Belarus?

Alexander assumes that "we will survive Lukashenka anyway."

"Maybe someone's hands are down.

Then you just need to rest.

If someone has fallen into disbelief, you also need to rest.

What can we do here, abroad?

So far, only work in the information field.

I have been living in Lithuania for the second year and I meet many Lithuanians who know little about Belarus or say: "What a good father you have."

I tell such people what is really happening here," adds Aleksandar Dabriyanik.

He is sure that there will be changes, but now it is necessary to "just put up with it."

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