"On May 2nd I planted potatoes, on the 4th - they planted me." A Belarusian woman returned from Poland to help her mother - and was jailed for supporting Ukraine

Hanna Skryhan. Photo: Most

In 2021, Hanna was warned: if she didn't leave Belarus, she would face a criminal case. At that time, the KGB was investigating international projects, including the one she was leading as a scientist. In addition, the woman participated in the activities of environmental organizations, which also fell under the repression machine at that time.

"God forbid anyone sees a city where you know every alley being bombed"

Hanna chose Russia. There she found a job "for good money." And everything was going according to plan until the war in Ukraine began in February 2022. Hanna has relatives in that country, many fellow scientists, and she herself participated in projects with universities in Kharkiv.

"God forbid anyone sees a city where you know every alley being bombed. In this shop you bought jeans, and in this park you have a photo," she describes her feelings when she saw what was happening in Kharkiv.

The woman says that the last straw was the footage of the bombed university:

"This is the window of the auditorium where you lectured - it stands without glass and without anything."

At that time, Hanna actively expressed her position on Facebook, and when horrific images from Bucha and Irpin, liberated from Russian troops, spread around the world, she wrote on the social network: "Death to the Russian occupiers."

She could not stay in Russia. She returned to Belarus, and from there went to Poland and found work in Wroclaw.

"I came to you without insurance, because I am a Belarusian terrorist"

In April 2023, the woman received a call from her mother - from her father's grave. She complained about how bad she felt alone. And Hanna decided to come home for a short time - the May holidays were just ahead. She crossed the border easily. The women spent time at the dacha.

"On the first and second of May I planted potatoes, on the fourth - they planted me," Hanna jokes.

For those same posts on Facebook, she was accused of inciting hatred and sentenced to two years in prison. In addition, the woman was included in the list of "terrorists."

Hanna did not serve her full term. In September 2024, she was pardoned along with a group of other political prisoners.

But her criminal record was not expunged - and Hanna was denied things that are a matter of minutes for others. She could not get a SIM card, a bank card, buy insurance, or even draw up a power of attorney - this required special permission from the KGB. Good work was also out of the question.

And although she officially could not leave Belarus, the woman decided to flee to Poland. The "Bysol" foundation helped organize the evacuation.

Hanna entered Poland legally: she was able to obtain a Polish visa. True, this was not easy either. For example, an essential condition of the consulate is an insurance policy.

"At the consulate, I said: 'I came to you without insurance, because I am a Belarusian terrorist'," the woman recalls.

Several months of shedding fear, taking a shower without fitting into seven minutes

Hanna is now awaiting international protection in Poland. She admits that being free is not enough to start a new life. Several months were spent just trying to overcome the fear of taking a shower without fitting into seven minutes - that's how much time was allowed in the penal colony.

Without documents, it's difficult to find work - she has to seek support from foundations and accept help from her daughter. But Hanna takes on temporary part-time jobs.

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