Фота: bysol.org.
In less than 24 hours, concerned supporters raised €2,047 to help talented Belarusian actor Mikalai Stonka. The artist, who left his state theater job in protest in 2020, openly admitted that he is suffering from severe depression and no longer has the strength to cope on his own.
Before the events of 2020, Mikalai Stonka spent eight years performing at the Republican Theatre of Belarusian Drama. In November 2020, following the killing of Raman Bandarenka and a wave of repression against colleagues, the actor recorded a powerful video address titled “I Am Leaving,” in which he said he could no longer work for the state and resigned.
On December 15, 2020, Mikalai was forced to leave Belarus urgently. Two weeks after his departure, KGB officers visited his mother. At that point, it became clear that there was no way back and that prison awaited him at home.
In Poland, Mikalai spent five years trying to rebuild his life. He joined the independent Kupalausy troupe and took part in theatrical projects. To support himself while remaining in the profession, he also worked as a barista. However, the pressures of exile, stress and past experiences eventually took their toll.
“For nearly two years now, I have been living with severe depression. I take antidepressants, but unfortunately that is not enough. I find it difficult to perform even basic daily tasks, let alone maintain full-time work and a normal life,” the actor candidly admitted in his appeal to BYSOL.
Mikalai has now made an important decision to begin an intensive two-month course of psychotherapy. Sessions with a specialist take place every weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This schedule has completely eliminated his ability to earn an income, leading to debt and creating a real risk of losing his housing.
Mikalai Stonka noted that during five years in exile he had deliberately tried to manage on his own and had never asked for help. But now, having found himself in an extremely vulnerable situation, he decided to reach out to others.
The response from Belarusians was immediate. The €2,047 raised will allow the actor to pay rent, buy food and cover everyday expenses while undergoing intensive treatment. The fundraiser remains open.
You can support the artist here.
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