A thousand people gathered in Warsaw on Wednesday to protest against the rape and murder of a Belarusian immigrant which caused shock waves in the community of Belarusian exiles in Poland.
Liza, 25, identified only by her first name, died in hospital last week after being brutally attacked and raped while walking at night in the center of the Polish capital. A 23-year-old suspect was arrested and charged for this crime, which sparked outrage from feminist organizations and the large Belarusian refugee community in Poland.
“Liza came to Poland in search of a better life”
Carrying flowers and candles, the crowd gathered near the scene of the attack. “Liza came to Poland in search of a better life. And in Poland, her life was taken,” Maja Stasko, co-organizer of the demonstration, told participants.
According to official data, in 2023 Poland welcomed nearly 80,000 Belarusians who fled their country for fear of ongoing political repression. According to the organizers of the demonstration, Belarusians victims of sexual violence abroad face additional obstacles, in particular because of their distrust of the police.
“We have such experiences with the police that it is difficult for us to believe that if we appeal to them, they will believe us and act accordingly,” Nasta Bazar, a Belarusian activist, told AFP.