From tech pioneers to ‘extremists’: Belarusian founders face exile and statelessness

In 2013, Tatyana Marynich and Anastasiya Khamiankova opened the door LomrusStartup center in Minsk, Belarus that will continue to launch some of the most prominent stories of technological success in Eastern Europe. A decade later they were sentenced ‘in absence’ to combined 23 years in prison by the Belarusian authorities. Their assets were seized. Their work was declared “extremist”. Marynikh’s passport expired and reprimanded, leaving stranded and without citizenship in Spain.

Their crime? The construction of an independent, pro-subtutaneous future, the Lukashenko regime is considered dangerous because of its commitment to entrepreneurship in a country where they usually dominate state-owned state-owned state.

“What began as an attempt to silence the innovation has developed into complete criminalization of an independent business,” Marynich Techcronyh said for the call.

The Imaguru was not just Belaruski the first startup center. This became the gravity center of the technological ecosystem in the country. The accelerator and cooperation space helped to create over 300 startups and raise more than $ 100 million invested for companies coming out of his programs. Successes like MSQRD (gained Facebook) and Prism (allegedly acquired Snapchat) can follow their roots to the early Hackaton Mafuru who were attended by eager for young people, hoping for a better future.

“They were the main foci of community of companies in Belarus,” he said Max GurvitsGeneral partner in Vitosha Venture Partners in Bulgaria and an early mentor in Munsuru. “They brought together talent, investors, angels, led the most significant programs – it was always a pleasure there.”

Another VC, based in the US Marvin Liao The Rolling Fund.vc Fund’s diaspore, agrees. “They were super professional and really passionate,” he told Techcrunch. “Mumur was the first central place where the founders of startups and tech entrepreneurs gathered in Belarus. Tanya and Nastiia were the builders of the community in the most loyal sense.”

Their influence was not just economically. Marynic’s late husband, Michael MarynichHe paid a high price for his own defiance for years earlier.

Former ambassador and minister, in prison from 2004 to 2006 after he dared to run against President Alexander Lukashenka in the general election. He suffered more prison shots, an experience that shaped the decision of Tatyane to leave the international corporation for finance at the World Bank and launched his own venture.

“I was forced to entrepreneurship,” she said. “Not only would I survive economically, but also because I believed in the same democratic values ​​for which my husband sacrificed my health.”

“If politics fails,” she said, “then you have to create your own future. Entrepreneurs are free thinkers – and free people question the power,” she said.

For the Lukashenko regime, that conviction made Musur dangerous.

When independence becomes a disagreement

After the 2020 election, which were widely seen as a falseMass protests broke out Belarus. He decided to open his doors to Munsur not only entrepreneurs, but also groups of civil society, non -governmental organizations and opposition figures.

Marynich joined Coordination CouncilThe formal opposition body led by the leader of the opposition, the all -out tsikhanouskaya. It was the last straw for the Lukashenko regime.

“She signed a declaration, saying they wanted to hold a free election,” Gurvits said. “But from that moment onwards, she obviously became an enemy of the state and everything related to her, like Somurur, became completely forbidden.”

By 2021. Political pressure became unbearable. Somururu rent was forcibly abolished by the government. As at that time reported Techcrunch, Masked officers made a search in offices.

By 2023, KGB determined Demururu “extremist formation”, making even an exchange of messages with a group of punishable insults in Belarus. Former director was arrested. Members of the staff of the Munuru staff were questioned. Their website was blocked in several countries. The property was frozen. And on December 2 last year the prison sentences of two co -founders were announced.

On the same day, Marynikh’s Belarusian passport expired. According to the 2023 executive order from Lukashenko, the Belarusian Embassy can no longer issue or renovate documents for citizens abroad, effectively captures disidentia in foreign countries, unprovented.

“I’m a citizen -free person,” Marynich said. “I have a European residence permit, but without a valid passport I can’t even apply for citizenship. I can’t leave Spain. I can’t open a bank account.”

Despite the circumstances, both founders continue their mission. Munsuru is now operating in Warsaw and Madrid, with the support of European institutions. The team also triggers a campaign for the proclamation of entrepreneurship to human law and gathering support through the Internet request.

“They really love their country,” Liao said. “And now I can never come back. It’s hearty. I wrote letters to both of them for both international programs. I would do it again in a second. These are good people, and this is unfair.”

Global test of value

Although he received institutional support to Mumur in Poland and Lithuania, the Spanish government has yet to officially respond to complaints. Marynich remains in the limbu, hoping that visibility could help change bureaucratic indifference.

Techcrunch contacted María González Veracruz office, State Secretary for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in Spain, but did not receive an answer at the time of the publication.

“This is obviously a political breakthrough,” Liao said. “Democratic governments should do everything they can to support them.”

Gurvits agrees: “Even the younger employees who once worked in Somuru cannot return to Belarus. It is not just two founders. It is a whole community that is expelled to believe in innovation and freedom.”

Marynich remains defiant.

“We built something beautiful,” she said. “Now we are fighting for the right to existence. And we don’t give up.”