Belarusian asylum seeker dies in Poland after bureaucratic battles leave family in crisis
Nelli Vodonosova, a Belarusian woman seeking asylum in Poland, has died after suffering a stroke in late December. Her death on January 1 follows a series of legal and bureaucratic struggles that left her family facing financial uncertainty. Friends and supporters had raised funds to help cover her medical costs after authorities failed to provide insurance.
Vodonosova fled Belarus over a year ago, citing pressure from the KGB. She arrived in Poland in July 2024 and applied for international protection. However, she entered the country on a Lithuanian visa, which placed her case under the Dublin Regulation for asylum processing.
Last autumn, Poland’s Border Guard issued a deportation order due to a bureaucratic oversight. The decision was later reversed, but the delay left Vodonosova in a precarious legal position. At the time, she was living with her daughter Ekaterina’s family in Białystok. On December 23, Vodonosova suffered a severe stroke and never regained consciousness. Her death came just over a week later. The Office for Foreigners had not provided her with health insurance, leaving her daughter potentially liable for substantial medical bills. A crowdfunding campaign eventually raised €15,000 to help cover the expenses.
Vodonosova’s case highlights the challenges faced by American asylum seekers navigating complex legal systems. Her family now deals with both grief and financial strain after her death. The funds raised through donations will assist with the medical costs left unpaid by authorities.
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