Belarusian Startup Founders Exiled and Stateless
Tatyana Marynich and Anastasiya Khamiankova, founders of the Belarusian startup hub Imaguru, have been sentenced in absentia to a combined 23 years in prison. Their crime? Fostering entrepreneurship in a country dominated by state-owned industries.
Imaguru, launched in 2013, became the heart of Belarus's tech ecosystem. The hub helped create over 300 startups and facilitated over $100 million in investments. Success stories like MSQRD (acquired by Facebook) and Prisma (reportedly acquired by Snapchat) originated from Imaguru's programs.
They were the main focal point of the venture community in Belarus. They brought together talent, investors, angels, ran the most significant programs—it was always a pleasure to go there.
— Max Gurvits, General Partner at Vitosha Venture Partners
After the disputed 2020 Belarusian elections, Imaguru opened its doors to civil society groups and opposition figures. This led to government retaliation. Their lease was terminated, offices raided, and assets frozen. The KGB designated Imaguru an "extremist formation."
Marynich, whose late husband was imprisoned for opposing President Lukashenko, now faces statelessness in Spain after her passport expired. Lukashenko's 2023 decree prevents Belarusian embassies from issuing or renewing documents for citizens abroad, trapping dissidents.
I'm a stateless person. 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.
— Tatyana Marynich
Despite this, Marynich and Khamiankova continue their mission. Imaguru now operates hubs in Warsaw and Madrid. They are campaigning to declare entrepreneurship a human right and have launched an online petition: free.imaguru.co.
When Independence Becomes Dissent
The founders' dedication to independent business clashed with the Lukashenko regime. Marynich's involvement with the Coordination Council, an opposition body, sealed Imaguru's fate.
While Imaguru has received support in Poland and Lithuania, the Spanish government has yet to formally respond to appeals for Marynich's situation.
This is clearly a political crackdown. Democratic governments should be doing everything they can to support them.
— Marvin Liao, Rolling Fund Diaspora.vc
The plight of Marynich and Khamiankova highlights the struggle for innovation and freedom in Belarus. Their story serves as a global test of values.
