russia_survivor_stpet_tatiana.jpg

Tatiana and her granddaughter.
Tatiana
The first years were quite good. He used to beat me two or three times a year, which I thought was normal. It was the same for my mother. But then it got worse.

“I called the police, who said they’d come when I was dead.”


Name
: Tatiana
Age: 50 

When he was drunk and angry, he beat me. I called the police, who said they’d come when I was dead.
I went on reporting him. Once he was fined 70 dollars because he’d almost strangled me.

The problem was always that he’s partially sighted, although I’m convinced he’s faking it.  But no-one believed me, that I could be the victim. I mean, he was disabled!

It took four years for me to get a court order saying my husband had to move out. I’ve been through 25 trials.

We had two children and were living in two rooms. I have a job as a nurse, but I have to live somewhere. It took time before the court accepted my doctor’s certificate. The judge considers his responsibility to be to hold families together. It took four years for me to get a court order saying my husband had to move out. I’ve been through 25 trials.

I had to live with him all the time. His friends used to beat me when they’d been drinking. I’ve developed health problems and I’ve lost my faith in the system. The authorities don’t protect the victims, they protect the abusers. I can’t trust anyone but myself.