Alexander, a former legal adviser to Naftan OJSC, a subsidiary of the Polimir plant, was detained in September 2021 in Russia while attempting to travel to Warsaw. En route from Voronezh, FSB officers checked his documents, and, knowing he would be detained in Moscow, he jumped from a train, suffering a broken leg and a dislocated arm. He made it to the Ukrainian border. While attempting to cross legally, he was detained, handed over to KGB officers, and placed in pretrial detention as part of a criminal case against plant employees who supported the strike and were members of the Workers' Movement (Rabochy Rukh). This initiative was deemed extremist on September 21, 2021, and simultaneously, workers were arrested across the country.
In February 2023, he was found guilty of "illegal actions with firearms," "treason," and "creation of and participation in an extremist group," and sentenced to imprisonment and a large fine.
In April 2023, Alexander was among the top three finalists for the international human rights prize, the Global Advocacy Award.
In April 2024, another court hearing took place, following which Alexander was transferred to prison.
