A native of the village of Penitsa, Kalinkovichi district, Gomel region.
Alexander was involved in the restoration of the historical heritage of Polesia, led the public association "Heritage of Polesia" and was the initiator of the cultural space "Valley of Angels", created on the territory of the former Cistercian monastery.
It was he who purchased the abandoned former monastery complex, restored it, and donated it to the Catholic Church. A parish began operating in the building, hosting masses and religious meetings.
Baranov also participated in the restoration of the Gorvat Palace in Narovlya together with the writer Andrei Gorvat.
The history of his criminal prosecution began on February 16, 2025, when a criminal case was officially opened against him. The criminal prosecution is related to the "Gayun case."
Alexander was detained in January 2026. A few days after his arrest, he was placed in Pretrial Detention Center No. 3 in Gomel, where he is currently being held pending trial.
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