Denis Nikita was arrested on the evening of January 25, 2024, for petty hooliganism. He was taken to the police station. He objected to the arrest and allegedly began hurling insults and threats at police officers, including mentioning Lukashenko. According to police, the 38-year-old had been doing this for a long time and had repeatedly humiliated them. As a result, a criminal case was opened. He was tried publicly in the Svisloch District Executive Committee building. The district newspaper reported on the trial, stating that "representatives of the public" and the media were present at the hearing. Denis Nikita pleaded guilty.
This is reportedly the defendant's 11th conviction. He has been convicted of theft, torture, threats to kill, and violation of preventive supervision requirements, and has been subject to administrative penalties on multiple occasions. Furthermore, he has been stripped of parental rights to his two children.
On May 23, 2024, Denis had his appeal heard and the verdict came into force.
On March 19, 2026, he was pardoned after another visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole (among a group of 235 prisoners left in Belarus).
