The 59-year-old coach was arrested in June 2024. He was initially tried on an administrative charge for "disobeying police officers," but was later charged criminally under Part 1 of Article 361-3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. This section of the article can be used to prosecute those who participated in military operations in Ukraine, but it typically applies to those who merely intended to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
According to human rights activists, he was released in February 2026, having served his full sentence.
