Political prisoners

Nikita Valerievich Samarin

Dissidentby since
Viasna since
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Nikita was arrested for spraying gas in the face of a riot police officer while he was trying to protect a person at a protest. He was beaten, had his hair cut with a knife, and had gas sprayed in his face. In December 2020, he was sentenced to four years of restricted freedom, but the prosecutor later succeeded in increasing the sentence to two and a half years in prison. Nikita did not appear in court, relaying through a friend that arbitrary detentions were planned in the courtroom, threatening him and others.

Was in forced exile.

At the end of March 2025, it became known that Nikita, who had been hiding from the verdict for four years at that time, was detained in Grodno. As reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the man was stopped, he did not have documents with him, so he was asked to go to the station. Nikita resisted the police officers and, allegedly, broke the arm of one of them. It is reported that the man was wanted for allegedly "spraying a gas canister in the face of law enforcement officers" in August 2020. A criminal case was opened against him for this. He left the country, but then illegally returned to Belarus.

Since May 13, 2025, there has been no information about the political prisoner. Correspondence and parcels to him are prohibited. There is also no information about Nikita's case and the court date. In addition, it is reported that the investigator in the political prisoner's case is prohibited from informing Nikita's relatives and friends about the status and progress of the case.

Sentences

Trial outcome 11.12.2020
4 years restrictions of freedom with referral to an open-type correctional facility, 500 rubles of compensation.
Prosecutor's protest 25.03.2021
2 years 6 months of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions, 2000 rubles of compensation.
Trial outcome date unknown
6 years of imprisonment in colony under enhanced security conditions.

Once the sentence takes effect, you can only write letters to the prisoner. Under Art. 85 of the Penal Code of Belarus, convicts cannot receive money transfers from anyone other than close relatives. Parcels are also only possible from relatives. If you want to help, support the family directly if this option is available on the prisoner's page.

Involved in repression

Ruslan Eduardavich Khikhol
Ruslan Eduardavich Khikhol
Judges27 november 1981
Place:
court of the Oktyabrsky district of Grodno
Type:
Court of First Instance
Date:
11.12.2020
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Valery Yatsentovych Romanovsky
Valery Yatsentovych Romanovsky
Judges24 march 1973
Place:
Grodno Regional Court
Type:
Appeal
Date:
25.03.2021
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Andrey Andreevich Lihach
Andrey Andreevich Lihach
Judges18 january 1974
Place:
Grodno Regional Court
Type:
Appeal
Date:
25.03.2021
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Vladimir Nikolaevich Evhuta
Vladimir Nikolaevich Evhuta
Judges26 july 1961
Place:
Grodno Regional Court
Type:
Appeal
Date:
25.03.2021
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Paul Ivanovich Kazakov
Paul Ivanovich Kazakov
Overseers11 june 1977
Place:
Turma №1
Type:
Head of the correctional facility
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Alexander Vladimirovich Kornienko
Alexander Vladimirovich Kornienko
Overseers9 january 1978
Place:
IK-17
Type:
Head of the correctional facility
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Who else is held in IK-17

Nikita Valerievich Samarin
In custody:
Hometown:
Hrodna
Birthday:
17.08.1991
Mailing address:
IK №17, 213004, Shklov, ul. 1-ya Zavodskaya, 8
Articles:

Timeline

  1. 2020
  2. 05.10.2020

    Transfer

    Turma №1 — In custody

  3. 11.12.2020

    Trial outcome 11.12.2020

    4 years restrictions of freedom with referral to an open-type correctional facility, 500 rubles of compensation, court of the Oktyabrsky district of Grodno

  4. 11.12.2020

    Status change

    Released pending appeal

  5. 2021
  6. 25.03.2021

    Prosecutor's protest 25.03.2021

    2 years 6 months of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions, 2000 rubles of compensation, Grodno Regional Court

  7. ~25.03.2021

    Status change

    Forced emigration