Nikolai was convicted in January 2025 in a criminal case brought under the articles "insulting a government official," "insulting a judge," and "insulting Lukashenko," and sentenced to imprisonment and a fine of 100 base rubles. The court also ordered Nikolai to pay 1,000 rubles in compensation to everyone recognized as victims.
On December 13, 2025, he was released following a visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole, and taken to Ukraine.
