All persecuted

Ruslan is a Belarusian blogger who has been creating videos on social and political topics since 2020. By February 2021, his channel had more than 90,000 subscribers. On February 20, 2021, he was detained and later convicted of “insulting a government official.”

It became known that Ruslan was not released from the colony after his term expired, but was transferred to the pretrial detention center in Kolyadichi. The reasons for the new charges are still unknown.

Alexander was detained after a protest against the results of the presidential elections, which took place on August 11, 2020 in Brest. At this protest, Gennady Shutov was shot in the back of the head, which Alexander witnessed. He was later convicted of resisting and attempting to kill Captain Roman Gavrilov, who shot the protester, and Warrant Officer Arseniy Galitsyn, who acted as victims.

Nikita was arrested and convicted of throwing a Molotov cocktail towards military personnel on August 10, 2020, according to investigators. The prosecution claimed that the bottles were hidden and given to him by Leonid Kovalev with an offer to set fire to a building, bus, or paddy wagon. Nikita refused to testify, did not admit guilt, and reported physical and psychological pressure in the pretrial detention center. At the time of his arrest, he was 16 years old and suffers from epilepsy.

In July 2021, he was convicted again under the article on "violence or threat of violence" for an incident with pretrial detention center employees. In June 2022, Nikita was transferred to an adult colony after turning 18, and in August of the same year, his punishment was toughened, sending him to prison.

In July 2024, the political prisoner was tried for “malicious disobedience to the prison administration,” a charge often applied to prisoners who refuse to cooperate with the administration.

Dmitry was arrested and convicted of throwing a Molotov cocktail towards military personnel on August 10, 2020. According to investigators, the bottles were transported to the center of Gomel by Leonid Kovalev, who hid them and handed them over to Dmitry and Nikita Zolotorev that evening with an offer to set fire to a building, bus or paddy wagon. Dmitry partially admitted his guilt, explaining that he threw the cocktail in order to buy time and avoid detention.

In December 2021, he was transferred to prison regime for “malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of the correctional institution.”

Leonid was arrested and convicted for, according to investigators, making two Molotov cocktails, transporting them to the center of Gomel, and hiding them. On the evening of August 10, 2020, he allegedly found two perpetrators — Dmitry Korneev and Nikita Zolotorev — and handed them the bottles, offering to set fire to a building, a bus, or a paddy wagon. Leonid did not admit guilt.

Viktor was detained on October 18, 2020, after the protest "Partisan March". Seeing the security forces, he tried to run away, but was knocked down and fell along with a riot police officer, who suffered a fracture. Viktor was brutally beaten and hospitalized. At the trial, he reported torture, but was convicted of allegedly tripping a riot police officer, without admitting guilt.

In the summer of 2021, he was convicted again under the article on “malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of a correctional institution.” This article applies to prisoners who refuse to cooperate with the administration and for fictitious violations. As a result, his total prison term was 7 years.

In December 2023, Viktor's conditions of detention were tightened and he was transferred to a prison regime.

Ekaterina, a journalist for the Belsat TV channel, was reporting live from the courtyard of the Square of Change, where peaceful protesters gathered for a protest rally in Minsk on November 15, 2020, under the slogan "I'm coming out." These were the last words of Raman Bondarenko, who was killed by security forces, and those gathered came to honor his memory. Ekaterina was detained along with her colleague Darya Chultsova during the violent dispersal of the rally and was later convicted of "participating in group actions that grossly violate public order."

In April 2022, a new criminal case was opened against Ekaterina, and in July of the same year she was convicted again, accused of “treason” and sentenced to eight years in prison three months before the end of her first sentence.

Sergei was detained on August 30, 2020, in Minsk during a Sunday protest. His arrest followed a clash between police and protesters who were trying to prevent the detention of one of the protesters. He was later convicted of "violence against an officer of the internal affairs bodies."

In January 2024, he was transferred to another colony, most likely to IK-2.

Alexey was arrested and convicted of weapons possession and allegedly preparing for mass riots with their use. In an interview, he stated that he only admitted guilt in weapons possession and did not understand why the trial was held behind closed doors. Alexey called the charge of preparing riots a "witch hunt."

At the end of December 2021, it became known that Alexei's punishment had been toughened and he had been transferred to prison.

In the winter of 2024, a political prisoner was tried in a new criminal case for "malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of a correctional facility." Under this article, prisoners who refuse to cooperate with the administration are tried for fictitious violations.

Pavel was detained in September 2020 after publishing a new video. He had planned to run for president, but the Central Election Commission refused to register him. Pavel became a confidant of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. He was accused of "inciting social discord" because of the video, which criticized government officials, including prosecutors, judges, and police.

In November 2024, another trial of the political prisoner took place. According to human rights activists, Pavel was supposed to be released in December after completing his term, but at the initiative of the administration of Bobruisk colony No. 2, a criminal case was opened against him for "malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of the correctional institution."

Anton was detained, severely beaten, and later convicted of damaging the car of a policeman's wife in Novaya Borovaya.

His wife and children managed to leave Belarus.

He was detained and severely beaten by GUBOPiK officers to obtain the “necessary testimony.” Nikita was convicted of intending to participate in a protest using a Molotov cocktail.

Dmitry was arrested and convicted for blocking the road with a utility vehicle during a protest that took place in Minsk from August 10 to 11, 2020.

Vladimir was arrested on August 18, 2020, in the so-called "Korelichi case" related to alleged unrest in Korelichi and Navahrudak following the presidential election. He was convicted of "organizing mass unrest" and insulting Lukashenko.

In Correctional Colony No. 17, Vladimir was subjected to systematic beatings and biased treatment, including frequent placement in a punishment cell and a cell-type facility.

In April 2023, his sentence was increased and he was transferred to prison.

Oleg was arrested and convicted for "hitting" a police officer during a street march in Vitebsk on September 13, 2020. In September 2021, he was transferred to prison for "violating the rules of the order."

In August 2022, Oleg was re-convicted for “malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of the correctional institution” and was given another year of imprisonment.

On July 25, 2023, the political prisoner was again convicted of “disobeying the demands of the administration” and sentenced to another year in prison.

In September 2024, another hearing was held on the criminal case against Oleg for “malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of the correctional institution” - a charge that is often applied to prisoners who refuse to cooperate with the prison administration.

Throughout his imprisonment, Oleg is constantly under pressure. He is regularly sent to a punishment cell, where he is kept in isolation for dozens of days.