All persecuted

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.

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.

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.

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.

He was convicted of throwing a Molotov cocktail towards security forces during a protest that took place on August 10, 2020 in Baranovichi.

Nikita was detained in October 2019 and convicted of attacks on the buildings of Pre-trial Detention Center No. 1 and the Minsk City Court in Minsk in solidarity with political prisoners. He was initially sentenced to 7 years in prison, but after an appeal, the term was reduced to 4 years. In May 2020, Nikita was transferred to prison regime.

In March 2022, he was convicted again of “malicious disobedience to the demands of correctional authorities,” a charge often applied to inmates who refuse to cooperate with prison authorities. In March 2023, he was transferred back to prison mode.

Throughout his imprisonment, Nikita is constantly under pressure. He is often sent to solitary confinement, where he is kept in isolation for dozens of days. He is deprived of visits from his family, his correspondence is restricted, and his personal belongings are confiscated. In response to the harsh conditions of detention, Nikita protests with hunger strikes and by refusing to comply with the administration's demands. He is also regularly subjected to penalties for minor violations, such as refusing to clean the courtyard or for inter-cell communication.

Three months before his release, in February 2025, Nikita had another court hearing on charges of “malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of a correctional facility,” as a result of which he was sentenced to another year of imprisonment.

By December 2024, Nikita had spent a total of 568 days in solitary confinement, including 2 months of continuous isolation.

Nikolai is the leader of the unregistered Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Hramada), a former presidential candidate, a retired lieutenant colonel, and a PhD in engineering. He was one of the founders of the Belarusian Military Association. He has been imprisoned multiple times for political reasons.

In the 1990s, he organized protests, including the Minsk Spring and the 1999 march.

In 2004, he led street protests against referendum fraud, after which he was sentenced in 2005 to three years of restricted freedom. Due to an amnesty announced in honor of the 60th anniversary of Victory Day, his sentence was reduced by one year. In 2010, he participated in the presidential campaign and protests in Minsk, after which he was arrested and sentenced in 2011 to six years in a maximum-security penal colony. In January 2012 and May 2015, his sentence was increased, resulting in his imprisonment. He was released in August 2015 as part of a pardon.

After his release, he continued his political activity and participation in street protests. In 2016, the Belarusian National Congress was founded on his initiative. In 2020, he spoke out in support of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , the wife of another unregistered candidate, social blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky . Nikolai was detained again on May 31, 2020, on his way to her election picket. He initially received 15 days of administrative arrest but was never released. Subsequently, in December 2021, he was convicted of criminal charges of "organizing mass riots."

According to human rights activists, the defendants in the case are required to pay compensation in the amount of 29 million rubles.

On September 11, 2025, it was reported that 52 prisoners of the Belarusian regime had been forcibly transferred to Lithuania. Among those released was Mikalai Statkevich. However, Mikalai refused to leave Belarus, and had to kick down the bus doors to do so. After waiting for several hours in the neutral zone, he returned to Belarus. It was only two months later that he was re-arrested. His exact whereabouts are unknown.