All persecuted

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.

Nikolai, a blogger, journalist and anarchist activist, was detained on November 11, 2020, by GUBOPiK and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. During his detention, he was beaten, pepper sprayed in his eyes and forced to appear in a video for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. After his detention, Nikolai was tortured, demanding access to Telegram channels.

He was convicted on charges of organizing protests and extremism. In prison, he was repeatedly punished: sent to solitary confinement, punishment cells, and restricted in communication. In 2023, Nikolai continued to receive penalties for minor violations. In 2024, a new case was opened against him under the article for "disobeying the demands of the administration of a correctional institution" - it is applied to prisoners who refuse to cooperate, for fictitious violations.

In October 2024, it became known that he had been in a punishment cell (SHIZO) for the fourth month.

Popular Belarusian blogger and creator of the YouTube channel "Country for Life" Sergei expressed a desire to run for president. However, before the start of the election campaign, he was arrested for organizing an unauthorized event. His wife, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, submitted documents to the Central Election Commission by proxy, but Sergei was not registered as a candidate due to the lack of his signature. Subsequently, Svetlana herself was registered as a candidate. After his release, Sergei became her trusted person and participated in collecting signatures.

On May 29, 2020, he was detained again during a picket in Grodno and later convicted under several criminal articles, including "organizing mass riots" and "inciting hatred." According to human rights activists, the defendants in the "case" are required to pay compensation in the amount of 29 million rubles.

In August 2022, the court transferred Sergei to prison regime. In February 2023, he was convicted again for "malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of a correctional institution" - an article applied to prisoners who refuse to cooperate with the administration, including for fictitious violations. As a result, another year and a half of imprisonment was added to his 18-year sentence.

Nikolai was detained on May 31, 2020, on his way to a pre-election picket of presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. He was initially sentenced to 30 days of administrative arrest, but was never released. He was subsequently convicted in the criminal "Tikhanovsky case" for "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.

Igor, a consultant for Radio Liberty and administrator of the Belarus of the Brain Telegram channel, was arrested on June 25, 2020, on charges of “participating in group actions that grossly violate public order.” However, he was later convicted of “organizing mass riots” as part of the criminal “Tikhanovsky case.”

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

Evgeny was arrested in November 2020 and convicted in a criminal case brought for blocking railway tracks and hanging scarecrows in Brest.

In the winter of 2024, he was transferred to prison regime.

Yevgeny was convicted of participating in “mass riots” in a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests that took place on August 10, 2020 in Brest against falsification in the presidential elections.

Daniil was detained in a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests against the falsification of the presidential elections that took place on August 10, 2020 in Brest. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." According to the case materials, the total damage amounted to about 24 thousand Belarusian rubles.

Timur was detained in a criminal case opened after the protests on August 10, 2020 in Brest against election fraud. Returning from work, he was shot with rubber bullets five times. The investigator explained the measure of restraint by the lack of Belarusian citizenship, although Timur has lived in the country with a residence permit for about 23 years. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots", and according to the case materials, the total damage amounted to more than 27 thousand Belarusian rubles.

In June 2023, human rights activists learned that Timur spent more than 100 days in a punishment cell, after which he was transferred to a punishment cell, and then to prison regime.

In July 2024, he was re-convicted for “malicious disobedience to the colony administration.”

Alexander was detained in a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests that took place on August 10, 2020 in Brest against falsifications in the presidential elections. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." According to the case materials, the total damage exceeded 27 thousand Belarusian rubles.

Sergei was detained in a criminal case initiated due to protests and clashes between Pinsk residents and security forces on the night of August 9-10, 2020. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." The victims in the case were 109 police officers and officials, who, in addition to imprisonment, demanded about 530 thousand rubles in compensation from the accused.

Vyacheslav was detained in a criminal case initiated due to protests and clashes between Pinsk residents and security forces on the night of August 9-10, 2020. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." The victims in the case were 109 police officers and officials, who, in addition to imprisonment, demanded about 530 thousand rubles in compensation from the accused.

In July 2024, a trial was held to change the prison regime to a prison one.

Artur was detained in a criminal case initiated due to protests and clashes between Pinsk residents and security forces on the night of August 9-10, 2020. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." The victims in the case were 109 police officers and officials, who, in addition to imprisonment, demanded about 530 thousand rubles in compensation from the accused.

Igor, an activist of the For Freedom movement, was detained in a criminal case initiated due to protests and clashes between Pinsk residents and security forces on the night of August 9-10, 2020. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." The victims in the case were 109 police officers and officials, who, in addition to imprisonment, demanded about 530 thousand rubles in compensation from the accused.

In January 2022, he was transferred to prison regime.

Oleg, a fan of FC Volna, was detained on August 10, 2020, as part of a criminal case initiated due to protests and clashes between Pinsk residents and security forces on the night of August 9-10, 2020. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." The victims in the case were 109 police officers and officials, who, in addition to imprisonment, demanded about 530 thousand rubles in compensation from the accused.

In June 2022, he was transferred to prison regime.

In March 2024, Oleg was convicted again for "malicious disobedience to the demands of the colony administration." Under this article, prisoners who refuse to cooperate with the administration are tried for fictitious violations.