A famous basketball referee, he was arrested for creating a basketball chat.
He was detained in January 2024 when he was returning to Belarus. He is currently in pretrial detention. He is accused of "insulting Lukashenko" and "creating an extremist group" under Articles 361-1 and 368 of the Criminal Code.
Syritsa had previously believed that coming to Belarus was not associated with major risks. His wife was also detained at the border (she spent a day in jail). And the chat participants were summoned for questioning.
Alexander Syritsa has been one of the best basketball referees in Belarus for many years. A FIBA referee since 2005. In 2019, together with his colleagues, Syritsa filed a lawsuit against the basketball federation, lost and was blacklisted. He lived in Australia, did business, and often visited Ukraine.
On January 16, the KGB recognized the "Fund of Belarus Friend LTD" as an "extremist organization" - at that time it was reported that Belarusian citizen Alexander Syritsa was related to it.
According to the court, the essence of the charge against everyone was that on August 10, 2020, people in Brest "shouted slogans, demonstrated white-red-white banners, deliberately obstructed the movement of vehicles and the normal functioning of enterprises." In doing so, they allegedly grossly violated public order.
Trial outcome 09.10.2024: 1 year of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
According to the court, the essence of the charge against everyone was that on August 10, 2020, people in Brest "shouted slogans, demonstrated white-red-white banners, deliberately obstructed the movement of vehicles and the normal functioning of enterprises." In doing so, they allegedly grossly violated public order.
Trial outcome 09.10.2024: 1 year of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
According to the court, the essence of the charge against everyone was that on August 10, 2020, people in Brest "shouted slogans, demonstrated white-red-white banners, deliberately obstructed the movement of vehicles and the normal functioning of enterprises." In doing so, they allegedly grossly violated public order.
Trial outcome 09.10.2024: 1 year 6 months of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
In late May, state media reported the detention of two Belarusians on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border: one of them was on the international wanted list and was trying to illegally enter Lithuania to avoid criminal liability, and the other was a driver.
64-year-old Alexander Sudnikovich said in a "repentant video" that in 2021 he left comments approving the actions of Andrei Zeltser, who died during a shootout with KGB officer Dmitry Fedosyuk. It is known that Alexander lived in the United States for a long time.
He was detained along with his wife Anastasia Ilnitskaya for participating in the 2020 protests. A "repentant" video was published with them.
Dmitry was arrested on November 27, and then on December 11, 2023, and convicted under Part 2 of Article 19.11 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (Distribution, production, storage, transportation of information products containing calls for extremist activity or promoting such activity). Judges - Podolyanets Artem and Nikolai Kmita.
He was held in the temporary detention facility of the Baranovichi City Department of Internal Affairs. Afterwards, a criminal case was opened and he was transferred to the pretrial detention facility No. 7 in Brest. Oksana Viktorovna Molochko was convicted along with him.
Before his arrest, he was engaged in handicrafts and was self-employed.
Trial outcome 24.06.2024: 12 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
Appeal 27.09.2024: the sentence was upheld.
On November 27, 2023, Oksana was brought to administrative responsibility under Part 2 of Article 19.11 of the Code of Administrative Offenses. She was later placed in pretrial detention center No. 7.
Trial outcome date unknown: 8 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
Appeal 27.09.2024: the sentence was upheld.
According to the court, the essence of the charge against everyone was that on August 10, 2020, people in Brest "shouted slogans, whistled, clapped their hands, demonstrated white-red-white banners, and went out onto the roadway." In doing so, they allegedly grossly violated public order.
Trial outcome 07.10.2024: 1 year 6 months of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
According to the court, the essence of the charge against everyone was that on August 10, 2020, people in Brest "shouted slogans, whistled, clapped their hands, demonstrated white-red-white banners, and went out onto the roadway." In doing so, they allegedly grossly violated public order.
Trial outcome 07.10.2024: 1 year of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
To ensure that none of political prisoners are left without attention and support the site has a function of verified sendings.
Please attach a photo or a screenshot for transfer verification. The new transfer will be posted on the site as soon as it is verified by the moderator!
You can upload an image from the support event, and after passing moderation we will publish it.
Do you want to help a released political prisoner? Send your contact to Telegram and we will contact you.
In view of the critical human rights situation in Belarus and the violation of fundamental articles of the UDHR, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other international instruments.
A Keeper means you want to regularly help a specific person in prison through their family. Choose a political prisoner and click «Become a Keeper», our team will contact you shortly.
You can request the letters that we have in storage, for this, leave your telegram account for feedback, we will contact you and, after verifying your identity, we will transfer the archive with your letters.
Briefly write the most critical information.
Please leave your contact in Telegram.
Are you a relative or someone close to a political prisoner? Send us a short description and your Telegram contact for feedback. After data verification we will publish your relative on the website.
Do you have information about administrative prosecution? Please send us a short description and your Telegram contact for feedback. After checking the data, we will publish your information on the site.
Please leave your Telegram contact and ad description. After moderation your ad will be published on the site.
Please leave your contact on Telegram and describe your skills in as much detail as possible. After moderation, your CV will be published on the website.
The answer will appear on the website if such a question has not been asked before. Please read the section before you ask your question.
Are you a representative of an organization or initiative and would like to support our statement? Just fill out the contact form below.
Multi upload allows you to send confirmations with one photo to several political prisoners at once, check the selected people before sending!
Please attach a photo or a screenshot for transfer verification. The new transfer will be posted on the site as soon as it is verified by the moderator!
Please complete the questionnaire to enter the first stage of an interview to determine your individual needs.
