Elena Dmitrievna Pyrkh

Lyubov, the wife of an Orthodox priest, was detained on December 1, 2020, along with her husband and son, as part of the criminal "Avtukhovich case." The authorities called Nikolai Avtukhovich "the organizer and leader of a terrorist group." According to the investigation, she helped Avtukhovich collect information about law enforcement officers and provided housing where the participants in the "case" stored weapons. Lyubov was convicted of "participation in a criminal organization," "act of terrorism," "attempted seizure of power," and "illegal actions in relation to firearms."

Irina graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences of BSU and in recent years was engaged in her own small business related to flowers and souvenir production. She was detained on January 12, 2021, along with Andrey Alexandrov. Irina was accused of "financing protest activities" and paying fines to protesters. She was convicted of "treason" and "participation in group actions that grossly violate public order."

On September 1, 2022, the couple got married in Pre-trial Detention Center No. 1.

Victoria, the administrator of the channel “Drivers 97%”, was detained on November 4, 2020 in Minsk by GUBOPiK officers and convicted of “calls for mass riots and blocking roads in connection with dissatisfaction with the authorities and election fraud.”

In 2022 and 2023, the court increased her prison term twice, accusing her of "malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of the correctional institution." Victoria was repeatedly subjected to pressure in the colony and was recognized as a "malicious violator."

According to the schedule on the Supreme Court website, Victoria's case will be heard on October 28, 2024, in the Rechitsa District Court. The woman is accused for the third time under Part 1 of Article 411 of the Criminal Code.

On December 18, 2024, the appeal was heard in the Gomel Regional Court.

As of the end of December 2024, she was transferred to Penal Colony No. 24.

Polina Sharendo-Panasyuk reported that Elena Gnauk and Victoria Kulsha were placed in a PKT: "After several weeks in a punishment cell, they were transferred to a PKT. It is 99% that they will again fabricate Article 411 against them."

Polina also added: "Victoria Kulsha's kidneys have probably already failed. She went on hunger strikes for months, she refused water and drink. She cut her veins. They threw her in the punishment cell with this - she cut her veins in the punishment cell. She went on hunger strikes in the punishment cell. She refused medical help."

Victoria was supposed to be released in April 2025 after her term expired. But in early April, she was transferred to Gomel's SIZO-3 as part of the fourth criminal case under Part 1 of Article 411 of the Criminal Code (malicious disobedience to the legal demands of the colony administration).

Marfa, a coordinator of the Viasna volunteer service, was detained on September 17, 2020. She was accused of "preparing for mass riots" and other "crimes." In February 2021, she was charged with additional charges, including "inciting social discord" and "participation in a criminal organization."

In September 2022, the court sentenced her to 15 years in prison, later reduced by three months. Marfa's health deteriorated in prison, including due to COVID.

A well-known activist and confidant of presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya in Gomel. Tatyana has been fighting for changes to anti-drug legislation for several years as part of the "Movement of Mothers 328" initiative. On August 6, 2020, she was detained in her own home, accused of "mass riots" and plans to "seize buildings."

In January 2022, it became known that Tatyana had been transferred to prison regime.

According to human rights activists, she is deprived of the right to visits and is allowed to receive only one small parcel per year. Letters from Tatyana come extremely rarely. In addition, she has developed problems with her spine.

Maria, a member of the presidium of the Coordination Council and head of Viktor Babariko's headquarters, was kidnapped on September 7, 2020, and taken to the Belarusian-Ukrainian border for deportation. She tore up her passport and refused to leave the country. On September 9, she was detained and taken into custody.

In September 2021, she was convicted under the articles: “conspiracy to seize power by unconstitutional means,” “calls for action against national security,” and “creation of an extremist group.”

In November 2022, Maria underwent surgery due to a perforated ulcer and peritonitis. Since March 2023, she was in the PKT. Due to health problems, she did not work, she was even accompanied to the formations.

Maria was kept incommunicado for a long time. In the summer of 2024, it became known that the administration had isolated her from other prisoners, with guards constantly with her. On November 12, 2024, she met her father for the first time in 18 months.

The meeting took place in a prison hospital, and it is not known for sure whether she was being treated or was brought there from the PKT. Before this, there had been no communication from Maria, and her condition became known only from the words of other prisoners.

Following this meeting, she was again cut off from communication with the outside world and continues to be kept incommunicado.

In February 2025, her sister reported that Maria had been returned to the unit and expressed hope that communication would be restored.