Pursuit is over

Nikita was detained and severely beaten in September 2020. He was convicted of participating in protests that took place in Minsk from August 9 to 11 and September 13, 2020. According to the case materials, Nikita planned to participate in the protests, discussing routes and actions in case of detention in the Telegram chat "Chas X". The investigation claimed that an attack on police officers was being prepared.

In 2022, the pressure on Nikita increased: he was repeatedly placed in a punishment cell and a PKT. It is known that from June 30, 2023, he spent six months in a cell-type room. In the fall of 2023, a new criminal case was opened against him for "malicious disobedience to the administration of a correctional institution" - an article under which prisoners who refuse to cooperate with the administration are tried for fictitious violations. The trial began on November 3 and ended in January 2024, adding another year of imprisonment to his term.

According to human rights activists, he was released on March 10, 2025.

Sergei was detained on December 5, 2020 and convicted of setting fire to the Tabakerka kiosk in Zhodino.

In the colony, he was repeatedly punished, including being placed in a punishment cell for writing poetry and refusing to work for free, and also received penalties for minor violations.

On August 19, 2023, Sergei was released, having fully served the sentence imposed by the court.

Viktor, a member of the initiative group of presidential candidate Viktor Babariko, an independent observer at the 2020 elections at the Khatezhino polling station and a volunteer, was detained on December 6, 2020. He was convicted of hanging effigies with photographs of the Minister of Internal Affairs and the chairman of the Khatezhino election commission on the bridge with the inscription "We will not forget, we will not forgive!", as well as for applying images of the Belarusian coat of arms "Pahonia" to the structures and supports of the bridge.

He was released in September 2024, having fully served his sentence as determined by the court.

Yegor was detained on August 9, 2020, during a protest in Minsk against the falsification of the presidential elections. That evening, he stood on the bumper of a paddy wagon, but then fell under its wheels. After that, riot police beat him, and Yegor was sent to the hospital, where he remained until the end of August. He was later taken into custody and convicted of participating in the protest.

He was released on April 30, 2022, having fully served his sentence.

Kirill was detained on October 4, 2020, after the "March for the Liberation of Political Prisoners" that took place in Minsk. He was later convicted of participating in the protests.

On September 18, 2023, he was released, having fully served his sentence imposed by the court.

Ivan was detained and convicted in a criminal case opened after the protest action, the "March of Heroes", which took place on September 13, 2020 in Minsk. He was accused of damaging an official car and attacking riot police officers. As a result, the court found him guilty under the articles on "violence or threat of violence against an employee of the internal affairs bodies" and "participation in group actions that grossly violate public order." Ivan pleaded guilty only to damaging the car.

He was released in June 2023, having served his full sentence.

Grigory was arrested on November 22, 2020 and convicted of hanging a banner with the inscription: “While there is lawlessness in the country, resistance is our duty,” blocking traffic.

In May 2022, he was released, having fully served his sentence.

Dmitry was arrested on November 22, 2020 and convicted of hanging a banner with the inscription: “While there is lawlessness in the country, resistance is our duty,” blocking traffic.

In May 2022, he was released, having fully served his sentence.

Sergei was detained on September 23, 2020 and convicted for participating in protests that took place in August 2020 in Minsk against falsifications in the presidential elections, as well as for publications in the Telegram channel "Drivers 97%".

In the summer of 2023, he was released, having fully served the sentence imposed by the court.

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.

On February 19, 2026, it was announced that Nikolai had been released. On January 21, he suffered a stroke. He is recovering and currently has speech problems. Nikolai is currently at home in Belarus with his wife .

Since his release , Nikolai has no passport or other documents , nor has he been given a medical report or medical records. This creates significant challenges for prompt medical care . His legal status as a former political prisoner is also unclear , making it impossible for him to travel for rehabilitation .

Alexey, CEO and developer of the startup MakeML, was detained on August 27, 2020 and convicted for participating in a peaceful gathering on Independence Square near the Red Church in Minsk.

He was released in March 2022, having served his full sentence as determined by the court.

Victor, the product director of the IT company PandaDoc, was arrested on September 2, 2020, on charges of fraud by the Department of Financial Investigations.

Following the events of August 2020, PandaDoc founder Nikita Mikado launched the Protect Belarus initiative to support dismissed law enforcement officers who refused to follow illegal orders. The initiative received over 500 applications and attracted public attention.

Victor was released in August 2021 due to the closure of the case.

Dmitry was detained in a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests against falsifications in the presidential elections that took place on August 10, 2020 in Brest. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots."

He was released in April 2024, having fully served his sentence as determined by the court.

Alexander was detained in a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests against falsifications in the presidential elections that took place on August 10, 2020 in Brest. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots."

He was released in August 2024, having fully served his sentence.

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

He was released in July 2022, having fully served his sentence as determined by the court.