Candidate of Historical Sciences, adjunct professor at the Institute of History, University of Wroclaw. Melnikov specialized in military history and the history of the period when Western Belarus was part of Poland (1921-1939). He has published a dozen and a half books on Western Belarus. In 2020, he was awarded the L. Sapieha Prize for the preservation of the historical heritage of Belarus.
It is known for sure that he was arrested and is being held in a pretrial detention center. Melnikov's last activity on Instagram dates back to January 21, 2024.
Melnikov is being tried for an interview he gave to an unnamed independent media outlet in 2022. The trial is being held in open mode. An excerpt from the indictment was quoted by SB:
"In 2022, Igor Melnikov, motivated by national hatred and discord, as well as political and ideological hatred, knowingly knowing about the extremist activities of participants in an information resource banned in Belarus, gave them an interview in order to develop and popularize media of this kind and involve more citizens in such activities," the prosecutor said. It is noted that the historian gave comments to the media both in Belarus and in Poland. Melnikov reportedly admitted his guilt.
The Court of Appeal reduced the sentence imposed by the court of first instance by 2 years.
Igor was released in early September 2025, having served his full sentence.
Trial outcome 13.09.2024
4 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
Appeal 05.11.2024
2 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
Lyudmila Deineko is 40 years old. She graduated from Polotsk State University in 2005 with a degree in law. She initially worked in the Minsk Regional Executive Committee's Department of Internal Affairs, then in the Minsk City Executive Committee's Department of Justice, and as a consultant at the Zavodskoy District Court in Minsk.
The trial begins on July 22. Deineko is accused of "calling for sanctions," "insulting Lukashenko," and "inciting hostility or discord."
Lyudmila has two minor children.
On March 19, 2026, she was pardoned after another visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole (among a group of 235 prisoners left in Belarus).
Trial outcome 29.07.2024
5 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
He has been a table tennis coach for over thirty years. Yuri is the only internationally recognized table tennis referee in the Brest region. He was previously a board member of the Belarusian Table Tennis Federation.
Logodyuk is also known as one of Belarus's best trainers for disabled athletes. He trains people with musculoskeletal disorders. His students frequently win championships both in Belarus and abroad. He has helped hundreds of people with disabilities live normal lives.
He's being tried for "assisting extremist activity." This could be anything from a comment on the wrong website to, say, transferring money to a political prisoner.
Graduated from the Philology Department of BSU. Volunteered at the II European Games. Worked at Currency.com, spent almost a year in Georgia, working in remote support. Then returned to Belarus. He is interested in languages, historical reconstruction, and heavy music.
On March 19, 2026, he was pardoned after another visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole (among a group of 235 prisoners left in Belarus).
Vitaly worked as a lead programmer and then as a lead network administrator for the Grodno Regional Executive Committee's Administration.
On March 19, 2026, he was pardoned after another visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole (among a group of 235 prisoners left in Belarus).
Trial outcome 26.07.2024
unknown years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
JudgeAnzhelikaDanilovawill beginhearingthe case on July29,2024, in the Minsk Regional Court.
On March 19, 2026, he was pardoned after another visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole (among a group of 235 prisoners left in Belarus).
Sergei was convicted in the summer of 2024 for "slandering Lukashenko" and sentenced to restricted freedom in an open facility.
On March 19, 2026, he was pardoned after another visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole (among a group of 235 prisoners left in Belarus).
Trial outcome 15.07.2024
4 years restrictions of freedom with referral to an open-type correctional facility.
Previously, the guy was into ship modeling and was even in the reserve of the Belarusian national team. He also listened to punk rock and was interested in the aesthetics of this subculture.
Trial outcome 15.07.2024
2 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
According to the charges, on the morning of May4,near the Transitstore,Bondarenkomade obscene remarks about Lukashenko in the presence of other citizens.According to the prosecution,the Ukrainian's motive was"supportingideasof socialintolerancetoward representatives of the Belarusiangovernmentandopenlyexpressinghostilitytowardthem."One of the people presentcontactedthe police and even provided a photograph of the car in which Yuri Bondarenko and his friend left.The following day, the Ukrainianwas arrestedon chargesof insulting Lukashenko .
According to calculations , he was supposed to be released in the fall of 2025.Possibly deported.
After his arrest, hewas immediately placedin pre-trial detention center No. 4 in Mogilev.
At the trial, Bondarenko admitted his guilt.
Trial outcome 10.07.2024
1 year 6 months of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
On March 19, 2026, he was pardoned after another visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole (among a group of 235 prisoners left in Belarus).
Trial outcome 11.07.2024
4 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
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