Paul Ivanovich Kazakov

Andrei is a Grodno journalist, publicist and member of the Union of Poles in Belarus. In 2011, he was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment with a 2-year suspended sentence on charges of slandering Lukashenko. He was released in the courtroom on his own recognizance not to leave. In 2012, a new criminal case was opened against him for publications in the media, but in 2013 it was closed due to lack of evidence. In the autumn of the same year, he was released from serving his sentence in the first case.

On March 25, 2021, Andrei was detained again. He was accused of inciting hatred and calling for sanctions. The charges included articles about the 2020 Belarusian protests, the protection of the Polish minority, and publications about the USSR's attack on Poland in 1939. He spent more than 1.5 years in pretrial detention and was convicted in February 2023.

It is known that Andrey refused to write a petition for pardon. At present, he continues to be subjected to pressure, is deprived of visits and parcels. There are also no calls from him.

Denis is a journalist and volunteer editor for the Belarusian version of InformNapalm, a freelance correspondent for Novaga Chas. His investigations touched on the influence of the "Russian world" on Belarus and Syria, construction in Kurapaty, and the transition of former Ukrainian Berkut officers to the Belarusian security forces.

In March 2021, he was detained by KGB officers on charges of "interfering with the activities of the police." Searches were conducted in his apartment, his mother's apartment, and his 95-year-old grandmother's apartment. In 2022, it became known that he was also accused of collaborating with Ukrainian intelligence.

In September 2022, Denis was convicted under articles on "treason" and "interference in the activities of an internal affairs officer", but the latter charge was later replaced with "illegal collection or dissemination of data about personal life".

In June 2023, he was transferred to a maximum security prison without notifying his family or lawyer.

In April 2024, the political prisoner was deprived of parcels, and sending vitamins now requires permission from the prison doctor.

Dmitry was arrested and convicted of throwing a Molotov cocktail towards military personnel on August 10, 2020. According to investigators, the bottles were transported to the center of Gomel by Leonid Kovalev, who hid them and handed them over to Dmitry and Nikita Zolotorev that evening with an offer to set fire to a building, bus or paddy wagon. Dmitry partially admitted his guilt, explaining that he threw the cocktail in order to buy time and avoid detention.

In December 2021, he was transferred to prison regime for “malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of the correctional institution.”

Nikita was arrested for spraying gas in the face of a riot police officer while he was trying to protect a person at a protest. He was beaten, had his hair cut with a knife, and had gas sprayed in his face. In December 2020, he was sentenced to four years of restricted freedom, but the prosecutor later succeeded in increasing the sentence to two and a half years in prison. Nikita did not appear in court, relaying through a friend that arbitrary detentions were planned in the courtroom, threatening him and others.

Was in forced exile.

At the end of March 2025, it became known that Nikita, who had been hiding from the verdict for four years at that time, was detained in Grodno. As reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the man was stopped, he did not have documents with him, so he was asked to go to the station. Nikita resisted the police officers and, allegedly, broke the arm of one of them. It is reported that the man was wanted for allegedly "spraying a gas canister in the face of law enforcement officers" in August 2020. A criminal case was opened against him for this. He left the country, but then illegally returned to Belarus.

Since May 13, 2025, there has been no information about the political prisoner. Correspondence and parcels to him are prohibited. There is also no information about Nikita's case and the court date. In addition, it is reported that the investigator in the political prisoner's case is prohibited from informing Nikita's relatives and friends about the status and progress of the case.

Nikita was arrested in October 2019 and convicted of attacks on the buildings of Pretrial Detention Center No. 1 and the Minsk City Court in Minsk in solidarity with political prisoners. He was initially sentenced to seven years in prison, but on appeal, his sentence was reduced to four years. In May 2020, Nikita was transferred to a prison regime.

In March 2022, he was convicted again of "malicious disobedience to the demands of the correctional facility administration"—a charge often applied to inmates who refuse to cooperate with prison authorities. In March 2023, he was transferred back to the prison regime.

Throughout his imprisonment, Nikita has been subjected to constant pressure. He is frequently placed in solitary confinement, where he is held in isolation for dozens of days. He is denied visits from his family, his correspondence is restricted, and his personal belongings are confiscated. In response to the harsh conditions, Nikita protests with hunger strikes and by refusing to comply with the administration's demands. He is also regularly subjected to penalties for minor infractions, such as refusing to clean the courtyard or for inter-cell communication.

Three months before his release, in February 2025, Nikita faced 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.

By December 2024, Nikita had spent a total of 568 days in solitary confinement, including two months of continuous isolation.

As of the beginning of December 2025, Nikita had spent 648 days in solitary confinement.

Viktor was arrested on January 4, 2020, as part of the "Avtukhovich case" and accused of participating in a "terrorist organization" involved in arson attacks on police property. He was convicted of "participating in a criminal organization," "attempted seizure of power," "illegal actions involving firearms," and "illegal movement of firearms across the customs border."

In 2024, Viktor was convicted again for "malicious disobedience to the demands of the prison administration." From February 2025, he was held in a cell-type facility (PKT), and in May of that year, a new sentence was announced under the same article, often used against prisoners for refusing to cooperate with the administration. As a result, his total prison term was 22 years and 6 months.

On July 3, 2025, Victor's appeal was considered .

In December 2025, Viktor was most likely convicted again under Article 411.

A well-known public figure, previously a member of the United Civil Party, was detained on January 4, 2021, as part of the "Autukhovich case" and accused of participating in a "terrorist organization" linked to arson of police property. Olga was convicted of "participation in a criminal organization," "attempted seizure of power," "inciting hatred," "calls for sanctions," and "illegal actions with weapons."

In custody, the political prisoner was suspected of having diabetes. In March 2024, she was convicted again for "malicious disobedience to the demands of the prison administration."

Vladimir was arrested on December 30, 2020, as part of the criminal "Avtukhovich case" on charges of "preparing a terrorist attack," but this charge was later dropped. In May 2021, he was convicted of "violence against an official." Investigators claimed that during his arrest, he threatened investigators and smashed his mobile phone.

The "Autukhovich case" began in May 2022. During the trial, Vladimir was removed from the sessions several times and sent to solitary confinement. At one of the June sessions, he was placed in a cage in his underwear, with his hands handcuffed to the bars. In response, Vladimir went on a hunger strike, which he held for 11 days. In this case, he was convicted of "creating a criminal organization" and "attempting to seize power."

In December 2022, Vladimir was charged with insulting prosecutor Lyudmila Gerasimenko, who represented the prosecution in the "Autukhovich case," and was given an additional term. He was ultimately sentenced to 20 years in a maximum-security penal colony.

Transferred to prison regime in October 2023.

Irina was detained in December 2020 along with her son as part of the criminal "Avtukhovich case." The authorities called Nikolai Avtukhovich "the organizer and leader of a terrorist group." She was accused of participating in a "terrorist organization" involved in arson of police property. Irina was convicted of "participation in a criminal organization," "act of terrorism," "attempted seizure of power," and for participating in a protest that took place in September 2020 in Brest.

Pavel, the son of an Orthodox priest and an employee of the Leninsky District Enforcement Department of Brest, was detained on December 1, 2020, along with his parents, as part of the criminal "Avtukhovich case." The authorities called Nikolai Avtukhovich "the organizer and leader of a terrorist group." Pavel was convicted of "participation in a criminal organization," "an act of terrorism," "an attempt to seize power," and "illegal actions in relation to firearms."

In October 2023, he was transferred to prison regime.

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."

The Orthodox priest, rector of the Church of the Holy Archangel Michael in the agro-town of Stepanki, Zhabinka District, Brest Region, was detained on December 1, 2020, along with his wife and son, as part of the criminal "Avtukhovich case." The authorities called Nikolai Avtukhovich "the organizer and leader of a terrorist group." Sergei was convicted of "participation in a criminal organization," "an act of terrorism," and "an attempt to seize power."

Pavel was arrested on December 1, 2020, along with Nikolai Autukhovich , whom authorities immediately declared "the organizer and leader of a terrorist group." He was convicted of "participation in a criminal organization" and "act of terrorism."

A trial regarding changes to the prison regime was held in February 2024, but the outcome is still unknown. That spring, Pavel and two other defendants in the "case" were ordered to pay over 40,000 rubles in compensation for damage to police officers' property.

Pavel often has high blood pressure and feels unwell, his feet swell so much that he can’t put on shoes.

Nikolai, an Afghan war veteran, entrepreneur, and public figure, had previously been persecuted multiple times for his civic activism. He was arrested on December 1, 2020, and convicted on several charges, including "creating a criminal organization" and "attempted seizure of power." He received a lengthy prison sentence and a fine, with the first five years of his sentence to be served in prison.

In the spring of 2024, Nikolai and two other defendants in the "case" were ordered to pay compensation for damage to police officers' property totaling more than 40,000 rubles.

In November 2025, Nikolai completed his five-year prison sentence and was transferred to Correctional Colony No. 14, where he was immediately sent to a PKT. Nikolai will likely be sent back to prison.

An anarchist activist was detained on the night of October 28-29, 2020, while crossing the Belarusian border together with the partisan group "Black Banner". He was accused of setting fire to cars of officials, as well as the traffic police department and the state forensic committee.

In April 2024, Dmitry 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. As a result, another 9 months of imprisonment were added to his 19-year sentence.