Political prisoners

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.

Sergei was detained in a criminal case initiated due to protests and clashes between Pinsk residents and security forces on the night of August 9-10, 2020. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." The victims in the case were 109 police officers and officials, who, in addition to imprisonment, demanded about 530 thousand rubles in compensation from the accused.

Artur was detained in a criminal case initiated due to protests and clashes between Pinsk residents and security forces on the night of August 9-10, 2020. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." The victims in the case were 109 police officers and officials, who, in addition to imprisonment, demanded about 530 thousand rubles in compensation from the accused.

Igor, an activist of the For Freedom movement, was detained in a criminal case initiated due to protests and clashes between Pinsk residents and security forces on the night of August 9-10, 2020. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." The victims in the case were 109 police officers and officials, who, in addition to imprisonment, demanded about 530 thousand rubles in compensation from the accused.

In January 2022, he was transferred to prison regime.

Vyacheslav was detained in connection with a criminal case initiated due to protests and clashes between Pinsk residents and security forces on the night of August 9-10, 2020. After his arrest, he was beaten for three days and denied medical care, which caused him to suffer a microstroke. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." The victims in the case were 109 police officers and officials, who, in addition to imprisonment, demanded about 530 thousand rubles in compensation from the accused.

Stanislav was detained on August 9, 2020, in a cafe in the center of Pinsk while drinking coffee and was severely beaten. He was detained as part of a criminal case initiated due to protests and clashes between Pinsk residents and security forces on the night of August 9-10, 2020. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." The victims in the case were 109 police officers and officials, who, in addition to imprisonment, demanded about 530 thousand rubles in compensation from the accused.

Daniil, a fan of FC Volna, was detained on August 10, 2020, as part of a criminal case initiated due to protests and clashes between Pinsk residents and security forces on the night of August 9-10, 2020. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." The victims in the case were 109 police officers and officials, who, in addition to imprisonment, demanded about 530 thousand rubles in compensation from the accused.

Roman was detained on the night of August 10, 2020, as part of a criminal case initiated due to protests and clashes between Pinsk residents and security forces on the night of August 9-10, 2020. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." The victims in the case were 109 police officers and officials, who, in addition to imprisonment, demanded about 530 thousand rubles in compensation from the accused.

Grigory was detained on the night of August 10, 2020, as part of a criminal case initiated due to protests and clashes between Pinsk residents and security forces on the night of August 9-10, 2020. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots." The victims in the case were 109 police officers and officials, who, in addition to imprisonment, demanded about 530 thousand rubles in compensation from the accused.

In February 2024, Grigory was transferred to prison regime.

Vitaly was arrested and convicted for stopping a freight train, painting red stripes on advertising light boxes, puncturing the tires of a police officer's car, setting fire to a Tabakerka kiosk, and handling items containing flammable substances. He explained his actions as a protest against the situation in the country after the presidential elections on August 9, 2020, in particular, against the unjustified detentions and torture of people by security forces.

Alexander was arrested and convicted of stopping a freight train, painting red stripes on advertising light boxes, puncturing the tires of a police officer's car, setting fire to a Tabakerka kiosk, and handling flammable materials. He explained his actions as a protest against the situation in the country following the presidential elections of August 9, 2020, specifically against the unfounded detentions and torture of people by security forces.

Citizen of the Russian Federation.

Alexander was detained and convicted for stopping a freight train, painting red stripes on advertising light boxes, puncturing the tires of a police officer's car, setting fire to a Tabakerka kiosk, and handling items containing flammable substances. He explained his actions as a protest against the situation in the country after the presidential elections on August 9, 2020, in particular, against the unjustified detentions and torture of people by security forces. His Opel Astra was also confiscated.

In 2020, Vladimir coordinated Viktor Babariko's regional group. After graduating from the Mogilev State Technical University in 2001, he worked in the Mogilev City Executive Committee, and in 2018 he became his deputy, responsible for construction and housing and communal services. He left the post in October 2019.

On June 11, 2020, employees of the Financial Investigation Department conducted a search at the Belgazprombank office and at persons associated with Babariko, after which Vladimir was detained. In September 2021, the court found him guilty of abuse of office and fraud, but he did not admit his guilt.

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

In 2024, Viktor was convicted again for "malicious disobedience to the demands of the colony administration." From February 2025, he was kept in a cell-type facility (PKT), and in May of the same year, it became known about a new sentence under the same article, which is often applied to prisoners for refusing to cooperate with the administration. As a result, the total term of imprisonment was 22 years and 6 months.

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

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."