Former political prisonersForced displacement

Evgeniy Aleksandrovich Merkis

Dissidentby since
Viasna since

A journalist who covered protests after the 2020 presidential elections. He was repeatedly detained by the police, fined by the courts, and sent to prison for a day. After a number of independent media outlets were recognized as extremist groups, Yevgeny was engaged in local history activities.

On September 13, 2022, in Gomel, in the afternoon, a search was conducted in the journalist’s apartment, after which Evgeny’s information carriers were confiscated and he himself was detained.

On September 11, 2025, it became known that 52 prisoners of the Belarusian regime were forcibly transferred to the territory of Lithuania. Among them are citizens of European countries. Among those released is Evgeny Merkis.

Sentences

Trial outcome 30.05.2023
4 years of imprisonment in colony under enhanced security conditions.
Appeal 29.08.2023
the sentence was upheld.

Involved in repression

Alexei Anatolevich Khlyshchenkov
Alexei Anatolevich Khlyshchenkov
Judges27 august 1982
Place:
Gomel Regional Court
Type:
Court of First Instance
Date:
30.05.2023
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Vladimir Olegovych Cherevach
Vladimir Olegovych Cherevach
Judges18 october 2026
Place:
Supreme Court
Type:
Appeal
Date:
29.08.2023
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Alexander Vladimirovich Kornienko
Alexander Vladimirovich Kornienko
Overseers9 january 1978
Place:
IK-17
Type:
Head of the correctional facility
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Evgeniy Aleksandrovich Merkis
In custody:
Case categories:
Journalistic work
Hometown:
Gomel
Birthday:
08.11.1986
Was held in:
IK №17, 213004, Shklov, ul. 1-ya Zavodskaya, 8
Articles:
Groups:
JournalistsCreative people
Marks:

Timeline

  1. 2022
  2. ~13.09.2022

    Transfer

    IVS Gomel — In custody

  3. 2023
  4. ~11.03.2023

    Transfer

    SIZO-3 — In custody

  5. 30.05.2023

    Trial outcome 30.05.2023

    4 years of imprisonment in colony under enhanced security conditions, Gomel Regional Court

  6. 29.08.2023

    Appeal 29.08.2023

    the sentence was upheld, Supreme Court

  7. 07.09.2023

    Transfer

    IK-17 — In custody