Nikolai was found guilty in December 2020 of a criminal defamation charge. According to the ruling of Major Petrovich, investigator of the Pinsk Interdistrict Department of the Investigative Committee, Nikolai intentionally posted images of Major Sakovich on the "Pinsk for Life" Telegram channel on two occasions—on August 18 and 20, 2020.
He was released in February 2023, having fully served his sentence.

