Political prisoners

Paul Petrovich Dobrovolsky

Dissidentby since
Viasna since
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Former journalist for Naviny.by.

Previously, Pavel worked for various independent publications. During the 2020 protests, he was detained and charged with administrative offences in connection with his professional activities. In the fall of 2021, Pavel Dobrovolsky left Belarus. He traveled extensively across various countries, reporting.

However, as has now becomeknown , he has been held in a pretrial detention facility in Belarus since January 2025. The circumstances of his criminal prosecution suggest that Pavel's previous activities related to the exercise of his right to free expression and dissemination of information are the reason for his detention.

In October 2025, it became known that Pavel was accused of treason.

Sentences

Trial outcome date unknown
9 years of imprisonment in colony in strict regime conditions.

Once the sentence takes effect, you can only write letters to the prisoner. Under Art. 85 of the Penal Code of Belarus, convicts cannot receive money transfers from anyone other than close relatives. Parcels are also only possible from relatives. If you want to help, support the family directly if this option is available on the prisoner's page.

Involved in repression

Alexander Vladimirovich Kornienko
Alexander Vladimirovich Kornienko
Overseers9 january 1978
Place:
IK-17
Type:
Head of the correctional facility
More

Who else is held in IK-17

Paul Petrovich Dobrovolsky
In custody:
Hometown:
Minsk
Birthday:
12.01.1990
Mailing address:
IK №17, 213004, Shklov, ul. 1-ya Zavodskaya, 8
Articles:
Groups:
Journalists

Timeline

  1. 2025
  2. 09.01.2025

    Transfer

    SIZO KGB — In custody

  3. 2026
  4. ~06.03.2026

    Trial outcome date unknown

    9 years of imprisonment in colony in strict regime conditions, Minsk City Court

  5. ~23.03.2026

    Transfer

    IK-17 — In custody