Pavel Yurievich Vinogradov
- Associations
- Activists
- Bloggers
- Twice political prisoners
- Parents of minors
Pavel had previously been subjected to political persecution. In 2008, he was implicated in the so-called "Case of the Fourteen," initiated for participating in a business rally, and was sentenced to two years of restricted freedom without a prison sentence. Since 2010, Pavel has been an activist for the "Tell the Truth" campaign.
Following a protest against election fraud, he was arrested on January 5, 2011. He was accused of organizing and participating in mass riots, as well as desecrating state symbols. In May 2011, the court sentenced him to four years in a maximum-security penal colony. That fall, Pavel was released under a pardon.
Pavel was arrested again on December 22, 2021, at his home in Berezino, in connection with a criminal case opened under charges of "inciting social discord," "defamation of Lukashenko," and "organizing and preparing actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them." In March 2022, he was sentenced to imprisonment.
In December 2023, Pavel's detention conditions were tightened and he was transferred to a prison regime.
On September 11, 2025, it was announced that 52 prisoners of the Belarusian regime had been forcibly transferred to Lithuania, including citizens of European countries. Pavel was among those released.
How to write a letter
✏️ A postcard with words of encouragement (a poem by your favorite author, song lyrics, or a beautiful quote). Trust us, even such simple gestures are very meaningful to a person in jail.
✏️ Your life events. To a person who is in isolation for a long time, any story about your routine endeavors will be a window into normal life. Your day-to-day worries and mundane matters are much more interesting than the daily grind of life behind bars.
✏️ It is important to share news. Mention the most notable and interesting occurrences depending on your pen-pal's interests.
✍️️ Remember that every letter is censored. This means that your letters are read by strangers whose main goal is to limit inmates' access to information or to use it against the prisoners or even you.
So try to avoid:
👉️️ harsh statements regarding ongoing political matters
👉 statements against the authorities and public servants
👉 foul language
👉 discussion of the circumstances of the criminal case
Involved in repression
