Former political prisonersForced displacement

Novel Valerievich Galusa

Dissidentby since
Viasna since

A Polish citizen. Roman arrived in Belarus on July 19, 2022, and disappeared. His whereabouts were unknown, and the Southwest search and rescue team launched a search for him. It was later reported that Galuza was alive and his whereabouts had been established, but no further details were provided. However, an acquaintance of Roman's wrote on social media that he was being held in a KGB pretrial detention facility.

In Poland, Galuza graduated from university, received citizenship, and volunteered, including helping Belarusian refugees. Roman's arrest may have been premeditated by Belarusian security forces.

Now he faces up to 15 years in prison.

On December 13, 2025, he was released after another visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole, and taken to Lithuania.

Sentences

Trial outcome 15.07.2024
13 years of imprisonment in colony under enhanced security conditions, 2500 basic values fine.
Prosecutor's protest 11.10.2024
13 years of imprisonment in colony under enhanced security conditions, 1500 basic values fine.

Involved in repression

Elena Nikolaevna Shilko
Elena Nikolaevna Shilko
Judges20 april 1972
Place:
Minsk City Court
Type:
Court of First Instance
Date:
15.07.2024
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Alexei Anatolevich Khlyshchenkov
Alexei Anatolevich Khlyshchenkov
Judges27 august 1982
Place:
Supreme Court
Type:
Appeal
Date:
11.10.2024
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Novel Valerievich Galusa
In custody:
Case categories:
Return to Belarus
Hometown:
Zhabinka
Birthday:
1995
Was held in:
IK №3
Health problems:
Atrophy of the nasal mucosa
Articles:
Groups:
Foreign citizens

Timeline

  1. 2022
  2. ~19.07.2022

    Transfer

    SIZO KGB — In custody

  3. 2024
  4. 15.07.2024

    Trial outcome 15.07.2024

    13 years of imprisonment in colony under enhanced security conditions, 2500 basic values fine, Minsk City Court

  5. 11.10.2024

    Prosecutor's protest 11.10.2024

    13 years of imprisonment in colony under enhanced security conditions, 1500 basic values fine, Supreme Court

  6. 07.11.2024

    Transfer

    IK-3 — In custody

  7. 2025
  8. 13.12.2025

    Status change

    Forced displacement