Ruslan was first detained on August 10, 2020, during a protest in Brest against election fraud. After a brutal beating, he was hospitalized and subsequently sentenced to seven days of administrative arrest. A criminal case was later opened against him, but he fled the country during the investigation.
Upon returning to Belarus, Ruslan attempted to cross the border into the European Union but was detained . In November 2021, he was convicted of participating in "mass riots."
In July 2024, he was convicted again, this time for "malicious disobedience to the demands of the correctional facility administration." This article is used to prosecute prisoners who refuse to cooperate with the administration, based on fictitious violations.
He was released in the summer of 2026, having served his full sentence.
