Political prisoners

Tsina Zakharauna Palynskaya

Dissidentby since
Viasna since
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A journalist and Catholic believer from Polotsk, Tina had long since retired from journalism, raising two daughters and working in archives, including Russian ones, fulfilling private commissions for biographical essays, family books, and stories about World War II veterans.

Earlier, in 2022, the journalist was tried on administrative charges and heavily fined for wearing yellow and blue ribbons on her bag, while the Investigative Committee investigated her Facebook post and searched her home.

She has been out of contact since the end of May 2025. Tina and her eldest daughter, Margarita, 22, are in custody on criminal charges. Tina also has a younger daughter, 14, who is underage.

Details of the charges have not been officially disclosed. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the case may be connected to the KGB's decision to designate Professor Andrei Vardomatsky's Belarusian Analytical Workshop as an extremist group. This organization conducted sociological surveys among Belarusian citizens. There is currently no confirmation that Tina or her daughter actually participated in the BAM research. But even if such participation had occurred, it would not have violated the law: at the time of possible contact with the workshop, it had not yet been designated an extremist group.

On October 13, 2025, it became known that Tina’s husband, writer Ales Polynsky , had died .

Sentences

Trial outcome date unknown
2 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions.
Appeal date unknown
unknown.

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

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Ihar Viktaravich Chorny
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Natallia Siarheyeuna Aliokhina
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Overseers7 april 1989
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Alena Leanidauna Drazdova
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Overseers3 april 1978
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Yauhen Siarheyevich Drazdou
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Overseers29 june 1999
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Stanislav Sergeevich Kovalev
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Overseers12 december 1984
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IK-4
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Alena Piatrouna Lukomskaia
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Overseers27 july 1976
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IK-4
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Aleh Anatolyevich Bely
Aleh Anatolyevich Bely
Overseers9 august 1976
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IK-4
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Yaraslau Aliakseyevich Hancharou
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Overseers4 september 1998
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IK-4
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Dzmitry Leanidavich Shkaruba
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Overseers27 september 1981
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IK-4
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Aliaksei Alehavich Ziuzin
Aliaksei Alehavich Ziuzin
Overseers19 february 1998
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IK-4
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Vadzim Viktaravich Alejnikau
Vadzim Viktaravich Alejnikau
Overseers24 january 1976
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IK-4
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Andrei Valiantsinavich Siutsou
Andrei Valiantsinavich Siutsou
Overseers12 february 1988
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IK-4
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Natallia Parkhomenka
Natallia Parkhomenka
Overseers18 october 2026
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IK-4
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Who else is held in IK-4

Tsina Zakharauna Palynskaya
In custody:
Hometown:
Polatsk
Birthday:
24.06.1973
Number of children:
2
Mailing address:
IK-4, ul. Antoshkina, 3, 246035, Gomel
Articles:
Groups:
BelieversJournalistsParents of minors
Marks:

Timeline

  1. 2025
  2. ~20.05.2025

    Transfer

    SIZO-2 — In custody

  3. 2026
  4. ~03.03.2026

    Trial outcome date unknown

    2 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions, Vitebsk Regional Court

  5. ~04.05.2026

    Appeal date unknown

    unknown

  6. 18.05.2026

    Transfer

    IK-4 — In custody