Yuri spent more than five months in prison in Grodno Prison No. 1. On January 25, 2024, a criminal case was opened against him under Article 369 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus for a photograph of Lidiya Yermoshina posted about ten years ago. However, the next day the case was closed due to the fact that the period for bringing to criminal responsibility had expired.
His case should be considered politically motivated, since it fits perfectly into the general pattern of attacks on freedom of association, including through the persecution of civil society organizations aimed at national revival.
Meleshkevich was involved in the "Manor Padarosk" case - an initiative to restore an old estate near Vawkavysk, which was financed by businessman and philanthropist of Belarusian origin Pavel Podkorytov. In April 2023, he was released on bail . Before his arrest, Meleshkevich was involved in preserving and popularizing heritage, participated in organizing a summer camp to restore the old cemetery in Izabelin, and organized a summer camp to clear the ruins of the Bochwitz burial site in Podorosk.
Meleshkevich was the deputy chairman of the "Belarusian Voluntary Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments". Previously, before the liquidation of the organization by the Supreme Court, he was the deputy chairman of the public association "BPF "Adradzhenne", an activist of the Movement "For Freedom".
Yuri moved to his relatives in Bialystok.
