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Ilya, a Gomel volunteer and well-known rock concert organizer, was detained by KGB officers on July 8, 2021. He was arrested as a witness in a case involving an "act of terrorism," but was released on July 16.
Ilya was arrested again on September 30, 2021, in connection with a criminal case opened for online comments following the deaths of KGB officer Dmitry Fedosyuk and IT specialist Andrei Zeltser in Minsk. He was initially charged with "inciting hatred or discord," but during the investigation, the charge was changed to "discrediting the Republic of Belarus."
Ilya visited court hearings for political prisoners, helped with parcels, and wrote letters of support. His "Write Letters" initiative was shortlisted for the 2021 National Human Rights Award in the "Campaign/Initiative of the Year" category. Even behind bars, he continued to support Belarusians with letters of solidarity.
In October 2022, Ilya was found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment in a penal colony and a large fine. He was released in court because his time in custody exceeded his sentence.
After his release, political persecution continued: Ilya was repeatedly subjected to administrative charges and searches. Ultimately, he was forced to leave Belarus.
In November 2023, it became known that a new criminal case had been opened against him, and his Facebook page was recognized as “extremist.”
Yuri was first detained on August 11, 2020, in Gomel and brutally beaten at the Novobelitsky District Police Department. He was charged with participating in an unsanctioned public event and sentenced to 12 days of administrative arrest.
In July 2021, Yuri was arrested again, this time in connection with a criminal case opened under the articles "insulting a government official," "insulting a judge," and "insulting Lukashenko." According to the prosecution, he subscribed to Telegram channels that published the personal information of law enforcement officers and, from December 2020 to April 2021, posted "offensive comments expressed in an obscene manner."
In November 2021, Yuri was found guilty of insulting 23 people — officials, judges, police officers, prosecutors, and Lukashenko — and sentenced to compulsory treatment in a psychiatric hospital.
Yuri was not present at the court hearings. According to his relatives, he was depressed, suffered panic attacks, and suffered from psychosomatic disorders. He also reportedly lost more than 35 kilograms during his imprisonment. His father acted as his legal representative.
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Natalia, a special education teacher, was arrested in September 2021 as part of a criminal case brought against factory employees who supported the strike and were part of the "Rabochy Rukh" initiative, under the statute of "treason." On September 21, 2021, this initiative was designated an extremist organization, following which mass arrests of workers took place across the country.
Released in November 2021 on bail.
Nikolai was arrested in September 2021 for graffiti at an abandoned construction site and found guilty in December of that year of "desecration of buildings and damage to property."
He was released in September 2022, having fully served his sentence.
Nikita was found guilty of "desecration of state symbols" and sentenced to restricted freedom in an open facility.
He was released in June 2022, having fully served his sentence.
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Igor was found guilty in 2021 of "insulting a government official" and sentenced to restricted freedom in an open correctional facility.
Before serving his sentence , he worked as a forklift driver for Coca-Cola. Previously, he trained in competitive acrobatics, becoming an international master of sports and a European champion. He worked as an acrobat at the Nikulin Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard and is a laureate of the Monte Carlo International Competition, the most prestigious circus festival.
He was released in January 2023, having fully served his sentence.
Castro e Silva was arrested in July 2021 in connection with a criminal case opened under the articles "group actions grossly violating public order" and "participation in mass riots." In October of the same year, he was convicted of participating in post-election protests that took place from August 9 to 10, 2020, in Minsk on Nemiga Street and in the area of the Riga shopping center.
He was released in May 2024, having fully served his sentence.
Nikita was convicted of participating in protests that took place in Lida in August 2020. On August 12, he was detained and fined under an administrative article (10 basic units). In February 2021, he was detained again for the same events, but this time on a criminal case. After posting bail, he was released pending trial, and in June of the same year, he was sentenced to restricted freedom with direction.
According to human rights activists, he was released in January 2025, having fully served his sentence.
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Sergei was found guilty in 2021 of insulting police officers S.V. Shramov and A.L. Shlupakov by posting a comment on the social network Odnoklassniki and sentenced to restricted freedom in an open-type facility.
In November 2022, a court hearing was held, following which Sergei's sentence was increased and he was transferred to a penal colony.
He was released in August 2023, having fully served his sentence.
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Yulia was found guilty in September 2021 of "desecration of buildings and damage to property" for spray-painting the words "Long Live White-Red-White" on a concrete pipe using gold paint. According to the prosecutor, her actions "reduced the aesthetic value of the property, necessitating the removal of the graffiti by painting over it."
Vyacheslav was found guilty in September 2021 of tearing down a state flag belonging to a municipal enterprise and worth 21 rubles. Vyacheslav purchased and brought a new flag, but was nevertheless sentenced to imprisonment in a penal colony.
He was released in August 2022, having fully served his sentence.
Dmitry was arrested and found guilty in September 2021 of "inciting racial, national, religious, or other social hatred" against police officers for an Instagram video calling for "beating up riot police" outside the Mogilev prison. His arrest was publicized in state propaganda, where he was labeled a football fan, something he denies.
He was released in September 2025, having fully served his sentence.
After his release, Dmitry was placed on one-year preventive supervision; police officers pressured him and staged provocations. Fearing re-arrest, he left Belarus.
Sergei was found guilty in September 2021 of "inciting racial, national, religious, or other social hatred" against police officers for an Instagram video calling for "beating up riot police" outside the Mogilev prison. His arrest was publicized in state propaganda, where he was labeled a football fan, something he denies.
According to human rights activists, he was released in the fall of 2025, having fully served his sentence.
Oleg was arrested in August 2021 in connection with a criminal case opened under the article "organizing or actively participating in group actions that grossly violate public order" and convicted in November of that year for participating in a post-election protest that took place on August 10, 2020, in Minsk.
According to human rights activists, he was released in the summer of 2024, having fully served his sentence.
Denis was arrested in August 2021 as part of a criminal case opened under the article "organizing or actively participating in group actions that grossly violate public order." In November of that year, he was convicted for participating in a post-election protest that took place in Minsk in August 2020. It is known that he endured a great deal during that protest, including beatings and abuse.
In February 2022, Denis began serving his sentence in an open-type correctional facility, but in the spring of 2023, the regime was tightened, and he was transferred to a penal colony.
According to human rights activists, he was released in December 2023, having fully served his sentence.