Vitaly Aleksandrovich Kovbenya

Olga was convicted for a Facebook post made back in 2020.

According to the investigation, by posting on her page, the woman demonstrated “a desire to present the authority of the head of state in a humiliated state in the eyes of the general public, choosing a method of disseminating false information and insults against the head of the country, designed to be familiar to a wide circle of people.”

She is expected to be released in early spring 2025.

Natalya was found guilty in October 2021 of "insulting a government official" for a comment left on social media under a man's photo, which stated that he was a district police officer at the Svetlogorsk District Police Department, was engaged in the political persecution of protesters, and was committing perjury in court. Natalya was sentenced to restricted freedom without a referral and ordered to pay compensation.

In November of the same year, following the prosecutor's protest, the sentence was changed to restriction of freedom with referral to an open-type correctional facility.

She was released in December 2023, having fully served her sentence.

Due to new politically motivated persecution, Natalia was forced to leave Belarus.

Dmitry was arrested in September 2021 as part of a criminal case opened for online comments following the deaths of KGB officer Dmitry Fedosyuk and IT specialist Andrei Zeltser in Minsk.

In September 2022, he was found guilty of "inciting hatred or discord," "insulting a government official," and "insulting Lukashenko," and sentenced to restricted freedom in an open-type facility, a large fine, and moral damages.

In February 2023, a court hearing took place, following which Dmitry was transferred to a penal colony.

He was released in the fall of 2024, having fully served his sentence.

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.”

Evgeny, a Gomel activist, was detained after a search of his own apartment on May 28, 2021 and later convicted under the articles “organizing actions that grossly violate public order” and “public insult to a government official.”

He was released in July 2022, having fully served his sentence as determined by the court.