Catherine Nikolaevna Gruda
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Catherine Nikolaevna Gruda
Ekaterina Nikolaevna Gruda is involved in politically motivated repressions in the Republic of Belarus. As a judge of the Baranovichi District Court and the city of Baranovichi, Gruda has been issuing politically motivated sentences against representatives of civil society for a long period of time. As a result of her decisions, Belarusians who opposed the current regime in the country were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. In particular, in October 2022, the judge sentenced political prisoner Mikhail Korzun to four years in prison under general regime conditions for comments on the Internet. On April 4, 2022, she sentenced political prisoner Denis Karaban to 2.5 years in prison in a general regime colony for a comment on a social network. Thus, Ekaterina Gruda bears responsibility for facilitating the repression of representatives of civil society and the democratic opposition. Her work within the judiciary is focused on maintaining the position of the existing government, rather than on enforcing the law. The actions of the Group contribute to human rights violations and increased politically motivated repression in the Republic of Belarus.
Ekaterina Nikolaevna Gruda is involved in politically motivated repressions in the Republic of Belarus. As a judge of the Baranovichi District Court and the city of Baranovichi, Gruda has been issuing politically motivated sentences against representatives of civil society for a long period of time. As a result of her decisions, Belarusians who opposed the current regime in the country were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. In particular, in October 2022, the judge sentenced political prisoner Mikhail Korzun to four years in prison under general regime conditions for comments on the Internet. On April 4, 2022, she sentenced political prisoner Denis Karaban to 2.5 years in prison in a general regime colony for a comment on a social network. Thus, Ekaterina Gruda bears responsibility for facilitating the repression of representatives of civil society and the democratic opposition. Her work within the judiciary is focused on maintaining the position of the existing government, rather than on enforcing the law. The actions of the Group contribute to human rights violations and increased politically motivated repression in the Republic of Belarus.
List of repressed
Pavel was convicted of "participating in group actions that grossly violate public order" in a criminal case opened following a protest that took place in Brest on September 13, 2020. During the protest, people were singing and dancing in circles when a water cannon was used against them.
In December 2024, as part of a special proceeding in Pavel's case, a court hearing was held in absentia to replace the restriction of freedom with imprisonment in a penal colony.
Sergei was convicted of "participating in group actions that grossly violate public order" in a criminal case opened following a protest that took place in Brest on September 13, 2020. During the protest, people were singing and dancing in circles when a water cannon was used against them.
He was released in 2024, having fully served his sentence.
- Associations
- Activists
- Associations
- Activists
Anna was arrested in October 2021 in connection with a criminal case opened following a protest on September 13, 2020, in Brest, where people were singing and dancing in circles and were attacked with a water cannon. She was convicted of "participating in group actions that grossly violate public order" and sentenced to imprisonment in a penal colony.
Anna was released in February 2023, having fully served her sentence.
Tatyana was convicted of "participation in group actions that grossly violate public order" in a criminal case opened after a protest that took place in Brest on September 13, 2020. During the protest, participants sang songs and danced in circles, and a water cannon was used against them.
Dmitry was convicted of "participating in group actions that grossly violate public order" in a criminal case opened after a protest that took place in Brest on September 13, 2020. During the protest, participants sang songs and danced in circles, and a water cannon was used against them.
Sergei was convicted of "participating in group actions that grossly violate public order" in a criminal case opened after a protest that took place in Brest on September 13, 2020. During the protest, participants sang songs and danced in circles, and a water cannon was used against them.
Left Belarus.
In December 2024, a court hearing in absentia was held against Sergei as part of a special proceeding to replace the restriction of freedom with imprisonment in a penal colony.
Anna was convicted of "participating in group actions that grossly violate public order" in a criminal case opened after a protest that took place in Brest on September 13, 2020. During the protest, participants sang songs and danced in circles, and a water cannon was used against them.
Left Belarus.
In December 2024, as part of a special proceeding against Anna, a court hearing was held in absentia to replace the restriction of freedom with imprisonment in a penal colony.
- Associations
- Teachers
- Associations
- Teachers
Nikita was convicted of "participating in group actions that grossly violate public order" in a criminal case opened after a protest that took place in Brest on September 13, 2020. During the protest, participants sang songs and danced in circles, and a water cannon was used against them.
According to human rights activists, he was released in December 2023, having fully served his sentence.
- Associations
- Parents of minors
- Associations
- Parents of minors
Stepan was arrested in connection with the protests in Pinsk on the night of August 9-10, 2020, and convicted of participating in "mass riots." He was accused of attempting to hit police officers, as well as hitting a shield that hit the leg of police officer Polivoda.
At the trial, Stepan explained that he tried to pass by, but was pushed by a shield, he fell, and cut his knee. According to him, the gesture that looked like a throw on the video was actually an attempt to fix his sleeve.
He was released in February 2024, having served his entire sentence as determined by the court.
- Associations
- Activists
- Parents of minors
- Associations
- Activists
- Parents of minors
Yulia was first convicted, along with her husband, of "participating in group actions grossly violating public order" in a criminal case opened following a protest that took place on September 13, 2020, in Brest. During the protest, people were singing and dancing in circles, but a water cannon was used against them. The court sentenced Yulia to a restricted freedom order in the form of "house arrest."
Several months later, on October 13, 2021, her home was searched, after which she was detained in connection with a new criminal case and placed in pretrial detention. She was convicted a second time in July 2022 on six criminal charges, accused of providing information about officials involved in the criminal prosecution of her family. The court sentenced Yulia to imprisonment and a fine. On appeal, the court reduced her prison term by only three months and reduced the fine. Ultimately, her final sentence was 4 years and 9 months.
In January 2025, it became known that Yulia had been tried for a third time under the article on “assisting extremist activity.”
In the fall of 2025 , she was released, having fully served her sentence.
- Associations
- Parents of minors
- Associations
- Parents of minors
Vladimir was arrested in July 2021 in connection with a criminal case opened following a protest on September 13, 2020, in Brest, where people were singing and dancing in circles and were attacked with a water cannon. He was convicted of "participating in group actions that grossly violate public order" and sentenced to imprisonment in a penal colony.
While in prison, Vladimir faced another trial—this time for a comment he left about Gorki traffic police officer Yuri Demyanovich on the "Punishermen of Belarus" Telegram channel. The political prisoner was sentenced to restricted freedom with a referral order, and through partial addition, his prison term was increased by six months.
Vladimir was released in April 2023, having fully served his sentence.
Oleg was arrested in June 2021 and later convicted of "participation in group actions that grossly violate public order" in a criminal case opened after a protest that took place in Brest on September 13, 2020. During the protest, participants sang songs and danced in circles, and a water cannon was used against them.
He was released in September 2022, having fully served his sentence.
Ilya was arrested in May 2021 in connection with the protests in Pinsk on the night of August 9-10, 2020, and convicted of participating in "mass riots." According to the prosecution, he tried to break a tree and threw an aluminum energy drink can toward the police. Ilya himself admitted that the can could have flown, but none of the police officers confirmed this, and the specific victim was not named.
The attempt to damage the tree was recorded on video, but in court, a Zelenstroy employee explained that the tree was not damaged. Nevertheless, the organization filed a lawsuit for 117 rubles.
Ilya was released in April 2024, having fully served his sentence.
- Associations
- Detained under 18 years
- Students
- Associations
- Detained under 18 years
- Students
Eduard was taken into custody in the courtroom as part of a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests that took place on August 10, 2020 in Brest against the falsification of the presidential elections. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots". According to the case materials, the total damage amounted to about 24 thousand Belarusian rubles.
He was released in April 2024, having fully served his sentence as determined by the court.
- Associations
- Detained under 18 years
- Students
- Associations
- Detained under 18 years
- Students
Alexander was taken into custody in the courtroom as part of a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests that took place on August 10, 2020 in Brest against the falsification of the presidential elections. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots". According to the case materials, the total damage amounted to about 24 thousand Belarusian rubles.
He was released in April 2024, having fully served his sentence as determined by the court.