Christina Ruhlo

Since 2020, Elena has been subjected to systematic persecution for political reasons: she has been detained and arrested under administrative articles 17 times, and has been fined a total of 173 basic units. Her home has been searched several times.

In May 2021, Elena was convicted of "participating in group actions that grossly violate public order" in a criminal case opened after a protest on September 13, 2020 in Brest, where participants sang songs and danced in circles, and a water cannon was used against them. According to the prosecution, the protest disrupted the operation of transport. She was sentenced to restriction of freedom without being sent to an institution.

In September of the same year, Elena was convicted again for “insulting Lukashenko.” The combined sentences amounted to three years of “house arrest.”

In January 2022, she was arrested for "violating the serving of a sentence" and sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest. However, she was never released - she was transferred to a pretrial detention center as part of a new criminal case initiated for slandering Lukashenko and discrediting the Republic of Belarus. In June, she was sentenced to imprisonment and a large fine.

In April 2023, Elena was convicted again under the article "malicious disobedience to the demands of the colony administration." This article is often applied to prisoners who refuse to cooperate with the administration, for fictitious violations.

It is known that physical and psychological pressure is constantly applied to Elena. She is regularly placed in solitary confinement and PKT, deprived of almost all parcels, calls, visits, and her merchandise allowance was reduced from three basic units to one.

In February 2025, Polina Sharendo-Panasyuk reported that Elena had been placed in the PKT again: “After several weeks in the punishment cell, she was transferred to the PKT. It is 99% likely that Article 411 will be fabricated against her again.”

A well-known public figure, previously a member of the United Civil Party, was detained on January 4, 2021, as part of the "Autukhovich case" and accused of participating in a "terrorist organization" linked to arson of police property. Olga was convicted of "participation in a criminal organization," "attempted seizure of power," "inciting hatred," "calls for sanctions," and "illegal actions with weapons."

In custody, the political prisoner was suspected of having diabetes. In March 2024, she was convicted again for "malicious disobedience to the demands of the prison administration."

Victoria, the administrator of the channel “Drivers 97%”, was detained on November 4, 2020 in Minsk by GUBOPiK officers and convicted of “calls for mass riots and blocking roads in connection with dissatisfaction with the authorities and election fraud.”

In 2022 and 2023, the court increased her prison term twice, accusing her of "malicious disobedience to the demands of the administration of the correctional institution." Victoria was repeatedly subjected to pressure in the colony and was recognized as a "malicious violator."

According to the schedule on the Supreme Court website, Victoria's case will be heard on October 28, 2024, in the Rechitsa District Court. The woman is accused for the third time under Part 1 of Article 411 of the Criminal Code.

On December 18, 2024, the appeal was heard in the Gomel Regional Court.

As of the end of December 2024, she was transferred to Penal Colony No. 24.

Polina Sharendo-Panasyuk reported that Elena Gnauk and Victoria Kulsha were placed in a PKT: "After several weeks in a punishment cell, they were transferred to a PKT. It is 99% that they will again fabricate Article 411 against them."

Polina also added: "Victoria Kulsha's kidneys have probably already failed. She went on hunger strikes for months, she refused water and drink. She cut her veins. They threw her in the punishment cell with this - she cut her veins in the punishment cell. She went on hunger strikes in the punishment cell. She refused medical help."

Victoria was supposed to be released in April 2025 after her term expired. But in early April, she was transferred to Gomel's SIZO-3 as part of the fourth criminal case under Part 1 of Article 411 of the Criminal Code (malicious disobedience to the legal demands of the colony administration).