Alexander Aleksandrovich Semenchuk
Alexander Aleksandrovich Semenchuk is involved in politically motivated repressions in the Republic of Belarus.
Semenchuk is responsible for the fact that, as a judge of the Leninsky District Court of the city of Brest, for a long period of time he passed politically motivated sentences against representatives of civil society. As a result of his decisions, Belarusians who opposed the current regime in the country were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.
In particular, in 2011 he tried participants in silent protests, and in 2017, participants in non-parasite protests. In 2018, he tried residents of Brest who opposed the construction of a battery plant.
Among others, Semenchuk condemned the following citizens: Brest local historian, editor of the newspaper “Church” Igor Baranovsky, Belsat journalists Ales Levchuk and Milana Kharitonova, human rights activist Roman Kislyak, bloggers Sergei Petrukhin and Alexander Kabanov, teacher Lyudmila Karchevskaya, anarchist Alexander Kozlyanko, politician Nikolai Statkevich , journalist Maxim Khlebts and pensioner Elena Gnauk.
Thus, Alexander Aleksandrovich Semenchuk is responsible for human rights violations and undermining the principles of the rule of law, as well as for promoting repression against representatives of civil society and the democratic opposition. His work within the judiciary is focused on maintaining the position of the existing government, rather than on enforcing the law. Semenchuk’s actions contribute to human rights violations, strengthening the power of Alexander Lukashenko and increasing politically motivated repression in the Republic of Belarus.
Alexander Aleksandrovich Semenchuk is involved in politically motivated repressions in the Republic of Belarus.
Semenchuk is responsible for the fact that, as a judge of the Leninsky District Court of the city of Brest, for a long period of time he passed politically motivated sentences against representatives of civil society. As a result of his decisions, Belarusians who opposed the current regime in the country were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.
In particular, in 2011 he tried participants in silent protests, and in 2017, participants in non-parasite protests. In 2018, he tried residents of Brest who opposed the construction of a battery plant.
Among others, Semenchuk condemned the following citizens: Brest local historian, editor of the newspaper “Church” Igor Baranovsky, Belsat journalists Ales Levchuk and Milana Kharitonova, human rights activist Roman Kislyak, bloggers Sergei Petrukhin and Alexander Kabanov, teacher Lyudmila Karchevskaya, anarchist Alexander Kozlyanko, politician Nikolai Statkevich , journalist Maxim Khlebts and pensioner Elena Gnauk.
Thus, Alexander Aleksandrovich Semenchuk is responsible for human rights violations and undermining the principles of the rule of law, as well as for promoting repression against representatives of civil society and the democratic opposition. His work within the judiciary is focused on maintaining the position of the existing government, rather than on enforcing the law. Semenchuk’s actions contribute to human rights violations, strengthening the power of Alexander Lukashenko and increasing politically motivated repression in the Republic of Belarus.
List of repressed
- Associations
- Parents of minors
Vladimir was convicted for performances with mannequins in the form of police officers with the inscription "OMON". Before his arrest in the courtroom, he had been under house arrest since January 2021.
He was released in August 2022, having fully served his sentence.
Alina was convicted for performances with mannequins in the form of police officers with the inscription "OMON". Before her arrest in the courtroom, she had been under house arrest since January 2021.
She was released in February 2022, having fully served her sentence.
- Associations
- Activists
- Retirees
Since 2020, Elena has been subjected to systematic politically motivated persecution: she has been detained and arrested 17 times under administrative law and fined a total of 173 basic units. Her home has been searched repeatedly.
In May 2021, Elena was convicted of "participating in group actions grossly violating public order" in a criminal case opened following a protest on September 13, 2020, in Brest, where participants were singing songs and dancing in circles when a water cannon was used against them. According to the prosecution, the protest disrupted public transportation. She was sentenced to restricted freedom without being sent to a correctional facility.
In September of that year, Elena was convicted again for "insulting Lukashenko." The combined sentence amounted to three years of house arrest.
In January 2022, she was arrested for "violating 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 opened 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 of the demands of the prison administration." This article is often applied to prisoners who refuse to cooperate with the administration, for fictitious violations.
It is known that Elena is constantly subjected to physical and psychological pressure. She is regularly placed in solitary confinement and isolation cells, deprived of almost all packages, phone calls, and visits, and her grocery allowance has been reduced from three basic units to one.
In February 2025, Polina Sharendo-Panasyuk reported that Elena had been placed back in the punishment cell : "After several weeks in solitary confinement, she was transferred to the punishment cell. There's a 99% chance they'll trumped up Article 411 against her again."
On December 13, 2025, she was released after another visit to Minsk by US President Donald Trump's special representative, John Cole, and taken to Ukraine.
- Associations
- Parents of minors
Igor was detained on October 23, 2020, as part of a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests on August 10, 2020 in Brest against falsifications in the presidential elections. Three days later, he was released on bail, but in April 2021, he was remanded in custody. Igor was subsequently convicted of participating in "mass riots."
He was released in November 2024, having fully served his sentence as determined by the court.
Filipp was detained in a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests against falsifications in the presidential elections that took place on August 10, 2020 in Brest. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots."
He was released in October 2024, having fully served his sentence as determined by the court.
Alexander was twice brought to administrative responsibility for posting leaflets and was convicted because, according to the state prosecution, they contained information of an offensive nature regarding an employee of the Leninsky District Department of Internal Affairs of Brest, which became the basis for a criminal case.
Alexander managed to leave Belarus before he began serving his sentence.
In December 2024, a court hearing was held in absentia to replace the restriction of freedom with imprisonment in a penal colony.
Lev was detained in a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests against falsifications in the presidential elections that took place on August 10, 2020 in Brest. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots."
According to human rights activists, he was released in April 2024, having fully served his sentence.
Ivan was detained in a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests against falsifications in the presidential elections that took place on August 10, 2020 in Brest. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots."
According to human rights activists, he was released in October 2024, having fully served his sentence.
Yakov was detained in a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests against falsifications in the presidential elections that took place in Brest on August 10, 2020. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots."
Yakov graduated from the Brest Builders' Lyceum and was assigned to work, but was unable to start working due to his detention. In May 2022, the Brest Moscow Court ordered him to pay compensation for failure to work and a state fee.
On September 11, 2025, it became known that 52 prisoners of the Belarusian regime were forcibly transferred to the territory of Lithuania. Among them are citizens of European countries. Among those released is Yakov Shafarenko.
- Associations
- Activists
Pavel was detained in connection with a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests that took place on August 10, 2020 in Brest against falsifications in the presidential elections. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots". Before his detention, Pavel was engaged in clothing design and volunteer work, supporting people with disabilities and children in orphanages.
He was released in November 2023, having fully served his sentence as determined by the court.
- Associations
- Parents of minors
Roman was detained in a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests against election fraud that took place in Brest on August 10, 2020. During the protest, he was seriously injured and underwent long-term treatment. He was later convicted of participating in "mass riots."
He was released in April 2024, having fully served his sentence as determined by the court.
Denis is a defendant in a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests that took place on August 10, 2020 in Brest against the falsification of the presidential elections.
- Associations
- Activists
- Twice political prisoners
The first time, Yuri was convicted for, according to the charges, in September 2020, while walking with friends near the Molodezhnaya Hotel, during a conversation he tugged at the national flag, which eventually fell.
In November 2021, his sentence was changed and he was sent to a penal colony.
In January 2022, he was released, having fully served his sentence.
On February 15, 2022, Yuri was detained again in a criminal case opened under the article "assistance to extremist activity." He received administrative arrest, during which KGB officers visited him. As a result of the beatings, he was suspected of having broken ribs. The criminal case was not closed.
In May 2022, he was detained again in Russia due to a wanted list, and in October of the same year he was extradited to Belarus, although the extradition case was formally closed on September 26, 2022.
In January 2023, Yuri was convicted again for helping other political prisoners receive aid from foundations. At the trial, he pleaded not guilty and refused to testify.
In May 2024, his sentence was increased and he was transferred to prison until the end of his term.
Maxim was arrested in December 2020 and convicted of setting fire to tires and hanging scarecrows in Brest.
He was released in August 2023, having fully served his sentence as determined by the court.
Alexander was detained in a criminal case opened after spontaneous protests against falsifications in the presidential elections that took place on August 10, 2020 in Brest. He was convicted of participating in "mass riots."
He was released in August 2024, having fully served his sentence.
| 17.06.2021 | He refused to give evidence and explanations during the investigation and in court. |
