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Comprehensive archive of political persecution — 19 individuals fighting for freedom and justice

Documented Cases.

Comprehensive archive of political persecution — 19 individuals fighting for freedom and justice across Russia, Belarus, Georgia, and Central Asia.

Country

Urgency

Mikhail Njaznanau

Mikhail Njaznanau was convicted for financing extremist activities and participating in military actions abroad. His case is linked to donations and the war in Ukraine. He was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment in a general regime colony.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Other

Valeryi Barzenka

Valeryi Barzenka, a resident of Minsk, was sentenced to seven years in a high-security penal colony by the Hrodna Regional Court. He was convicted of inciting hatred and illegal possession of weapons/explosives. He is also listed as a terrorist and an extremist by the authorities.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Other

Dzmitryi Kasenka

Dzmitryi Kasenka was sentenced by the Vitebsk Regional Court to five years in a high-security penal colony. He was charged under Article 361-3 for making donations related to the war in Ukraine. He has been added to the list of individuals involved in extremist activities.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Other

Uladzislau Sinkevicz

Uladzislau Sinkevicz was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in a high-security colony. He was charged with inciting hostility and assisting extremist activities. He is currently held in SIZA-2 in Vitebsk and is listed as a terrorist by the authorities.

LAST UPDATED · JUL 3, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Social media

Aljaksandr Makhnacz

Aljaksandr Makhnacz was detained in April 2025 as part of the 'Hayun case'. He was accused of calls to harm national security and assisting extremist activities. Despite reports of a mass pardon in early 2026, he remains in custody.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Other

Arciom Baciszczau

Arciom Baciszczau was convicted of insulting a representative of authority. He was sentenced to two years of restricted liberty in an open correctional institution and a fine. He began serving his sentence in August 2025.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Other

Aljaksandr Rybczanka

Aljaksandr Rybczanka, a former school director, was convicted in the Vitebsk Regional Court. He was sentenced to four years of restricted liberty (chemical) for assisting extremist activities. He is currently serving his sentence in a penal institution of open type.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Other

Maksim Sjamitka

Maksim Sjamitka is a former serviceman in the Honor Guard and a former police officer in the Department of Protection of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He was convicted in the 'Gayun case' for assisting extremist activities. He was sentenced to three years of restricted liberty in an open-type correctional institution.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Other

Raman Kancavy

Raman Kancavy was convicted by the Pershamayski District Court of Vitebsk. He was found guilty of insulting the President and a government official. He is currently serving a sentence in a penal colony.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Activism

Yauhen Scjapanau

Yauhen Scjapanau was convicted in the Vitebsk Regional Court for his alleged involvement in an extremist formation. The trial was held behind closed doors. He was added to the list of individuals involved in extremist activities.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Activism

Iosif Duleba

Iosif Duleba is a resident of Vitebsk and a former leader of the Belarusian Popular Front unit. He was detained in May 2024, initially for subscribing to extremist resources. He was later convicted for his alleged involvement in an extremist formation related to the FreeInfoBel project.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

medical

Aljaksandr Randarenka

Aljaksandr Randarenka is a doctor from Vitebsk who was severely beaten during his arrest. He was detained during an online stream and charged with inciting hostility and rehabilitation of Nazism. He was sentenced to 4 years in a high-security colony. His appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court.

URGENT ACTION

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Other

Valery Ramanouski

Valery Ramanouski is a former head of the aerial intelligence service. He was arrested in December 2022 and charged with treason. The state accused him of photographing official documents and passing information to foreign intelligence services. His trial was held in a closed format.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Social media

Maksim Paulavich Sobaleu

Maksim Sobaleu is a graduate of Vitebsk State University named after Masherov. He was detained for allegedly managing an extremist Telegram chat that was created during the 2020 protests. He was convicted of participating in an extremist formation and disrespecting the President.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Activism

Siarhei Kanavalau

Siarhei Kanavalau is an employee of the Vitebsk railway signaling and communications unit. He was detained in March 2022 on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act involving railway infrastructure. He has since been sentenced to multiple terms for terrorism-related charges and subsequent disobedience in prison.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk Region

Protest

Artsiom Latyshau

Artsiom Latyshau was sentenced to 4 1/2 years (5 years) of imprisonment in a maximum-security penal colony. He was convicted under articles related to hooliganism and desecration of structures. His verdict date is August 22, 2025.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Activism

Aljaksandr Macjajuk

Aljaksandr Macjajuk is an activist for 'Strana dlya zhýcia' and the Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya team. He was detained in April 2021 and subsequently sentenced to 9 years in a high-security penal colony. He denies the drug-related charges and is considered a political prisoner.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk Region

Social media

Raman Marusau

Raman Marusau, a former special forces soldier, was detained for allegedly providing information to an extremist Telegram channel regarding the home address of a police officer. He was convicted of inciting social hostility and later faced additional charges for disobeying prison authorities. He is currently listed on the terrorist and extremist lists.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Vitebsk, Vitebsk region

Protest

Sjarhei Dumava

Sjarhei Dumava is a resident of Vitebsk who was involved in the 2020 protests. He was accused of using digital devices to spread information on how to navigate mass protests and for spray-painting political slogans on municipal property. He received a 9-year sentence.

LAST UPDATED · MAY 26, 2026

Convicted