Prisoners
Our brothers and sisters who have been imprisoned by the regime because of their beliefs
Rabochy Rukh
Hanna Ablab
Engineer of the Transportation Control Center of the Belarusian Railway in the train schedule development department. Detained by KGB operatives on September 20, 2021 after a search in her house and placed in the KGB pre-trial detention center. She was charged under Part 1 of Article 356 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. Sentenced to 11 years in prison. She has two minor children.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 4
246035, Homiel, vulica Antoshkina 3
SPB
Maksim Zaitsau
Maksim Zaitsau worked as the head of a department at the regional drug clinic in Brest.
On February 14, 2023, the Brest District Court sentenced him to 24 months of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony. Besides, he must pay a fine of 100 fine units (approx. USD 1.310 as of February 2023).
Judge Siarhei Maruchak found Maksim Zaitsau guilty under Part 1 of Art. 368 ('Insulting the president of Belarus') and Art. 369 ('Insulting a government official') of the Criminal Code. Prosecutor Natallia Shastachuk supported the state prosecution.
The trial started on February 3, 2023. Before the trial, Zaitsau was in custody for 2.5 months.
It is known that he has a three-year-old child.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 15. 213105, Mahilioŭ, Viejna, Slaŭharadskaja šaša 183
SPB
Artur Khlus
Artur Khlus is a paramedic for the Hrodna ambulance team and a student of the Hrodna State Medical University. He was detained at the end of October 2022 for registering in the Pieramoha plan and for participating in protests.
It is known that Khlus was placed in the pre-trial detention center.
On June 22, 2023, the court found Artur Chlus guilty and sentenced him to five years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 1. 211440, Navapolack, vulica Techničnaya 8
REP
Vatslau Areshka
REP trade union activist, trade union newspaper editor. Arrested on April 19, 2022 after a search in the apartment. On January 5, 2023, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. He was been held in Mogilev Prison #4.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 17
213004, Škloŭ, vulica 1-ja Zavodskaja 8
REP
Artem Parkhamovich
Artem Parkhamovich, a former employee of Beltelecom and a member of the REP trade union, was detained in October 2020.
He was placed in a pre-trial detention center and charged with transferring personal data of policemen to the telegram channel.
On November 25, 2021, the trial began, which was held behind closed doors, and at which it became known that Artyom was charged with a total of eight articles of the Criminal Code: 130, 198, 203-1, 352, 364, 365, 366, 389 (complicity in deliberate actions aimed at inciting other social enmity and discord on the basis of a different social belonging, committed by a group of persons, etc.). On February 8, 2022, the Minsk City Court sentenced Artyom to 11 years in a high security penal colony.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 17
213004, Škloŭ, vulica 1-ja Zavodskaja 8
Rabochy Rukh
Uladzimir Zhurauka
Operator of the Ammonia-3 shop of JSC "Grodno Azot". He was detained on September 18, 2021. Convicted in the framework of a criminal case on "high treason" (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) in the "Rabochy Rukh" case.
Sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 2
213800, Babrujsk, vulica Sikorskaha 1
SPM
Sviatlana Sakovich
Sviatlana, a member of the SPM trade union and a former employee of the MTZ foundry, was detained by the Belarusian police in August 2022 for participating in protests that took place in Belarus in 2020.
The woman was convicted on November 25, 2022 for a crime under Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). The court found her guilty and sentenced Sviatlana to three years of restriction of freedom without being sent to a correctional institution. Svetlana was released in the courtroom.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Restricted freedom under home confinement ("domashnyaya khimiya")
SPM
Artsiom Zharnak
A former engineer of the Minsk Automobile plant. He was fired in 2020 due to trade union activities. He managed the primary organization of the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers. He was arrested on November 17, 2021.
He was taken into custody on charges under Part 3 of Art. 293 and Art. 361 of the Criminal Code for training rioters and calling for restrictive measures.
In October, 2022 he was tried and sentenced to four years of imprisonment in the penal colony.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 1
211440, Navapolack, vulica Techničnaya 8
SPM
Zmitser Varanovich
Zmitser, a member of the SPM trade union and a former employee of BelAZ, was found guilty of insulting Lukashenka and (Part 1 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code) and two policemen (Article 369 of the Criminal Code).
The man was sentenced to two and a half years in a penal colony under general regime conditions and a fine of 100 basic units. The court session was held behind closed doors at the request of the representative of the prosecutor's office.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 17
213004, Škloŭ, vulica 1-ja Zavodskaja 8
SPM
Vitali Chychmarou
A former engineer. He was fired in 2020 due to trade union activities. He managed the primary organization of the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers.
He was detained on April 19, 2022, and the house was searched. Vitaly was charged, he was placed in a pre-trial detention center. He has a minor child. Vitali has been sentenced to three years of restricted freedom under home confinement.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Restricted freedom under home confinement ("domashnyaya khimiya")
Rabochy Rukh
Siarhei Dziuba
Rabochy Rukh activist, worked as a dispatcher at the Transportation Control Center of the Belarusian Railway. In November 2020, he joined the nationwide strike. Detained by KGB operatives on September 20, 2021 after a search in the house and placed in the KGB pre-trial detention center.
A criminal case has been initiated under part 1 of article 356 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus. Sentenced to 12 years in prison. He has three minor children.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 3
211322, Viciebsk region, Vićba
REP
Hennadz Fiadynich
Former chairman of the Independent Trade Union of Radioelectronic Industry Workers - REP. Gennady was detained on April 19, 2022 and placed in the KGB pre-trial detention center. Then he was charged and transferred to SIZO-1. He was sentenced to 9 years in prison under a high security regime.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 2
213800, Babrujsk, vulica Sikorskaha 1
Rabochy Rukh
Aliaksandr Hashnikau
Locksmith BMZ in Zhlobin, where he simultaneously worked as secretary-treasurer of the primary organization of the BNP. He was detained on September 18, 2021. He was detained as part of the investigation of a criminal case on “high treason” (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) against several workers of Belarusian factories who supported local strikes after the falsification of the August elections. 2020 and were part of the Labor Rights Group "Rabochy Rukh". Sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 1
211440, Navapolack, vulica Techničnaya 8
REP
Palina Sharenda-Panasiuk
Public and trade union activist from Brest. Palina was detained on 3 January 2021 and charged under Article 364 of the Criminal Code (Violence against a police officer) for inflicting a scratch on one of the policemen who came to her home. Later it became known that she was also accused of insulting the president (Article 368 of the Criminal Code) and a representative of the authorities (Article 369 of the Criminal Code). During her imprisonment Palina was placed in a punishment cell several times, she complained about psychological and physical pressure. She was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in a colony under general regime.
On 15 October 2024, Rechytsa District Court sentenced political prisoner and trade union activist Polina Sharenda-Panasiuk to another year and one day of imprisonment in a general regime colony. This judgement was handed down in addition to the almost four years she had already served.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Rechitsa District Executive Committee IAB TDF. 35 Sovetskaya St., Rechitsa, Gomel region, 247483.
REP
Halina Smirnova
Smirnova Halina, who previously headed the Bobruisk regional organization of the Belarusian Trade Union of Radioelectronic Industry Workers (REP), was detained in Bobruisk on March 24, 2023. The woman was placed in a temporary detention center. A criminal case was initiated against Halina under Article 108 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Detention on immediate suspicion of committing a crime) and Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them).
The court found Halina guilty and sentenced her to two years of restriction of freedom without being sent to a correctional institution.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Restricted freedom under home confinement ("domashnyaya khimiya")
BKDP
Aliaksandr Yarashuk
Acting member of the Governing Body of the ILO; Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC); Chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP). On April 19, 2022, searches were carried out in his office and house, and equipment was seized. He was detained and placed in a pre-trial detention center. Charged under several articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (342 part 1 and 361 part 3). Sentenced by the Minsk city court to 4 years in prison.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Prison No. 4
212011, vulica Krupskaya, 99A, Mahilioŭ
SPB
Aliaksandr Kandratsiuk
On September 5, Aliaksandr Kandratsiuk, a member of SPB, a junior researcher at the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, was detained and charged under three articles of the Criminal Code: Article 130 part 1 – incitement of social enmity, Article 368 and Article 369 part 1 – public insult of the President and discrediting the Republic of Belarus for the comments in social networks. The court found Aliaksandr guilty and sentenced him to three and a half years in prison.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Will be updated soon...
SPM
Hanna Karneenka
Anna, a former accountant of the Minsk Electrotechnical Plant named after Vavilov and a member of the SPM trade union, was fired after the "People's Ultimatum" in 2020 and was suing the company for illegal dismissal. Recently it became known that a criminal case was opened against her.
The woman was charged under Art. 203-1 part 3 (illegal actions in relation to information about private life and personal data), art. 130 part 3 (inciting racial, national, religious or other social hatred).
The court found Hanna guilty and sentenced her to five years in prison.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal Colony No. 4
246035, Antoshkina str. 3, Homel,
Belarus
Rabochy Rukh
Aliaksandr Kapshul
Legal adviser of JSC Naftan and Polymir plants. He was detained on September 25, 2021 in Russia and handed over to the KGB officers of Belarus, who secretly brought him to Minsk, bypassing the official extradition procedure.
He was detained as part of the investigation of a criminal case on “high treason” (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) against several workers of Belarusian factories who supported local strikes after the rigged elections in August 2020 and were members of the Rabochy Rukh. Sentenced to 15 years in prison.
On 10 April 2024, in Babruisk a trial on the case of changing the regime of detention for a political prisoner was held. According to the decision of judge Pavel Kartinin Aliaksandr was transferred to the prison regime. He is kept in prison No. 4.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 15
213105, Mahilioŭ, Viejna, Slaŭharadskaja šaša 183
BNP
Andrei Khanevich
Chairperson of Belarusian Independent trade union at JSC Grodno Azot. After the court ruling had been recognized the union organization as an extremist group, the criminal accusation of the chairperson followed. On November 16th 2022 Khanevich faced the trial on accusations of aiding and abetting in extremist activities and was sentenced to five years of imprisonment. Andrei is going to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 1
211440, Navapolack, vulica Techničnaya 8
BNP
Volha Brytsikava
Volha, former chairperson of the primary trade union organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP) at JSC “Naftan”, was again detained on August 11 by the riot police.
The case against Brytsikava started in March 2024. On 8 April Vitsebsk Regional Court sentenced her to 3 years in a penal colony on charges of inciting hatred (Article 130 of the Criminal Code). However, on 20 August, the activist was tried again, this time under the articles on calls for actions against national security (part 3 of article 361 of the Criminal Code) and promotion of extremist activity (part 1 of article 361-4 of the Criminal Code).
The trial was held in closed session, and Olga Britikova was added three years of imprisonment to her previous sentence.
As a result, the activist received a final sentence of 6 years in prison.
Current location of the political prisoner:
SIZO No. 2
210026, Gagarina Street 2, Viciebsk
SPB
Aliaksandr Mialeshka
Board member of SPB union branch organization “Panacea”. An employee of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Children's Oncology, Hematology and Immunology was sentenced to three years of restricted freedom under home confinement allegedly for taking part in two unauthorized mass events in 2020.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Restricted freedom under home confinement ("domashnyaya khimiya")
BNP
Aleh Kasila
Aleh Kasila, leading engineer of Krasnaselskstroymaterialy, is charged under two articles of the Criminal Code of Belarus - Article 188 and Article 341. The defendant refused to be defended by a lawyer. He defended his rights in court himself. To On the merits he was sentenced to 2 years and 2 months of restriction of liberty without sending him to an open prison.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Restricted freedom under home confinement ("domashnyaya khimiya")
Naftan
Ihar Mints
Ihar is a legal adviser to Naftan OJSC. He was detained and placed in the KGB pre-trial detention facility in Minsk the day after the search of his house in Novopolotsk on 22 September 2021.
Mints was charged with high treason (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) in the Rabochy Rukh case. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 17
213004, Škloŭ, vulica 1-ja Zavodskaja 8
MTZ
Dzianis Puchak
Dzianis Puchak, a former MTZ employee, was detained on November 22, 2022. He was charged under Part 1 of Art. 342 of the Criminal Code (Active participation in group actions that grossly violate public order). He was placed in SIZO-1. The case of the political prisoner was considered in the court of the Partizansky district of Minsk. On February 28, 2023, the court found Denis guilty and sentenced him to two and a half years of restriction of freedom without being sent to a correctional institution. He was released from custody in the courtroom.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Restricted freedom under home confinement ("domashnyaya khimiya")
Rabochy Rukh
Andrei Paheryla
Repairman of the Ammonia-3 shop of Grodno Azot JSC. He was detained on September 17, 2021. He was held in custody as part of the investigation of a criminal case on “high treason” (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) in the case of “Rabochy Rukh”. Sentenced to 14 years in prison. He has two minor children.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 2
213800, Babrujsk, vulica Sikorskaha 1
REP
Alena Nazarava
Alena is an activist of the REP union.
Will be added soon...
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REP
Aliaksandr Murauyou
Aliaksandr, a taxi driver and an activist of the REP union, was detained on May 25, 2021 in connection with the "Busly liatiat" initiative.
At the end of September 2022, the judge of the Minsk City Court, Anastasia Papko, announced the verdicts in the case of the "Busly liatiat" initiative, sentencing Aliaksandr Murauyou to 12 years in a prison under the enhanced regime under articles 361, 218, 361-1, 130, 290-4, 359 of the Criminal Code.
The "Busly liatiat" case was considered behind closed doors for several months. Prosecutor Yulia Lanevskaya spoke on behalf of the state prosecution in the case.
Aliaksandr has a small child.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Prison No. 4
212011, vulica Krupskaya, 99A, Mahilioŭ
Rabochy Rukh
Siarhei Shelest
Operator of the Ammonia-3 shop of JSC Grodno Azot. He was detained as part of the investigation of a criminal case on “high treason” (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) in the case of “Rabochy Rukh”. Sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 15
213105, Mahilioŭ, Viejna, Slaŭharadskaja šaša 183
BNP
Maksim Senik
Maksim is a member of the Grodno Azot Independent Trade Union and was detained in Grodno for taking part in protests in 2020 and for reposting on social media.
He faces charges under Article 342 of the Criminal Code - Organising and preparing acts grossly violating public order, or actively participating in them.
On June 12, 2023 the Grodno Regional Court sentenced him to four years' imprisonment in a medium security penal colony.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Prison No. 1
230023, Hrodna, vulica Kirava, 1.
Rabochy Rukh
Valiantsin Tseranevich
Assistant foreman of the Khimvolokno plant of Grodno Azot OJSC and deputy chairman of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union at Grodno Azot.
Valiantsin was detained on September 20, 2021. He was accused of "high treason" (Article 356 of the Criminal Code) in the case of the "Rabochy Rukh". Sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Current location of the political prisoner:
Penal colony No. 1
211440, Navapolack, vulica Techničnaya 8
Rabochy Rukh
Siarhei Shametska
Siarhei, an employee of CJSC "Atlant", is a defendant in the "Rabochy Rukh" case.
He was under criminal investigation for treason against the state (part 1 of article 356 of the Criminal Code), as well as under part 3 of article 361-1 of the Criminal Code (participation in an extremist formation). On November 9th, 2022 the consideration of the "Rabochy Rukh" case, in which ten political prisoners were involved, started in Homel regional court. On February 17th , 2023, Homel regional court passed a verdict - Siarhei was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment under a strengthened regime.
Current location of the political prisoner:
225295 Ivatsevichi, PO Box 20
NOW!
Free trade union activists!
The Association «Salidarnast» considers one of the main tasks to be the struggle for the release of our arrested colleagues, recognized as political prisoners.
We will fight for their freedom till the end!
NOW!
Free trade union activists!
The Association «Salidarnast» considers one of the main tasks to be the struggle for the release of our arrested colleagues, recognized as political prisoners.
We will fight for their freedom till the end!
NOW!
Free trade union activists!
The Association «Salidarnast» considers one of the main tasks to be the struggle for the release of our arrested colleagues, recognized as political prisoners.
We will fight for their freedom till the end!
NOW!
Free trade union activists!
The Association «Salidarnast» considers one of the main tasks to be the struggle for the release of our arrested colleagues, recognized as political prisoners.
We will fight for their freedom till the end!