Anarchist and blogger Mikalai Dziadok was detained late in the evening of November 11, 2020. Dziadok was tortured for several hours and forced to give passwords to the encrypted equipment. Mikalai was accused of gross violation of public order, calls to the change of the regime via internet and possession of Molotov cocktails (he claims they were planted during the search). The prosecution believed that Dziadok repeatedly called for illegal actions on his Internet pages, including participation in protests and resistance to the cops. Dziadok was forced to go underground even before the protests started because of the threat of political persecution.

In November of 2021, he was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment.

Previous case:

On May 27, 2011 was found guilty of the attack on the casino “Shangri La”, the attack on the Trade Union Federation building and the participation in the anti-militarist manifestation near the General Staff and sentenced to 4.5 years of imprisonment for group hooliganism. On February 26, 2015 was sentenced to another year in prison for disobedience to the prison administration. He was pardoned by the president on August 22, 2015.

Mail suggestions:

Political prisoners in Belarus are known to have issues receiving mail. Belarus ABC recommends sending letters using the online form on their website.