The production director of Belarusian jewellery brand Belaruskicry has been sentenced to four years of restricted freedom in an open-type correctional facility on charges of leading an “extremist formation”. The cases against the other defendants have been separated into a different proceeding. They have been placed on a wanted list.
Belaruskicry is a Belarusian brand that produces jewellery. Its best-known product is a pendant in the shape of the outline of Belarus with a tear-shaped stone.
State propaganda outlets previously named people allegedly connected to Belaruskicry. These included founder and owner Aliaksandra Kurkova, chief executive officer Maryna Siarhienia, production director and Kurkova’s cousin Yahor Buzhylau, and his girlfriend, sales manager Alena Kuliashova.
The Investigative Committee shared details of the case.
According to the investigation, in November 2022 a 31-year-old unemployed man with what investigators described as “radical anti-state views” decided to engage in business activities involving the production of jewellery and other items with “destructive symbols”.
The man left Belarus and, as Belaruskicry’s production director, organised the manufacture of products. According to the Investigative Committee, the brand’s jewellery had a “destructive character” and served to unite Belarusians living abroad around a “criminal model of behaviour”.
“Thus, he voluntarily became one of the participants in an already existing criminal group that adhered to protest views and was engaged in the production and sale of jewellery and costume jewellery carrying a destructive meaning aimed at forming, spreading and supporting extremist views through the use of manipulative symbols to unite the ‘fugitives’ around a criminal model of behaviour”, the Investigative Committee said.
In July 2025, the KGB designated Belaruskicry as an “extremist formation”. The brand’s activities in Belarus were banned.
According to the case materials, the defendant learned jewellery-making skills and produced pendants, charms and earrings made of metal. He was also responsible for purchasing materials and components and delivering the items to customers. The products were sold through an Instagram page where customers placed orders.
The man was also accused of using acquaintances to pass several pendants to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya “for the purpose of displaying them at public events to increase recognition and demand for these products”. In its press release, the Investigative Committee described Tsikhanouskaya as the “self-proclaimed leader of her mirror extremist Belarus”.
The Investigative Committee said the defendant confessed.
“During questioning, the man gave a confession, including testimony incriminating other members of the criminal group. He also said that the average price of one item, which was unjustifiably inflated, was about $80”, the Investigative Committee said in its press release.
The man was charged under Part 1 of Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code for leading an “extremist formation”. The court sentenced him to four years of restricted freedom in an open-type correctional facility.
The case materials regarding the other defendants have been separated into a different proceeding and they have been placed on a wanted list. A custodial preventive measure has been imposed on them.
