Human rights center «Viasna» published updated data on the repression of Belarusian servicemen. According to the organization, at least 68 servicemen have faced criminal prosecution since 2020, with 27 currently in detention. Of those, 24 are serving prison sentences, two are serving sentences under “chemistry” restrictions, and one is awaiting trial in custody.
At least 10 servicemen have been convicted of treason. The longest known sentence is 21 years in prison. Human rights defenders say they are aware of cases involving torture, ill-treatment and beatings of detainees, as well as pressure on prisoners through their relatives. Some servicemen have been stripped of their military ranks by decrees issued by Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
Among those prosecuted is Pavel Kuchynski, who was detained in September 2022. At the time, the BYPOL organization said he had been arrested in connection with his alleged involvement in the “cash collectors” case.
“Under torture, the security services forced him to take part in a provocation, during which he contacted BYPOL representatives and proposed carrying out direct action. All negotiations and correspondence were recorded.”
He was convicted on seven charges, including treason and terrorism, and sentenced to 19 years in a high-security prison.
Dzmitry Pazniakou served in the 38th Air Assault Brigade and taught at the military faculty of Belarusian State University. He was detained in August 2023 and sentenced to 19 years in prison for treason. According to Viasna, he was tortured with electric shocks in the Navapolatsk penal colony, forced to sign documents and blank sheets of paper, and repeatedly placed in a punishment cell. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Dzmitry Samsonau served as a lieutenant colonel in the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry until the autumn of 2020. He was convicted in a closed trial on three charges — treason, disclosure of official secrets and money laundering. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison.
Fiodar Kandyranda was a senior lecturer at the Combined Arms Faculty of the Military Academy. On Aug. 13, 2020, he submitted his resignation over what he described as election fraud and his refusal to carry out criminal orders. In May 2021, he was stripped of his rank of lieutenant colonel by decree of Lukashenka. In recent years, he worked in the IT sector. He was detained in March 2025 as part of the “Hajun case.” On Sept. 25, 2025, he was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison.
The Kalinouski Regiment volunteers Vasil Verameichyk and Vasil Hrachykha were convicted together on 12 articles of the Criminal Code. Verameichyk was detained in Vietnam in November 2024 and extradited to the Belarusian security services. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Hrachykha was detained in the spring of 2025 under unknown circumstances and sentenced to five years in prison. According to Verameichyk’s wife, he is believed to have suffered a heart attack while in custody.
Retired warrant officer Illia Trubin was detained in August 2021 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. According to investigators, the Barysau resident set fire to two BelToll road toll collection system portals in Barysau district in 2020. Lieutenant Colonel Anton Charamnykh, deputy commander for ideological work of the 310th Artillery Group of the 120th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade, was convicted of “treason” and “inciting social hatred.” The length of his sentence has not been disclosed.
