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Statute · Belarus

Article 356 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus

high treason

The Detained has documented 117 cases in Belarus in which this article was charged. 99 ended in a prison sentence, with a median of 11 years and the longest at 25 years. Torture or ill-treatment was reported in 19 of them.

Documented cases
117
Prison sentences
99
Median sentence
11 years
Longest sentence
25 years
Torture reported
19

Article 356, high treason, covers passing state secrets, espionage, defecting to the enemy, and "other assistance" to a foreign state or organization in activity against the national security of Belarus. Part 1 provides for seven to fifteen years; Part 2, for treason combined with espionage or committed by an official, ten to fifteen. A 2023 amendment made treason by military personnel or officials punishable by death.

Prosecutions rose sharply after 2020 and again after Belarus became a staging ground for the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The documented cases include people accused of sending information about Russian troop movements to Ukrainian or Belarusian opposition channels, of cooperating with "foreign special services" on the basis of a message exchange, and of joining or supporting Belarusian volunteer units in Ukraine. Trials are closed; what is known comes from the KGB's own announcements and from relatives.

Arrests by year

2020
3
2021
21
2022
12
2023
29
2024
26
2025
12
2026
1
n/a13 · arrest date not published

Charged together with

All documented cases · 117

NameArrestedSentencePlace of arrest
Ihar Sutyrka10 Apr 2026no sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk region
Tatsiana Korsakava26 Sept 202512 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Dzmitry Korsakau26 Sept 202514 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Mikhail Vitkouski10 Sept 202510 yearsNarovlya, Mahilyow region
Yury Vasileuski1 Sept 2025no sentence recordedBelarus
Ivan Vainou1 Aug 2025no sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk region
Sjarhei Kaczalka31 Jul 2025no sentence recordedSmorgon, Grodno Region
Volha Kharlamava1 Jun 2025no sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk Region
Pavel Kizjuk5 Apr 2025no sentence recordedHrodna, Belarus
Aljaksandr Zdaravennau27 Mar 202510 yearsGrodno, Grodno region
Andrei Viktaravich Jaraszevicz27 Mar 202510 yearsBelarus
Ihar Bradko1 Feb 202510 yearsVitebsk, Belarus
Pavel Dabravolski
Journalist
22 Jan 20259 yearsBelarus
Sjarhei Cimaszenka27 Dec 202412 yearsZhylychavy, Mahilyow region
Kanstancin Mikhailouski20 Dec 2024no sentence recordedMinsk, Belarus
Andrei Pakalenka
Journalist
5 Dec 202412 yearsBrest, Brest region
Uladzimir Janukevicz
Journalist
5 Dec 202414 yearsBaranavichy, Brest region
Sjarhei Cerakhovicz4 Dec 202410 yearsGrodno, Grodno region
Ihar Bacjan11 Oct 202412 yearsHrodna, Hrodna Region
Mikalai Yushchanka9 Oct 2024no sentence recordedHomel, Homel region
Yuryi Zalatukhin27 Sept 20249 yearsHomel, Homel region
Mikalai Klok9 Sept 202411 yearsBrest, Brest region
Daniil Paljanski3 Sept 202410 yearsBrest, Brest region
Mikalai Lasouski1 Sept 202410 yearsHomel, Belarus
Sjarhei Cikhanau9 Aug 202411 yearsMahilyow, Mahilyow region
Dzmitryi Samsonau3 Jul 202419 yearsMinsk, Minsk Region
Illja Naryszkin21 Apr 202415 yearsHrodna, Belarus
Uladzimir Zhuromski15 Apr 202412 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Stanislau Szapel9 Apr 20247 yearsMahilyow, Belarus
Valjancin Panasjuk11 Mar 202415 yearsBrest region, Belarus
Daniil Herasim9 Mar 202410 yearsAsipovichy, Mogilev region
Henrykh Aheeu9 Feb 2024no sentence recordedCrimea (detained), Minsk (transferred)
Dzmitryi Kapuza16 Jan 202424 yearsDrahichyn, Brest region
Volha Kapuza16 Jan 202421 yearsDrahichyn, Brest region
Yuryi Yurkou9 Jan 202410 years
Dzmitryi Basko9 Jan 20249 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Aljaksandr Kudrevicz7 Jan 202415 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Viaczaslau Bianko1 Jan 2024no sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk region
Mikita Krasko1 Jan 2024no sentence recorded
Iryna Buinevich26 Dec 2023no sentence recordedMinsk region, Belarus
Yauhen Krasnjanski26 Dec 20237 years
Viktar Verabiou9 Dec 202310 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Akasana Maloczka27 Nov 20238 yearsBaranavichy, Brest region
Dzmitryi Maloczka27 Nov 202312 yearsBaranavichy, Brest region
Taccjana Kaszczeeva9 Nov 20238 yearsBaranavichy, Brest region
Uladzislau Kaszczeeu9 Nov 202318 yearsBaranavichy, Brest region
Ivan Barodzicz1 Sept 202311 yearsBelarus
Barys Pukhalski1 Sept 202325 yearsKobryn, Brest region
Valjancina Polaz1 Sept 20239 yearsGomel, Gomel Region
Pavel Vabiszczevich27 Aug 202323 yearsStoubtsy, Minsk region
Andrei Zinenka27 Aug 202312 yearsStoubtsy district, Minsk region
Dzmitryi Paznjakou9 Aug 202319 yearsBrest, Belarus
Dzmitryi Hulin13 Jul 202314 yearsBelarus
Dzmitryi Skubilau9 Jul 20239 yearsHrodna, Hrodna region
Ivan Sukhamerau15 Jun 202310 yearsPetrykaw, Homel region
Aljaksandr Mirski9 Jun 20237 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Viktoryja Volchak15 May 20237 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Taccjana Rusak9 May 20237 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Andrei Hryhoreu9 May 20237 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Hanna Savachkina26 Apr 20237 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Uladzislau Pudzjak5 Apr 202311 yearsHomel, Homel region
Andrei Parotnikau19 Mar 202310 yearsMoscow, Russia
Dzjanis Sakalou3 Mar 202313 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Vadzim Pacenka3 Mar 202321 yearsGrodno, Belarus
Maksim Lapacin3 Mar 20238 yearsMinsk, Belarus
Dzmitryi Mastavy26 Feb 202310 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Anton Czaramnykh29 Jan 2023no sentence recorded
Uladzimir Mazurau13 Jan 202313 yearsBelarus
Valery Ramanouski8 Dec 2022no sentence recordedVitebsk, Vitebsk region
Pavel Kuczynski5 Sept 202219 yearsBelarus
Jauhen Hluszkou16 Aug 20229 yearsHomel, Homel region
Yaraslau Sakovich5 Aug 202211 yearsMinsk, Belarus
Taras Maczynski16 Jun 202210 yearsHomel region, Belarus
Valeryi Trocki18 May 202212 yearsLida, Grodno region
Viktar Dzmitryevich Novik15 Apr 202213 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Uladzimir Auramcau30 Mar 202222 yearsBabruysk, Belarus
Dzmitryi Klimau30 Mar 202222 yearsBabruysk, Mahilyow region
Dzmitryi Ravich4 Mar 202222 yearsSvetlahorsk, Homel region
Aleh Malczanau4 Mar 202221 yearsSvetlahorsk, Gomel region
Dzjanis Dzikun4 Mar 202225 yearsSvetlahorsk, Gomel region
Pavel Belavus15 Nov 202113 yearsMinsk, Minsk Region
Andrei Szkljar8 Nov 202110 yearsGrodno, Belarus
Ruslan Labanok25 Oct 202111 yearsMinsk, Belarus
Aljaksandr Kapszul24 Sept 202115 yearsRussia/Belarus
Ihar Mintc23 Sept 202112 yearsNavapolatsk, Vitebsk region
Hanna Ablab22 Sept 202111 yearsGomel, Gomel region
Sjarhei Dzjuba22 Sept 202112 yearsHomel, Homel region
Sjarhei Szamecka21 Sept 202112 yearsHomel, Homel region
Valjancin Ceranevicz20 Sept 202112 yearsGrodno, Grodno region
Sjarhei Szelest20 Sept 202114 yearsGrodno, Grodno Region
Aljaksandr Hasznikau18 Sept 202114 yearsZhlobin, Gomel region
Uladzimir Zhurauka18 Sept 202115 yearsHomel, Homel region
Andrei Paheryla17 Sept 202114 yearsHomyel, Homyel region
Pavel Czurkin24 May 202110 yearsMahilyow, Mahilyow region
Dzianis Urad15 Mar 202118 yearsBelarus
Aljaksei Khralovicz15 Mar 202110 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Dzianis Ivashyn
Journalist
12 Mar 202113 yearsHrodna, Hrodna region
Uladzimir Tryfonau2 Mar 202114 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Volha Salamenik2 Mar 20217 yearsHomyel, Belarus
Andrei Aljaksandrau
Journalist
12 Jan 202114 yearsMinsk, Belarus
Iryna Zlobina12 Jan 20219 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Mikalai Autukhovicz1 Dec 202025 yearsHrodna, Belarus
Katsiaryna Bakhvalava15 Nov 20208 years 3 months
Aljaksandr Sakalouski30 Oct 202010 yearsBelarus
Ruslan Prakharenkadate unknown10 yearsHomel Region, Belarus
Aljaksandr Eliseeudate unknown10 yearsKalinkavichy, Gomel region
Aljaksandr Skarakhoddate unknown10 yearsStolin, Brest region
Jahor Mikalayevich Krauczenjadate unknownno sentence recordedHomel, Homel region
Pavel Prokharaudate unknown8 yearsHomel, Homel region
Piotr Asipenkadate unknownno sentence recordedMinsk, Minsk region
Aljaksei Navahrodskidate unknownno sentence recordedBabruysk, Mogilev region
Andrei Repeciidate unknownno sentence recordedMinsk, Belarus
Vasil Prokharaudate unknown11 yearsHomel, Homel region
Andrei Kobeldate unknown9 yearsMinsk, Minsk region
Larysa Prokharavadate unknown8 yearsHomel Region, Belarus
Siarhei Vasileudate unknown11 yearsHomel, Belarus
Yauhen Hurynovichdate unknown13 yearsBelarus

Questions

What is "other assistance" to a foreign state?
Any help the KGB characterizes as aiding activity against Belarus's security. In the documented cases it has included sending photos of military equipment and messaging people abroad.
Is the death penalty applied to civilians?
The 2023 amendment applies it to military personnel and officials. Civilians face seven to fifteen years under Part 1.

How to write to a political prisoner in Belarus

Browse all cases in Belarus

How we define a political prisoner

Other statutes in Belarus

Counts are of published records in The Detained’s database for Belarus that carry this article, matched after normalizing how sources write it, as of 5 Nov 2026. They are a documented minimum: cases not yet published or not yet linked to the article are not counted. Each row links to the case record and its sources.