Belarusian Prisoners for Peace in Belarus

On December 1st, the world observes the Day of Prisoners for Peace. Our House calls for support for those sentenced in Belarus for refusing to participate in violence and protesting against the authoritarian regime.

December 1 marks over six decades of the Day of Prisoners for Peace. This day serves as an expression of solidarity with those who have been imprisoned for refusing to participate in war due to conscientious objections. It reminds us of the fate of anti-war activists who were jailed for non-violent actions aimed at preventing violence and aggression, including disrupting military preparations for war and halting the military’s involvement in civilian killings.

In Belarus, in 2020, the regime of Alexander Lukashenko attempted to use the army to suppress peaceful protests and to commit violence against Belarusian citizens. Conscripts were given weapons and sent to the streets, with prior incitement of hatred against the protesters—peaceful demonstrators were depicted as “agents of the West” or “security service representatives.” These young, often poorly trained, and poorly educated soldiers were placed on the front lines of repression, leading to tragedy. One such event was the murder of Genady Shutov, a peaceful bystander in Brest on August 11, 2020, when conscript soldier Roman Gavrilov shot him in the back of the head. A random witness to this murder, Alexander Kordyukov, was sentenced to 10 years in prison to eliminate him as a witness.

However, there were those who dared to resist the violence and refused to be part of this military mechanism of terror. Belarusian soldiers who resisted their army’s involvement in the killing of peaceful citizens were charged with treason and received significant prison sentences. We call on you to support these brave individuals and fight for their release.

Stories of Prisoners for Peace:

Denis Urad, 34 years old
- Rank: Captain, former officer of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus
- Education: Belarusian Military Academy (Faculty of Communications)
- Reason for Arrest: In March 2021, Denis Urad was arrested after he photographed a secret letter during his night duty, containing instructions from the Belarusian Minister of the Interior to the Minister of Defense to deploy the army for violent actions against peaceful protesters. He published the document in a Telegram channel to prevent violence and the killing of civilians by the military.
- Sentence: Closed trial, sentenced to 18 years in a high-security prison for “treason,” stripped of the military rank of “captain.”
- Family: Married, with a son (about 4 years old at the time of his arrest).
- Place of Imprisonment and Address for Correspondence: Correctional Colony No. 1, 211440, Novopolotsk, Technical Street, 8.
Anton Cheremnykh, 42 years old
- Rank: Lieutenant Colonel, deputy commander of the 310th Artillery Group for ideological work, 120th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade
- Reason for Arrest: Anton Cheremnykh was arrested on January 29, 2023, charged with treason and incitement to social discord after expressing critical views about the Russian war against Ukraine and the cruelty of Belarusian security forces.
- Sentence: Closed trial, the sentence is still unclear, but he may receive up to 20 years in a high-security prison for “treason,” stripped of the rank of “lieutenant colonel.” After the sentence was confirmed, he was designated a “terrorist.”
- Place of Imprisonment: Correctional Colony No. 1, 211440, Novopolotsk, Technical Street, 8.
Sergey Shpak, 54 years old
- Rank: Lieutenant Colonel (reserve)
- Reason for Arrest: In 2020, Sergey Shpak participated in a video address from retired officers calling on active-duty military personnel to reject violence and participation in the suppression of peaceful protests. The video was later removed. Sergey was arrested in 2021 and charged with serious violations of public order.
- Sentence: Closed trial. The first sentence (December 2021) was 3 years of restricted freedom (house arrest). The second sentence (October 2025) is 5 years in a general-security prison and a fine, with the loss of the rank of “lieutenant colonel.”
- Family: Four children, two of whom are minors.
- Place of Imprisonment: Prison No. 4, Kropotkin Street 99A, 212011, Mogilev, Belarus.
Dmitry Gulin, 56 years old
- Profession: Former military, topographer
- Reason for Arrest: Dmitry Gulin was arrested on July 13, 2023, on charges of treason, slander against the president, and insulting the president after he publicly criticized the violence of the security forces and Lukashenko’s actions against peaceful citizens.
- Sentence: Closed trial, sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment for “treason,” stripped of his military rank. After the sentence was confirmed, he was designated a “terrorist.”
- Place of Imprisonment: Correctional Colony No. 3, 211322, Vitebsk Region, Vityba settlement.

These men have become symbols of courage and resistance in Belarus. They are imprisoned for refusing to be part of criminal violent actions and for attempting to stop the violence. We urge you to support them by sending letters and continue fighting for their release.

Additionally, in recent years, Belarus has become an increasingly serious trigger for security threats in the region. One of the most concerning factors is the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. However, in the context of Belarus’s authoritarian regime, where truth is rarely achieved, and the country’s information is strictly controlled and manipulated by the state, exposing any sensitive information about the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is vital and necessary.

In this context, we should consider the story of Grzegorz Gavel, a Polish monk who was officially arrested for attempting to steal and disclose documents about Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus during the Russian-Belarusian exercises Zapad-2025. It is unclear whether he indeed tried to obtain and publish documents related to nuclear weapons, but if so, his actions can be seen as an important and heroic step in the fight for peace and security in the region. This is the story of a man who, despite his religious and humanitarian work, found himself imprisoned by a repressive system that does not tolerate those who try to reveal the truth. Grzegorz Gavel now faces the death penalty in Belarus.

Grzegorz Gavel, 27 years old

Profession: Monk, member of the Carmelite Order
Reason for Arrest: Grzegorz Gavel was detained on September 4, 2025, in the city of Lepel (Vitebsk Region) by officers of the Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB). He has been charged with espionage under Article 358 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus after a photocopy of a “classified” document concerning the Russian tactical nuclear weapons drills during the “Zapad-2025” exercises was allegedly found with him. Belarusian state media aired a video of his detention and the searches.
Legal Status: Charged under Article 358 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (“espionage”). Article 358 provides the possibility of the death penalty if the accused’s actions result in “severe consequences” or involve the transmission of state secrets related to defense or security, which includes nuclear weapons.
Where he is being held: He is most likely held at the KGB Pre-trial Detention Center (“Amerikanka”) in Minsk. The KGB knows his whereabouts, and letters will be delivered to him.
Most likely place of detention: KGB Pre-trial Detention Center, 220040, Independence Avenue, 17, Minsk.