Aliaksandra Pulinovich. Human rights violation dossier
Detained at sixteen, Aliaksandra Pulinovich now serves a lengthy sentence as a Belarusian political prisoner
Prepared by: VšĮ „Our House Centre for Human Rights and Relief“
Date: April 2026
1. Personal information
| Field | Information |
| First name, surname | Aliaksandra Pulinovich |
| Date of birth | 12 February 2007 |
| Citizenship | Republic of Belarus |
| Current place of residence | Republic of Belarus |
| Education | Secondary education (completed 11 years of schooling, with the final year undertaken while in detention) |
| Occupation | None |
| Marital status | Unmarried, no children |
| Status | Political prisoner in Belarus |
| Activities | Activist, anarchist |
| Special circumstances | Detained as a minor (at the age of 16); since 2026 included in the list of persons involved in terrorist activities in the Republic of Belarus. Does not admit guilt. |
2. Basic information
Aliaksandra Pulinovich is a political prisoner in Belarus. She was detained at the age of 16 in connection with the so-called “Black Nightingales” case.
In 2025, she was sentenced to 10 years and 3 months of imprisonment in a penal colony. She has been charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus:
– Article 356 (high treason)
– Article 289 (act of terrorism)
– Article 3611 (creation of or participation in an extremist formation)
She has been included in the official list of persons involved in terrorist activities in the Republic of Belarus.
She is currently serving her sentence in Penal Colony No. 4 in Gomel.
3. Chronology of events
Aliaksandra Pulinovich was detained on 12 January 2024 at her school, after the first lesson. She was summoned to the principal’s office, where the detention took place.
Afterwards, she was taken to her home, where a search was conducted and electronic devices were confiscated. She was then transported to Brest and taken to a police department.
According to fellow students, the detention was carried out using handcuffs and involved the use of physical force.
Her mother was initially told that her daughter would be released after giving testimony and that she could provide information about others. Law enforcement officers stated that she was not implicated in the case but might possess relevant information. Her mother was not allowed to accompany her.
Later, the family received a call from Brest informing them that Aliaksandra had been detained as a suspect. She was subsequently reclassified as an accused person and placed in a temporary detention facility (IVS) for 10 days.
Her mother, as her legal representative, was only allowed access after these 10 days of solitary detention. Afterwards, Aliaksandra was transferred to a pre-trial detention center (SIZO).
The conditions of detention in the IVS were extremely harsh: she spent 10 days in severe cold, without bedding, sleeping on a bare bench, and was forced to use her jacket as the only cover while sleeping.
She spent most of the time until reaching adulthood in solitary confinement.
On 30 April 2024, a segment aired on the state TV channel ONT – a state propaganda film portraying the case – in which all detainees (five individuals), including four minors, were publicly named.
It is important to note that active investigative actions only began after the release of this propaganda film. This indicates that the investigation was formal in nature and was adjusted to fit a pre-prepared narrative.
Investigative actions were carried out in Brest and Baranovichi; her mother was able to attend approximately five of them. By December 2024, the investigation had been completed. The first court hearing was scheduled for March 2025, and by that time Aliaksandra had reached the age of majority, which meant her mother could no longer participate in the proceedings as her legal representative.
The case was subsequently returned for additional investigation. The investigation resumed during the summer, and court proceedings restarted in September. The verdict was delivered in October; however, it did not enter into legal force due to an appeal. The appeal was considered on 6 February and was dismissed.
All court hearings were held behind closed doors. Information about the case only became publicly available on 30 December 2025.
At present, her rights to correspondence, parcels, and financial transfers — including those from relatives — are restricted due to her designation as a “terrorist.”
According to the father of another defendant, Sergey Zhigalev (father of Dmitry Zhigalev), all participants in the case were subjected to torture during interrogations: they were beaten and had service weapons held to their heads in order to extract testimony.
4. Threats and risks
Risk of persecution of her family, as all relatives remain in Belarus.
Pressure in detention facilities
5. Current legal and other status
Political prisoner. Citizen of the Republic of Belarus.
6. What support is needed
– Engagement of UN mechanisms to initiate communication with the authorities of the Republic of Belarus regarding the release of Aliaksandra Pulinovich.
– Provision of international support and accompaniment by relevant organizations (to be specified).
– Implementation of a public information campaign and media outreach, taking into account security considerations.
7. Conclusion
The case of Aliaksandra Pulinovich raises serious concerns regarding compliance with international human rights standards. In particular, it involves violations of the rights of minors, the right to a fair trial, and the prohibition of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
Given the above circumstances, this case requires close attention from the international community and the use of appropriate response mechanisms.
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