On 17 February 2026, Minsk City Court handed down sentences against four residents of the capital whom the investigation treated as participants in an “extremist formation” — the BYSOL solidarity fund. According to the prosecution’s account, they acted as couriers, receiving and passing on money to other participants in the scheme. BYSOL representatives reject that model. The court imposed on the defendants between two and three years’ imprisonment, substantial fines, and confiscation; according to legal summaries, the judgment entered into force.
Charges
All four were tried under Article 361(3) of the Criminal Code of Belarus (participation in an extremist formation). One woman was additionally charged under Article 342(1) — participation in actions that grossly disturb public order. Independent media covered the proceedings and the legal classification; the Viasna Human Rights Centre also referenced the case on its channels.
The prosecution’s version
The investigation, as quoted by outlets, described joining the scheme no later than June 2024 and operating for about five months: collecting and transferring funds and distributing them in the interests of participants in “protest” and “extremist” activity. Coordination allegedly took place via correspondence with people abroad, using coded wording and minimising face-to-face contact. Over the period in question, case materials cited sums on the order of €2,000 and US$1,100 (as movement of funds within the alleged scheme). According to mlyn.by, two defendants admitted guilt and expressed remorse; two denied guilt.
Sentences and property penalties
- Two defendants were sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment;
- two — to 3 years (including the woman with the additional charge);
- each was fined 500 base units (media conversions cite roughly 22,500 Belarusian roubles);
- confiscation of mobile phones and money was ordered; some reports add recovery of more than 10,000 roubles as proceeds of crime.
BYSOL’s position
In comments to Euroradio, the fund said it does not use couriers to move money inside Belarus and treated the charges as part of pressure on solidarity initiatives. Readers should distinguish criminal qualification under Belarusian law from judgment of the organisation itself: under Belarusian rules BYSOL is classified as an extremist structure, which in itself affects the legal status of any “assistance” involving it on the territory of the country.