For organizing a riot in Bobruisk penal colony in 2020, a prisoner convicted for drugs had his term extended 6 times

Amid news of the release of some political prisoners, Mikalai Dziadok spoke about the dramatic fate of 48-year-old Minsk resident Ulad Vakulchyk, who is trapped in a vicious cycle of courts and SHIZO (punishment cells) and can be fully considered a political prisoner, even though his name was not known to human rights defenders.

Mikalai writes that he knows him personally. They met in penal colony No. 9 in Horki, in the industrial zone.

Despite the danger of communicating with Dziadok ("unavoidable SHIZO"), he was not afraid and approached.

They found common ground: Ulad subscribed to "Novy Chas" (New Time), supported the "parasite" protests in 2017, and "was politically aware."

“All, or almost all of us, participated in the 2020 revolution on the streets of our cities. Ulad also managed to participate in it – but in penal colony No. 2 of Bobruisk,” Dziadok writes.

This could have been prisoners refusing to obey the "lights out" command, or clapping their hands with the words "Leave!", "they even made homemade leaflets," Dziadok asserts.

The administration tolerated insubordination for some time. But when it became clear which way the wind was blowing, harsh repressions began. All participants received a "profiling" as "extremist." The most active ones faced a "covered" (closed-type) prison or Article 411.

The administration designated Ulad Vakulchyk as the organizer.

From Bobruisk, he was taken to PC-1 Navapolatsk. According to Dziadok, he almost died there from a perforated stomach ulcer. Doctors at the Navapolatsk City Hospital saved him. 25 days after the operation, he was placed in SHIZO.

His suffering continued — in Horki, he vomited blood, Mikalai recounts. Because he was not given a post-operative bandage, a hernia developed, and to this day, Ulad is on the waiting list for an operation.

As Dziadok writes, Vakulchyk's term was extended six times.

August 3, 2021, a court in Navapolatsk — 1 year and 3 months are added for "malicious disobedience to the administration," and he is taken to PC-9 (Horki).

June 16, 2022, a court in Horki — 1.5 years are added, and he is taken to PC-20 (Mazyr).

September 21, 2023, a court in Mazyr — 2 years are added, and he is taken to PC-11 (Vawkavysk).

June 5, 2024 — a court in Vawkavysk. 1 year is added. He is taken to PC-8 (Orsha).

January 3, 2025 — a court in Orsha. 1.5 years are added. He is taken to Horki again.

October 30, 2025 — a court in Horki. 2 years are added. He is taken to Mazyr again.

“Currently, Ulad is in Mazyr's PCT (prison-type cell), from which he is periodically thrown into SHIZO. From the initial seven, his term now totals 16 years and 3 months. Sixteen years! Just imagine what it's like when everyone else's term decreases during their imprisonment, but yours — grows.

Today, Ulad, having served his 7 years under Article 328, continues to be held captive solely for participating in non-violent acts of resistance in the Bobruisk penal colony six years ago. And even if we assume that his 7-year term was lawfully imposed, he is now imprisoned as a political prisoner.

His life is in danger. Even for a young man, several years in SHIZO and PCT is the toughest ordeal. Ulad is already 48 years old,” Dziadok writes.

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