Aliaksandr Rukoits is 27 years old. He is from Smarhoń, Hrodna region. His sister is his only relative. He is one of the five members of the closed chat room The Union of the Belarusian National Shield (SBNSH) arrested in early November 2022. The Ministry of Internal Affairs recognized SBNSH as an extremist organization a week earlier. They initiated criminal proceedings against the detainees under the article on 'the creation of an extremist formation'.

A press release from the Ministry of Internal Affairs described Aliaksandr Rukoits as "a so-called opposition activist" and noted that the detainee had been tried for theft and car theft. In the "penitential" video, Rukoits said that he participated in the protests in 2020 and 2021 and administered the SBNSH channel and chat room, in which "radical methods of counteracting the current government" were discussed. He was also described as a far-right nationalist—a photo of a Slavic ornament on the wall similar to a swastika was shown to prove that.

The case was heard from June 29 to July 7, 2023, in the Minsk Regional Court. Judge Alena Bachyshcha conducted the trial behind closed doors.

Aliaksandr Rukoits was convicted under Part 3 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') and Part 1 of Article 130 ('Incitement of other social hatred or enmity') of the Criminal Code and sentenced to three years of imprisonment in a medium-security penal colony.

Aleh Dabrydneu (aged 17, from the Mahilioŭ region) and Kiryl Balakhonau (aged 19, Homieĺ region) were convicted under Part 1 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') and Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 361-4 ('Supporting extremist activities') of the Criminal Code. Uladzislau Yafimovich (aged 19, Brest region) was convicted under Part 3 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') and Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 361-4 ('Supporting extremist activities') of the Criminal Code. 

Besides, on July 5, 2023, in the Minsk Regional Court, Mikita Brui (aged 17) was also convicted under Part 1 of Article 130-1 ('Incitement of other social hatred or enmity') and Parts 1 and 2 of Article 361-1 ('Creation of an extremist formation or participation in it') of the Criminal Code.

Four of the convicts are in custody. The fate of the fifth one is unknown.