Volha (Aleh) Zayats
in custody
Date of birth: 6 July 1983
Date of detention: 29 March 2023
Charges indicted:
Art. 342 of the Criminal Code — Organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order, or active participation in them
Date of release: 29 August 2023
Aleh Zayats is a transgender man. When writing letters, please indicate the following passport data: Volha Aliakseyeuna Zayats.
Aleh Zayats is a craftsman—he makes bracelets and other souvenirs, which can be purchased in the shop at the Saint Elisabeth Convent.
He was arrested on March 29, 2023, allegedly for participating in the 2020 protest actions. His apartment was searched by the KGB officers. At first, they kept Aleh Zayats in the KGB remand prison in Minsk for several weeks. Then he was examined at the National Mental Health Center (located in the Navinki micro-district in Minsk). Now he is in remand prison #1 in Minsk.
Previously, Aleh Zayats was repeatedly detained under political articles. In all those cases, as a sign of protest, he went on a dry hunger strike. He has a stomach disease and problems with the musculoskeletal system (amputated toes).
According to the human rights defenders, Aleh Zayats is accused of participating in the 2020 protests under Article 342 of the Criminal Code ('Organization and preparation of actions grossly disrupting public order or active participation in them').
