Dzmitry Rezanovich was born on 12 November 1989. He is interested in history and anthropology, and always visits museums to discover the past and learn about other cultures. Traveling and adventures are his element. He also interested in music.
Detained on March 16, 2014 when crossing the border between Russia and the Ukraine in Kursk. He has been kept in Kursk detention center ever since. He had the passport of his brother, but it looks like the special services were not interested in this misdemeanor, they allegedly suspect him of a conspiracy to launch an attack on Kursk nuclear power plant as well as participation in Maidan protests. We think this story is connected with the Russian hysteria about possible war with the Ukraine and expected diversive acts from Ukrainian side. Later Dzmitry was accused of illegal border crossing. On July 3, 2014 he was sentenced to a deportation and a fine of 400 euro.
On July 25th Rezanovich was deported from Russia to Belarus.

He was an active participant in the Kyiv Maidan protests. While living in Ukraine, he has learned Ukrainian language.

Political views

Dzmitry got excited about anarchism in his teens. He joined the movement in Gomel and was a member of small anarchist groups.
He was propagating ‘militant anarchism’ – an approach which criticized lifestyle activism and subcultural looks that is repellent to the masses and promoted an image of a well-read, strong and charismatic activists who are good at both agitating and fighting cops and neo-Nazis if necessary.

He was critical of the legal movement and decided decided to participate directly in the Belarusian Uprising 2020.

Detention and conviction

Dzmitry Rezanovich was detained while crossing the border of Belarus with Ukraine on the night of October 28-29, 2020. He said they were treated by border guards worse than illegal immigrants. Dzmitry also emphasized he was saved from torture just because of Siarhei Ramanau sliced his hands with a razor to stop the torment and viciousness.
He, together with Ihar Alinevich, Dzmitry Dubouski and Siarhei Ramanau, was charged under a number of articles for setting fire to government officials’ vehicles, the building of the traffic police and the state committee of expertise in the Homeĺ region.

On 22 December in Minsk Regional Court judge Tulayko Vyacheslav sentenced Dzmitry Rezanovich to 19 years’ imprisonment under a strengthened prison regime.

Detention conditions

In February 2021 the KGB put Dzmitry on the list of “persons involved in terrorist activities”. Persons from this list are banned from transferring money.

On 9 January 2022, Dzmitry was moved to pre-trial detention centre-6, and at the end of May of the same year he was moved to penal colony No. 22.

In October 2023, Dzmitry was moved to a cell- type facility (CCF) for half a year for allegedly violating the rules of the colony. In the CCF convicts are supposed: 1 parcel per 6 months; a daily walk for 30 minutes; monthly spend only 10 euros from the personal account (if there is money there) for food and basic necessities.

In 2023, Dzmitry spent a total of 100 days in the punitive isolation centre (SHIZO).

At the end of January 2024, a criminal case under Article 411 of the Criminal Code (malicious disobedience to the demands of the colony administration) was opened against the anarchist. On 26 April Judge Siarhei Kukhotskovalets convicted Dzmitry and added 9 months of imprisonment to the main term of 19 years in the colony. After appeal, the conviction was upheld.

After an appeal against a sentence under Article 411 of the Criminal Code, Dzmitry was transferred to IK-14 in Novosady. From 19.09.2024 he was placed in a PKT (prison cell block) for half a year. The reasons for the punishment are unknown.

Relatives

His mother is a widow and she is retired. Also Dzmitry’s sister lives in Belarus. Both of them are in a difficult financial situation. Several close friends of Dzmitry live in Belarus, Poland, Ukraine and some other Europian countries.

In his letter, Dzmitry wrote:

I want to write you a message at this time of historic significance for us all. Have the people in Belarus risen up against despotism and will we see change? I believe we will see each other soon in Minsk or Grodno, or maybe in Gomel at the House of Anarchy. Long live free Belarus, long live Anarchy!

Open letter in support of Belarus anarchist revolutionaries

Solidarity actions with Dzmitry Rezanovich in Gomel, in Minsk

Statement by the human rights community in Belarus

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