Nikolay Dedok

A blogger who writes and produces videos on socio-political issues, a journalist, and an activist in the anarchist movement.

Nikolai was charged with obstructing traffic during the 23 August 2020 March. He was detained, severely beaten, and pepper-sprayed in the eyes. He was forcibly made to appear on camera in a video produced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. A forensic psycholinguistic examination was ordered in his case. Nikolai was sentenced to five years in a maximum-security penal colony. In September 2024, a new criminal case was opened against Dedok for disobeying prison administration (Part 1 of Article 411 of the Criminal Code). It is unknown whether the case went to trial or what the outcome was. On 11 September 2025, he was released and transferred to Lithuania following a deal between Lukashenko and the United States. Human rights organisations describe this as expulsion from the country.

2020s

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The Final Statement

‘No amount of paperwork you produce, no amount of terror can stop the liberation of humanity and progress. We will prevail all the same!’

All participants in these proceedings with legal training can clearly see and understand what is happening. I want to thank my family, friends, fellow anarchists, journalists, human rights defenders, and everyone who cares, everyone who values my work, for supporting me throughout this year and providing me with financial assistance. It means a great deal to me.

And to everyone involved in organising this trial, as well as the other political repressions in my country, I want to say: do not delude yourselves! No amount of paperwork you produce, no amount of terror can stop the liberation of humanity and progress. We will prevail all the same!

Minsk City Court, Minsk, Belarus
3 November 2021
Source: https://spring96.org/ru/news/105559
More about the case: https://prisoners.spring96.org/be/person/mikalai-dzjadok
Photo: Press Club Belarus