A 26-year-old programmer and his wife, a teacher, became subjects of administrative cases after returning to Minsk from Poland. In July, they were summoned to the police station, had their messages checked, and were detained. The reason was sharing news from Telegram channels that had been labeled extremist in Belarus.

The court sentenced them to administrative detention eight times. While serving their sentences, new protocols were issued, extending their imprisonment. The wife spent her 27th birthday in a jail cell during her fourth arrest. After their detention, security forces recorded a "confession video" with the woman. State propaganda claimed she had sent personal data of police officers’ children to an extremist Telegram channel.

In August, the couple was released, but the next day, they were summoned again to the police station and re-arrested. They served their sentences in harsh conditions—overcrowded cells, no mattresses, bedding, hygiene products, or care packages. The husband was held at the detention center in Okrestina, while the wife was also placed in Pretrial Detention Center No. 6 in Baranovichi. According to former cellmates, both contracted COVID-19 while in custody.