On 28 September 2021, security forces attempted to break into the apartment of an IT specialist in Minsk. Such incidents tend to end with everyone inside being brutally arrested, but this time it was different - the homeowner opened fire with a hunting rifle. A shoot-out ensued, resulting in the deaths of both the owner and a KGB officer.

The news sparked a huge reaction on social media. People expressed their sympathy for the IT specialist and his family. In response,the  authorities launched mass arrests, detaining around 200 people across the country. Some were held under administrative detention, while many faced criminal charges. Detainees were tortured and deprived of basic conditions, including access to hygiene facilities.

A journalist who wrote an article in which acquaintances spoke positively about the deceased was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison. The trial began in December 2022, but has been repeatedly postponed. The defendant did not plead guilty. The publishing house of this article has been closed.