Maksim Shukanau

Affiliated media: Youtube-channel "Union Bell", Blogger

Incident date: November 11, 2025

Attack type:

• Administrative arrest, remand, pre-trial detention, prison

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Mazyr

Additional information:

It has emerged that blogger Maksim Shukanau from Mazyr has been sentenced to four years in a penal colony. He ran a YouTube channel "Union Bell", where he analysed political developments and reported on the war between Russia and Ukraine. According to Nasha Niva, Shukanau was convicted under several political charges, though the specific articles have not been disclosed. The blogger was detained in February 2025. Maksim has serious health issues and has been diagnosed with epilepsy. There is unconfirmed information that he had several seizures while in pre-trial detention, resulting in injuries. This is likely due to his lack of access to the medication necessary to prevent seizures.