Belarus police officer vanishes after extremism conviction in shadowy Gayun case

Maxim Semichko, born in 1995, has disappeared from public view after a high-profile legal case. The former police officer was convicted in early 2025 for his involvement in extremist activities. His last online activity was recorded just weeks before his sentencing.

Semichko grew up in Belarus, attending School No. 2 in Narovlya before moving to Mozyr and later Kalinkavichy. His height and symmetrical features earned him a place in an elite military honor guard unit. After completing his military service in 2016, he joined the police force that July, working under the Interior Ministry's Security Department.

By 2019, he had advanced to the rank of senior police sergeant. His duties included serving as a police officer and driver in a special battalion tasked with protecting diplomatic missions.

In early 2025, Semichko was convicted under Parts 1 and 2 of Article 361-4 of Belarus's Criminal Code. The charges related to his role in facilitating extremist activities connected to the Gayun case. His final social media post on VKontakte appeared on February 23, 2025—two weeks after reports surfaced about the hacking of the Belarusian Gayun channel's chat. Following his conviction, he faced either chemical castration or imprisonment.

Since then, no public records or media reports have confirmed his sentence or whereabouts. His social media accounts have remained inactive, and no official statements or public reactions regarding his case have emerged in Belarus.

Semichko's conviction and subsequent disappearance leave unanswered questions about his current status. No further details about his employment, legal proceedings, or public response have surfaced since early 2025. His case remains unconfirmed in accessible media or official reports as of February 2026.