Russian Man Gets 14 Years for Belarus Arson Linked to Darknet Plot

A 26-year-old man from Cheboksary was sentenced to 14 years in prison after setting fire to a car in Minsk. Anton Lysenko, who had no prior criminal record, responded to a darknet ad offering money for the arson. The incident unfolded against the backdrop of Belarus's political crackdown following the 2020 protests.

In early October 2021, Lysenko travelled by train to Minsk, unaware of any political ties to his actions. He set fire to a Toyota Land Cruiser under surveillance in the early hours of October 1. Authorities arrested him within eleven hours.

An 18-year-old, Zakhar Tarasevich, was also detained while heading to photograph the scene. Though the two did not know each other, they were charged in the same criminal case. Lysenko was held in Minsk's Pretrial Detention Center No. 1, where his trial proceeded in closed-door sessions.

Investigations later revealed that Alexei Volkov, a major general and chairman of Belarus's Committee of Forensic Examiners, allegedly ordered the arson. Lysenko, who had lost both parents and lived with his grandmother, faced financial struggles at the time. His interests included motorcycles, powerlifting, and firearms. While awaiting trial, he requested extradition to Russia.

The case unfolded during a period of heightened repression in Belarus. Since the 2020 mass protests, President Alexander Lukashenko's government has intensified its persecution of opposition figures. By 2022, Lysenko was convicted of extremism and terrorism, receiving a 14-year sentence. As of 2026, he remains imprisoned amid ongoing crackdowns, with thousands of political prisoners still detained.

Lysenko's conviction highlights the broader political climate in Belarus, where dissent has been met with severe penalties. His sentence, handed down in 2022, reflects the government's continued hardline stance against perceived opposition. The case also underscores the risks of darknet solicitations in politically volatile regions.