March 26, Pozirk. Authorities have released Maksim Urbanovič after he served 10 days in jail on charges of petty hooliganism, a source who wished to remain anonymous has told Pozirk.
Other details of his arrest and persecution are unknown. Maksim’s brother, Dzianis Urbanovič, leader of the Małady Front opposition youth organization, is currently fighting Russia in Ukraine.
On March 23, rights groups reported mass arrests of Małady Front members. Reports also said that Maksim was severely beaten by the Committee for State Security agents.
Dzianis Urbanovič has headed Małady Front since 2018. Belarusian police persecuted him over his participation in 2020 postelection protests.
In late 2021, he fled to Ukraine to join the Kastuś Kalinoŭski Regiment. He was wounded in combat in January 2023.
Founded in 1997, Małady Front promoted patriotism among Belarusian youths. In August 2022, authorities branded it an “extremist” group.
