Belarusian volunteer Aliaksandr Gerard Krasouski in court in Kharkiv, May 11, 2026. Photo: “Belsat”
AWOL and Ammunition
Another court hearing took place on Monday, May 11. The court considered the prosecution’s request to extend the detention of Belarusian volunteer Aliaksandr Gerard Krasouski, who has been fighting for Ukraine since 2022.
The trial was scheduled to begin at 9:30 AM, but the session stretched throughout the day. First, it was postponed because the soldier was not brought to the courtroom on time, then it was delayed for several hours because he requested an interpreter. Afterward, they had to wait for the second lawyer: the defenders were not warned about the session at all, they were not informed when their client would be tried, and they had to search for information themselves.
The Belarusian volunteer in Ukraine is currently suspected under two criminal articles — unauthorized abandonment of a military unit and storage of weapons and ammunition without the necessary permit. In court, Gerard stated that he did not admit his guilt, while the defense considers the case fabricated.
Gerard himself and his lawyers note that at this moment he does not have military status at all, as he was discharged from his unit in November. But he is being tried specifically as a serviceman. The defense also reminds that the volunteer lives in Ukraine on the basis of a temporary residence permit and has Belarusian citizenship, and as a foreigner, he has different rights in the army.
“The case materials contain witness statements that Krasouski did not report to the military unit (after being recalled from leave by command. — “Belsat”). At that time, his report for discharge was already being considered, because as a foreigner, he can terminate his contract at any time. Even before the military unit conducted any official investigation, Krasouski was no longer a serviceman: he was discharged. At this moment, he is no longer a serviceman.
Then the question is: how could the command, which initially stated that the situation required Krasouski to be recalled from leave, later discharge him themselves?” — lawyer Bahdan Balynski wondered.
Given that many servicemen in Ukraine have left their units or positions due to so-called AWOL (unauthorized abandonment of unit) and are not held in custody for months, or even if imprisoned, are released on bail, the defense expected a milder court decision in Krasouski’s case, whose AWOL, according to the prosecution, lasted only a few days before his discharge.
Also, according to the indictment, over 500 cartridges and three grenades were found in the Belarusian’s rented private building. Gerard noted in court that he provides housing to other servicemen, including foreigners, and that access to the yard and basement is open.
“The basement door doesn’t close, the gate to the yard isn’t locked. The found items (referring to cartridges and grenades. — “Belsat”) were in a bag along with the personal belongings of fighter G. (call sign not mentioned to protect personal data. — “Belsat”). The clothing size there is M, not mine at all. And this serviceman confirmed that there were many servicemen in my house,” Krasouski explained.
More than Half a Million Euros
Another prominent detail present in the case of the Belarusian Gerard is the 680 thousand euros found in the same basement. Earlier, another Belarusian volunteer, Dzianis Urbanovich, accused Krasouski of “corrupt schemes.”
Павялічыць
Trial of Belarusian volunteer Aliaksandr Gerard Krasouski in Kharkiv, May 11, 2026. Photo: “Belsat”
On Monday morning, May 11, the issue of these funds confiscated during the search was also considered — Gerard was not present in the courtroom at that time.
Later, while waiting for the court regarding the extension of his detention, he voiced his version. The Belarusian assures that he received the money from Western partners who help the Ukrainian army through him. According to the fighter, people donate money specifically to servicemen, fearing to fall into dubious schemes during military procurement by military structures or the state, which society learns about during corruption scandals.
In Ukraine, indeed, many people donate directly to units and individual servicemen for specific needs, and those then publish public reports.
The Belarusian said that the amount donated was much larger — about 1 million 400 thousand euros. The man assures that he has already purchased mobile barracks for the unit with part of this money and has documented proof of this.
“And those 680 thousand were decided to be seized. This is simply lawlessness. There is a decision by the appellate court, which ordered to return this money to me,” Gerard said.
The investigating journalists were not allowed to speak with Aliaksandr separately and ask questions. But between hearings, he noted: after the appeal, another session took place — without the prosecutor, lawyers, and himself, at which the judge ruled to give the money to another person. The question of their fate is still being considered by Kharkiv courts.
What is known about the condition and detention conditions of the Belarusian?
Aliaksandr did not express complaints about his health or the attitude of the administration and staff of the pre-trial detention center in court. He noted that he receives everything necessary.
Also, the Belarusian now has contact with his wife — he is allowed to make phone calls, which were previously prohibited by the investigator and prosecutor. Although even now, the prosecution stated that as a foreigner, he could transmit some secret information or ciphers in Belarusian during calls, and the officers monitoring the conversations do not understand the language. All of this, they claimed, could pose a threat to Ukraine’s national security. This was also disputed by the lawyers.
The prosecutor also believes that Krasouski, if released on bail or under house arrest, could transmit secret information about the deployment of troops and weapons, and logistical routes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as a person who was on the front line and commanded a unit.
It was even suggested that the information could be transmitted to Belarus and that there was allegedly a risk that Gerard himself could flee to his homeland. Although Belarusian authorities have placed the soldier on a wanted list and are заочно (in absentia) accusing him of “mercenarism” and threatening him with long prison sentences.
Павялічыць
Belarusian volunteer Aliaksandr Gerard Krasouski in court in Kharkiv, May 11, 2026. Photo: “Belsat”
How the trial ended
Aliaksandr Krasouski, during the session, highlighted his merits and the good results of the unit he commanded. He also noted that he is a qualified specialist who can benefit the Ukrainian army instead of sitting behind bars, as he was about to transfer to another unit and continue his service just before his arrest.
“I voluntarily came to defend Ukraine, received injuries, received departmental and state awards, which were earned with blood and sweat,” Aliaksandr said in his speech. “Under my command, the detachment carried out more than 500 evacuations of armored vehicles over a year and a half. During this time, under my leadership, there was not a single AWOL, and my unit — two platoons — suffered losses of only three ‘wounded’ and one ‘killed’.”
The Russians are hunting me; my car was burned at their behest. In Belarus, I was sentenced to 15 years in absentia for “mercenarism” — for fighting for Ukraine. The money my friends and partners from abroad transfer to me, they do so because they know I am a responsible person and will spend everything on the defense of Ukraine. Considering all that has been said, if I am not worthy of release on bail, then who is? There is no direct evidence of my guilt in the case materials,” the Belarusian concluded.
Like his defenders before him, he recalled his young daughter with a disability and his wife, who is forced to work and independently engage in the rehabilitation of their sick child.
The session, including postponements, lasted almost until 9:00 PM, when the judge read out the ruling. She supported the prosecution’s side — Gerard’s detention period was extended by 35 days. The Belarusian volunteer will remain in the pre-trial detention center until at least June 14, without the possibility of being released on bail.
“Belarus 2.0. Lawlessness,” Krasouski said before he was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom.
Lawyers filed an appeal against the decision and are also disputing the fact that they were not warned about the session, and that the trial of their client could have proceeded without their participation or knowledge.