Former Political Prisoner: I Turned 18 On March 30, And On March 31 I Was On My Way To Defend Ukraine

• 22.12.2025, 15:03

Alex Kaplich's story.

Released political prisoner Alexei Kaplich told about the circumstances of his detention at a press conference in Vilnius held today, December 22. Alexei was arrested while trying to fly to Georgia. He turned 18 the day before the detention.

"March 30, I turned 18, and on March 31, I was already detained at Minsk National Airport - I was on my way to defend Ukraine as part of the third assault brigade," said Aleksei Kaplich.

He said that he decided for himself, as soon as he turned 18, he would go to defend Ukraine. He was detained at the airport. At the passport control, the border guard said: "Let's go to another cell, this one does not recognize you well.

"I go into the office - immediately a bag on my head, the interrogation was on the day of detention and lasted until 4 a.m. I lived in the office for 12 days, none of my relatives knew where I was and what was happening to me," he said about the detention at the airport in Minsk.