Poplavnyi and Sudalenko were involved in peaceful protests on 19 February 2017, that were attended by approximately 2,000 Belarusians. Through these peaceful protests participants called on the authorities to withdraw Presidential Decree No 3 on the ‘Prevention of Social Dependence’. Earlier, the authorities had rejected a request to allow these protests. More than 250 Belarusians were arrested in connection with the protests, including human rights defenders, activists and journalists. The district court gave Sudalenko a warning. Poplavnyi was sentenced to ten days of administrative detention.

Sudalenko heads the human rights organization Justice Initiative that provides legal assistance to victims of human rights violations in Belarus. He submitted more than 200 complaints to the courts against the provisions of Decree № 3 on behalf of Gomel citizens. Sudalenko was interrogated by the police prior to his sentencing.

Poplavnyi is a member of the human rights organization ‘Viasna’. This organization provides practical assistance to victims of human rights violations. The organization also investigates the status of the organization of the rule of law in Belarus.