The activist of the Conservative Christian Party of the Belarusian People’s Front (CCP-BPF) was repeatedly detained for organising a number of protest actions. In May 2010 Siarhei Kavalenka received three-year suspended sentence for hanging out a white-red-white flag on the 40-meter New Year Tree in the center of Vitsebsk. This action was defined as «major violation of public order». As a result, Kavalenka had to regularly check in at a community police office and come home at the time stated. According to policemen controlling Kavalenka, he violated rules having ariived home late triply.
On December 19, 2011 Kavalenka was arrested in connection with criminal proceedings under Art. 415 of the Criminal Code (evasion of liberty restraint service). Being accused of violation of parole and facing three-year imprisonment on December, 20 he went on hunger-striking in protest. Since that time he has reduced by more than 30 kg.
On March 26 Kavalenka was convoyed to prison hospital of Vitsba-3 penal colony and placed to the psychiatric unit where he was force-fed with Bellakt formula milk in the psychiatric unit of the penal colony hospital. From time to time prison doctors put him on a drip against his will.
On April 10, 2012 a panel of Vitsebsk regional court ordered that Siarhei Kavalenka should be subjected to comprehensive mental examination in hospital environment. Later the oppositionist was moved to Navinki psychiatric hospital in Minsk district. There he quit hunger-striking. According to his wife, the political prisoner has made this step not to be found insane.
Siarhei Kavalenka resumed his hunger strike on May 8, 2012. He reiterated his protest against the unrighteous sentence and demands the release of all the political prisoners as well as using the national white-red-white flag and Pahonya emblem.
