Aliaksandr Hashnikau was an employee of the Belarusian Steel Works (BMZ), a member of the independent trade union and a leading activist. In the summer of 2021, Aliaksandr was arrested for 15 days for making comments online and was then dismissed. He also distributed opposition leaflets in Zhlobin.

Aliaksandr was arrested on September 18, 2021, as part of a criminal investigation for 'high treason' involving several employees of Belarusian factories who supported local strikes in 2020 and were members of the Rabochy Rukh labor rights group. On September 21, 2021, Rabochy Rukh was labeled as an "extremist" initiative, a decision that sparked the arrests of many workers across the country. In addition, Aliaksandr was charged with defamation and with the creation of and participation in an extremist formation.

On November 9, 2022, the Homieĺ Regional Court began the trial of the Rabochy Rukh case involving ten political prisoners. At the trial, all the defendants refused to plead guilty to treason and creating an extremist formation. They also refused to testify.

Aliaksandr is dedicated to his team. He likes to create things with his hands, and was always fixing and improving something on his car. Aliaksandr has two minor children.