Uladzimir Zhurauka is a former operator of the Ammonia-3 workshop at Grodno Azot, a major Belarusian nitrogen compounds and fertilizers producer. On 26 October 2020, the day the national strike began, Uladzimir was arrested by the police near the entrance of the factory. The police then dispersed the protesting workers and pushed them into the workshops with truncheons. After his release, Uladzimir was dismissed but continued to be active, speaking out publicly about the situation in the country and at the company.

He was later arrested on September 18, 2021 together with nine other members of the Rabochy Ruch, 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, Uladzimir was charged with defamation and with the creation of and participation in an extremist formation.

At the trial, all the defendants refused to plead guilty to treason and creating an extremist formation. They also refused to testify.

Uladzimir Zhurauka was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was then subjected to a more severe regime.