On January 7, 2010, Kavalenka climbed atop a Christmas tree in the centre of his native Vitsebsk and placed the historical Belarusian white-red-white banner on top of it.

The white-red-white banner has been used by the Belarusian independence and pro-democracy movement since 1917 and was the official flag of Belarus in 1918 and from 1991 to 1995.

Human rights groups stated that the court's decision was politically motivated.

[2] Nasha Niva, a major independent newspaper, placed Siarhey Kavalenka among the most notable people of Belarus in 2010 as the Hero of the Year.

[4] On February 24 Kavalenka was sentenced to 25 months of prison by judge Elena Zhuk and prosecutor Dmitry Lutov.