The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

Judge Siarhei Bandarenka of Minsk Pershamaiski District Court has resumed the hearing of the criminal case of Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski.

Mrs. Halina Smirnova, Babruisk activist of the United Civil Party, has lodged a complaint against a 5-day arrest for alleged violation of mass events regulations during the organization of the People’s Assembly on 8 October.

Ten copies of the 2010 presidential election observation results were seized by customs officials from human rights defender Andrei Paluda as he was crossing the Belarusian border last night.

Sari Essayah, member of the European Parliament and the European People’s Party Group, has taken on a prisoner’s godparenthood for Mikolai Dziadok.

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, and Stefan Füle, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, made today the following statement:

“We are seriously concerned about the detention and prosecution of internationally renownedBelarusian human rights defender Ales Byalyatski for alleged tax evasion. "

Hrodna police detained reporters of the BelSat TV channel and Radio Racyja journalist, as they were going to report on the events at the Bruzgi border check point on 22 November, says journalist Andrei Pachobut in his online blog.

Mrs. Liubou Kavaliova, the mother of Uladzislau Kavaliou, currently standing trial for alleged involvement in a number of explosions, including a metro blast on 11 April 2011, has released an online petition for the public protection to the defendants.