05.02.2010 Belarusian civil society activists should be invited to Euronest, believes Pro-dem NGO Assembly

The Euronest Parliamentary Assembly should invite representatives of both Belarusian political parties and the civil society, says the Assembly of Belarusian Pro-Democratic NGOs. The composition of the Belarusian delegation is currently under consideration. However, due to the absence of a legitimate Parliament in the country, any Belarusian delegation will be unofficial.

03.02.2010 Scandal: How opposition activists expelled from universities

Professors of the Belarusian National technical University were forced to low grades to an opposition activist to expel him from university.

22.01.2010 Poland’s Embassy concerned over detention of Union of Poles activists

The Embassy of Poland in Minsk expresses its concern over the mass detention of activists of the unofficial Union of Poles in Belarus.

“The Embassy is concerned over the situation with the unofficial Union of Poles in Belarus and escalation of the conflict, initiated by the authorized Union of Poles led by Iosif Luchnik. All arrangements on status quo of the organization are in question now,” BelaPAN quotes the statement of the Polish diplomatic mission in Minsk.

21.01.2010 Mass arrests of activists of Union of Poles in Belarus

The people coming to support Tereza Sobal, the head of the Polish House in Ivyanets, and not to allow the authorities to take away the building are being detained and arrested.

The website charter97.org learnt from Andrzej Poczobut, a famous journalist, activist of the Union of Poles in Belarus, unrecognized by the authorities. According to him, more than 100 activists of the Union of Poles are going to visit Ivyanets (the Minsk region) today. Road traffic police began to stop their cars, check IDs and search vehicles.

21.01.2010 Gazeta Wyborcza’s journalist Andrzej Poczobut receives threats

Andrzej Poczobut, a famous journalist, activist of the Union of Poles in Belarus, unrecognized by the Belarusian authorities, received a telephone call from an unknown man on January20.

As Radio Racyja reports, the man threatened Andrzej Poczobut and his family if he didn’t stop his public activity and leave the Polish House in Ivyanets.

20.01.2010 Article 193-1 meets law, says Prosecutor General

Article 193-1 does not run counter to the Belarusian legislative and Constitutional standards, said Prosecutor General Ryhor Vasilevich during a press-conference on 20 January. ‘I do not think that it pointedly stands out of the legal framework,’ said the official.

18.01.2010 Belarusian MPs not willing to tackle Article 193-1 issue, waiting for outer initiative

Deputies of the House of Representatives are not going to consider the issue of decriminalizing Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code, say participants of the 22 December New Year happening quoting Mr. Viktar Huminski, head of the House of Representatives’ Standing Commission for National Security.

14.01.2010 State is reminded about international undertakings

Uladzimir Katsora, Homel activist of the For Freedom movement, addressed the state organs with the demand that they execute the decision of the UN Human Rights Committee on renewal of the activities of the Civil Initiatives NGO.

12.01.2010 Ministry of Justice doesn’t register ‘Young Belarus’

The Ministry of Justice refused to register the Young Belarus movement. It was stated by one of the leaders of the movement Zmitser Kaspiarovich.

06.01.2010 ’Mahiliouski Chas’ denied registration third time

The Ministry of Information for the third time refused to register the private newspaper Mahiliouski Chas. This time the officials stated that the building where the legal address of the edition was placed didn’t meet the legal requirements.

06.01.2010 Ivianets: criminal case brought against Union of Poles activist

Police initiated a criminal case against the head of the Polish House in Ivyanets, Teresa Sobal. At the moment Teresa Sobal is a suspect: a criminal case has been initiated against the activist of the Union of Poles in Belarus which is not recognized by the authorities, under Article 210 Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Belarus, Radio Racyja informs.

05.01.2010 ’Young Front’ is denied in renting premises for constituent assembly

The Belarusian youth organization Young Front that is registered in Czech intends to hold another constituent assembly at the end of January and again apply to the Ministry of Justice of Belarus for registration. Bear in mind that since 2000 the ministry five times refused to register the organization.

21.12.2009 Assembly of NGOs: another attempt of registration

On 18 December the Assembly of Belarusian Pro-Democratic NGOs held a meeting in attempt to receive state registration, earlier this year their previous application was turned down by the authorities.

18.12.2009 Union of Poles: new repressions

Representatives of the economic crimes department of Valozhyn district police are currently interrogating the leaders of the Union of Poles’ Ivianets office, including the Union’s chair Mrs. Andżelika Borys, Radio Racyja reports.

16.12.2009 For Freedom activist to pay 10 million to tax inspection

Homel Savetski Tax Inspection ordered Homel member of the For Freedom movement Uladzimer Katsora to pay 10 million roubles for the Civil Initiatives public association, closed down in 2003. Meanwhile, the activist says he has declared his retirement from the position of the head of liquidation commission of Civil Initiatives.