07.03.2008 New Accused in Criminal Case on Events of 10 January

20-year-old Anton Koipish is accused in violation of the public order and active participation in the protest rally of entrepreneurs held on 10 January in the center of Minsk. In particular, he is accused of having taken part in stopping the traffic in Nezalezhnastsi Avenue. The maximal punishment under the accusation article is 3 years of jail. He has also been expelled from the fourth year at the mechanic-mathematical faculty of Belarusian State University. He became the 14th person accused in a common criminal case on the fact of ‘mass riot’ during the entrepreneurs’ action.

07.03.2008 Press-conference of Suspects in Criminal Case

On 7 March the opposition activists, suspected and accused on the criminal case on entrepreneurs’ action 10 January, held a press conference in the main office of the United Civil Party. Many riot policemen were watching outside the building where the UCP head-office is situated.

07.03.2008 Siarhei Parsiukevich Left in Jail

The leader of Vitsebsk individual entrepreneurs Siarhei Parsiukevich is to stay in the pre-trial prison in Valadarski Street, Minsk. The decision to uphold the measure of restraint, arrest, has been taken by the prosecutor’s office of Maskouski district of Minsk.

06.03.2008 Entrepreneur Sviatlana Dvaraninava on Indefinite Hunger-strike

The entrepreneur Sviatlana Dvaraninava keeps the sixth indefinite hunger-strike in the women’s jail in Homel.

04.03.2008 Criminal Case against Katsiaryna Salauyova Passed to Court

The criminal case brought against Katsiaryna Salauyova under article 193.1 of the Criminal Code – participation in unregistered organization – has been passed to court.

04.03.2008 Three Accused in Criminal Case on 10 January Protest Action of Entrepreneurs

On 4 March the investigative department of the main board of internal affairs of Minsk city executive committee passed to the participants of the entrepreneurs’ action of 10 January Mikhail Kryvau, Mikhail Pashkevich and Uladzimir Siarheyeu the rulings that they were suspects in a criminal case under article 342, part 1 of the Criminal Code – ‘organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate the public order.’ All suspects had to give written undertakings not to leave Minsk.

04.03.2008 Siarhei Parsiukevich Arrested for Participation in Entrepreneurs’ Rally

Today by the prosecutor of Maskouski district of Minsk ruled to arrest a leader of the movement of individual entrepreneurs, former police major Siarhei Parsiukevich. The activist was called to testify in the case brought up against him.

27.02.2008 Criminal case against Andrei Kim ready for trial

According to the Code of the Criminal Procedure, the case will be sent to court when Andrei reads through the case materials. The trial is likely to start in March. Andrei Kim faces up to 6 years of imprisonment.

27.02.2008 Criminal persecution of protest action participants continues

At present moment the following activists are suspected:

1. Mikhas Pashkevich 2. Tatsiana Tsishkevich 3. Mikhas Subach 4. Ales Charnyshou 5. Ales Straltsou 6. Paval Vinahradau 7. Aliaksei Bondar 8. Aliaksandr Barazenka 9. Maksim Dashuk 10. Uladzimir Siarheyeu 11. Mikhas Kryvau

26.02.2008 Navumau’s threat to launch 50 criminal cases against action participants slowly coming true

he human rights center “Viasna” found out, investigation department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs started interrogating suspects on the criminal case under Article 342 of the Criminal Code “organization or active participation in group actions that seriously violate the public order”. The criminal case was instigated after the rally and march of entrepreneurs that took place on January 10th in Minsk. According to our information, 12 people are suspected. Today three of the suspected – Uladzimir Siarheyeu, Ales Straltsou, and Mikhas Kryvau -- were summoned to investigation department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for interrogation.

22.02.2008 Criminal Case against Participants of European March

The peaceful mass action European March took place on 14 October 2007. HRC Viasna learned that on 28 December 2007 the investigations department of Pershamaiski district police department of Minsk brought a criminal case under part 2 of article 339 of the Criminal Code ‘hooligan action, performed by a group of individuals’, because two police cars were allegedly damaged by the action participants.

18.02.2008 Criminal Case against Aliaksei Sarnou Passed to Court

Hrodna police has passed to court a criminal case against Aliaksei Sarnou, who in the night of 17 December had made graffiti on the walls of two houses. That’s how he expressed his protest against the liquidation of social guarantees by the Belarusian authorities.

18.02.2008 Aliaksandr Milinkevich Detained and Interrogated

On 18 February the leader of the For Freedom! movement Aliaksandr Milinkevich was detained in Minsk. As the Charter’97 press-center was told by his wife, Ina Kulei, who was near him at the moment of detention, everything happened rather quickly and unexpectedly.

14.02.2008 Zhodzina: Aliaksandr Kruty Still Illegally Kept in Pre-trial Prison

Aliaksandr Kruty has been released from punishment by court three weeks ago. However, he is still kept at the pre-trial prison in Zhodzina. He is kept alone in a cell for live-sentence convicts.

09.02.2008 Press Conference of Belarusian Prisoners’ Relatives

Recently a group of relatives of the prisoners who received unfair sentences has held a press conference.