The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

21.08.2012 Vitebsk journalist accused of collaboration with foreign media

However, this media was closed 10 years ago. Member of the "BAJ" Alena Stsiapanava was accused of collaboration with the foreign media, which does not exist since 2002, reports the press service of BAJ.

21.08.2012 German MP: charge against Anton Surapin must be completely withdrawn

20. August 2012 – Release of Anton Suryapin Photographer Anton Suryapin and another young man, Siarhei Basharymau, who were arrested by the KGB following the July 4 teddy bear drop were released on 17 August on their own recognizance.

20.08.2012 Homel police detain distributor of independent press

Aliaksandr Protska, distributor of the Novy Chas independent newspaper, has been detained by Homel police outside the city’s central railway station at about 9 a.m.

20.08.2012 Svetlahorsk journalist prevented from surveying public opinion on construction of pulpmill

On 17 August, Svetlahorsk police did not allow independent journalist Larysa Shchyrakova covering public consultations on the construction of a pulpmill, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

15.08.2012 Radio “Racyja” journalist gets a warning

Officers of the prosecutor’s office told Henadz Barbarych that they had listened to all his programs made in 2011 and they had lots of disagreement. Henadz Barbarych was summoned to Minsk prosecutor’s office in connection with a check-up of Radio Racyia activities, started after the searches on May 2.

Human Rights Defenders join the campaign of the Belarusian Association of Journalists for the release of Siarhei Basharymau and Anton Surapin

15.08.2012 Human Rights Defenders join the campaign of the Belarusian Association of Journalists for the release of Siarhei Basharymau and Anton Surapin

The Human Rights Center “Viasna” joined the initiative of the Belarusian Association of Journalists aimed at the change of the restraint to journalist Anton Surapin who has been kept in the pre-trial prison of the KGB since 13 July. The human rights defenders also solicit for the change of the restraint to real estate agent Siarhei Basharymau, who, together with Surapin, received charges of assistance to unlawful crossing of the state boundary of the Republic of Belarus (Part 6 of Article 16 and Part 3 of Article 371 of the Criminal Code) and their release on bail.

14.08.2012 Another independent journalist summonsed to prosecutor's office

More than 10 independent journalists received verbal and written notices from prosecutor office and KGB in 2012.

14.08.2012 Belarusian Association of Journalists launches a campaign for the release of journalist Anton Surapin

The Board of BAJ urges all who sympathize with independent journalism to sign a petition to free the photographer.

13.08.2012 “Polatski Vesnik” knows its candidate

In the beginning of August the state-owned newspaper “Polatski Vesnik” started publishing articles about activities of Natallia Huivik, the head of the Polatsk City Council who is running for the Parliament.

13.08.2012 Radio “Racja” journalist summonsed to prosecutor's office

Henadz Barbarych was handed a summons ordering to appear in a prosecutor's office on the previous day.

10.08.2012 Correspondents of “Deutschlandradio” denied accreditation

Gesine Dornblüth, a correspondent for “Deutschlandradio” working in Moscow since January intended to elucidate the pace of the parliamentary election in Belarus. However, the Belarusian MFA refused to issue her an accreditation without explaining the reasons.

10.08.2012 “BelSat” journalist issued with a warning

This is the eighth warning of the prosecutor’s office of independent journalists in this year.

09.08.2012 Journalists Yuliya Darashkevich and Iryna Kozlik punished with fines

In the evening of 8 August police detained journalists Yuliya Darashkevich and Iryna Kozlik while they were making photos for a virtual poster with paratrooper bears within the frames of a solidarity action with the imprisoned photographer Anton Surapin.