The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

20.04.2012 Vitsebsk police detain independent newspaper distributor

Vitsebsk police has reportedly detained local distributor of the “Nash Dom Info” independent newspaper Siarhei Soupel, as he was leaving his house this morning.

12.04.2012 Mahiliou: Siarhei Niahatsin fined 3 mln rubles for "Tut i Tsiaper" newspaper

On 11 April an activist of the Belarusian Popular Front Siarhei Niahatsin received a telephone call from the police, who proposed him to come to the police department and take back the newspapers which had been confiscated from him about a month ago, while he had been distributing them at a market.

06.04.2012 Anatol Sanatsenka summonsed to tax inspection... for a talk with KGB

On 5 April the editor of the "Babruiski Kur'yer" newspaper Anatol Sanatsenka was summonsed to tax inspector Halina Tanvirava, allegedly to talk about the fate of the open stock company "Raklamny Kur'yer", owned by him.

03.04.2012 International human rights organization “Front Line” protests against unlawful punishment of human rights defender Valery Shchukin

On 30 March 2012, human rights defender Mr Valery Shchukin was condemned to an administrative fine in relation to a protest held on the previous day against the trial of political activists which was about to take place behind closed doors in Orsha.

28.03.2012 Two more independent journalists warned by prosecuting officials

Alina Radachynskaya and Volha Chaichyts, members of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, have received official warnings from Minsk City Prosecutor’s Office for illegal contribution to the Poland-based Belsat TV channel, BAJ’s press-service reports.

23.03.2012 Journalist Zmitser Krauchuk Warned in Minsk

In total, the prosecutor’s office has already issued six warnings to journalists this year.

22.03.2012 Independent journalists summoned to prosecutor’s office

On 21 March members of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Volha Chaichyts and Zmitser Krauchuk were summoned to Minsk prosecutor’s office, the BAJ press-service reports.

19.03.2012 KGB presses on independent press distributors in regions

An officer of Shklou department of the KGB visited a shop of Byalynichy-based businessman and democratic activist Mikalai Myatselitsa.

19.03.2012 Brest prosecuting authorities issue warning to Radio Racyja journalist

Zmitser Kisel, journalist of the Poland-based independent Radio Racyja, has received an official warning from Brest Regional Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly working in Belarus without accreditation from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

16.03.2012 The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed outrage at a foreign travel ban imposed by the Belarusian authorities on at least four independent journalists

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed outrage at a foreign travel ban imposed by the Belarusian authorities on at least four independent journalists.

15.03.2012 Baranavichy police looking for author of information about unauthorized rally

On 15 March police major Vital Dabrachynski called civil activist Viktar Syrytsa to come to room #106 of the Baranavichy City Police Department. He wanted the activist to tell who the author of the information which was published on independent websites on 28 December 2011 and concerned an unauthorized rally the entrepreneur Mikalai Charnavus intended to hold was.

15.03.2012 More victims of foreign travel restrictions

Zhanna Litvina, Mikhail Yanchuk and Andrei Bandarenka were not allowed to leave Belarus.

14.03.2012 Siarhei Shupa denied entrance to Belarus

Journalist of the Belarusian service of Radio Liberty Siarhei Shupa was denied in receiving a Belarusian visa. Today the journalist, who lives in Prague, received his passport from the Belarusian consulate with the “denied” seal.