26.02.2008 A. Zdvizhkou: "I Will Breathe Calm As Soon As I Leave the Territory of Belarus…"

A. Zdvizhkou is going to leave Belarus, to change his citizenship and to leave the journalist trade in the nearest future. He told about that to his colleagues during his first press-conference after the release from prison, held at the Central Office of Belarusian Association of Journalists on February 25, 2008.

25.02.2008 KGB "Department of Kind Affairs" Interested in Journalists

BAJ member Maryja Savushkina is insistently invited by some unknown man, who represents himself as "a representative of KGB Department of Kind Affairs" by phone for a meeting.

25.02.2008 Vitebsk Region Authorities Diminished Rental Costs of Editorial

The state media editorials in Vitebsk region, founded by the local governmental and self-governmental authorities will pay only 15% of the agreed amounts of editorial office rent. A corresponding decision has been signed by Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

22.02.2008 Political Prisoner Aliaksandr Zdvizhkou to Be Released Today

On 22 February the Supreme Court of Belarus considered the cassation appeal of the former deputy editor of Zgoda newspaper Aliaksandr Zdzvizhkou. Earlier Zdvizhkou was sentenced to three years of imprisonment for publishing the Prophet Mohammed cartoons.

18.02.2008 Aliaksandr Zdvizhkou Put in Prison Hospital

Radio Svaboda has learnt about that after the journalist’s mother Hanna Zdzvizhkova visited Minsk remand prison.

14.02.2008 Zhaleznichenka’s Mother Sues against State Newspaper

Ala Zhaleznichenka, mother of a the youth activist Zmitser Zhaleznichenka who is being illegally detained at a military unit, has sued against the state newspaper Homelskaya Prauda for protection of the honor, dignity and business reputation of her son.

05.02.2008 Belarusian PEN-center Demands Reconsideration of Zdvizhkou’s Case and His Release

The deputy-editor of the Belarusian non-state newspaper Zgoda Aliaksandr Zdvizhkou has been sentenced to three years of high security prison for having reprinted Danish cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, which was qualified as violation of article 130, part 2 of the Criminal Code, ‘fomentation of religious enmity’.

31.01.2008 Local authorities fight with internet

An article about the arrest of an activist of the entrepreneurs’ movement was withdrawn from the site of Sviatlahorsk newspaper «Ranak-plus», Bulletin-online reports.

On January, 23rd newspaper «Ranak-plus» published an article by Aliaksandar Sivak «Convicted for Participating in Rally». The publication read about the legal process against Sviatlahorsk entrepreneur Anatol Zmitrovich who was arrested for participating in a non-sanctioned rally of entrepreneurs in Minsk on January, 10th.

30.01.2008 Aliaksandar Zdzvizhkou appealed against verdict

Former deputy chief editor of Zhoda newspaper Aliaksandar Zdzvizhkou appealed against the sentence to 3 years of imprisonment for publishing Mohammed cartoons.

Journalist’s lawyer Maya Aliaksandrava says they have appealed against the verdict. “We do not agree with the verdict and ask to cancel it. I cannot give you more details, because the trial was closed for public”, -- the lawyer told RFE/RL. According to Aliaksandrava, the Supreme Court will consider the appeal in late February.

28.01.2008 “Niasvizhski Chas” collects signatures

The editorial team of the regional newspaper Niasvizhski Chas collects signatures of the readers under a petition to Tatsiana Navosha, head of Niasvizh department of “Minskablsayuzdruk” state distribution company, with the request to continue the contract for selling the newspaper in the city kiosks.

28.01.2008 Hrodna journalist summoned to police

The editor-in-chief of the non-governmental journal «Magazyn Polski na uchodzstwie» Ihar Bantsar has been summoned to the Leninski police department of Hrodnaas a witness. The reason was not mentioned in the summons, but the journalist is convinced that it is connected with his professional activity.

21.01.2008 Pensioner Sviatlana Danilava fined for distribution of free press

Ludmila Savastsian, judge of Savetski district court of Minsk, fined the pensioner 5 basic units.

18.01.2008 Ales Bialiatski: “Sentence to Alexander Zdzvizhkou is direct violation of the Constitution”

Minsk city court announced its verdict on the case against Alexander Zdzvizhkou, former deputy editor-in-chief of Zhoda newspaper. He was found guilty of violation of article 130 part 2 of the Criminal Code “inciting religious enmity” for reprinting caricatures of Prophet Mohammed. Zdzvizhkou received a sentence of three years of imprisonment in a medium security prison.

18.01.2008 Deputy editor-in-chief imprisoned for 3 years for caricatures of Muhammad

Minsk city court sentenced former editor-in-chief of Zhoda newspaper Alexander Zdzvizhkou to 3 years of imprisonment in a medium security prison.

17.01.2008 Police hinders reporters’ work in Centralny court of Minsk

The police used violence in the attempt to hinder the work of Nasha Niva’s photo journalist Yulia Darashkevich. Darashkevich was taking pictures in the building of Centralny court of Minsk, where youth activists detained yesterday were tried.