30.01.2008 Prison for national flag?

Barys Khamaida and Aliaksandar Salauyan, democratic activists from Vitebsk, were detained yesterday. They spent the night in the remand jail.

29.01.2008 Larysa Nasanovich arrested for 15 days

Today Judge of Salihorski district court Aliaksandar Burautsou arrested civic activist Larysa Nasanovich for 15 days. She was charged with participation in an unauthorized rally of entrepreneurs in Salihorski on January 28th.

29.01.2008 Entrepreneur Aliaksandar Rubchenia fined 175, 000 BYR

On Monday Savetski court of Homel found Aliaksandar Rubchenia, head of the Council of entrepreneurs of Centralny market, activist of Perspektyva, guilty of disorderly conduct and fined him 5 basic units – 175, 000 BYR.

The entrepreneur was detained by police on January 18th for alleged usage of foul language. He was taken to a pre-trial detention center, where he spent 3 days. On January 21st Rubchenia was to be tried. However, the trial was postponed in conjunction with the absence of witnesses.

22.01.2008 Results of trials over the detained during the entrepreneurs’ action on January 21st . (The list is updated regularly.)

Centralny and Maskouski courts of Minsk are trying the detained activists and citizens during the entrepreneurs’ rally on January 21st. The list is updated regularly.

Many of the detained have been beaten by policemen in the Central police department. They say they were beaten yesterday in the evening and today in the morning, on the way from the police station to the court. Earlier officers of the Centralny police department did not allow themselves to do that.

1. Vadzim Barouski, Centralny court of Minsk, judge Tatsiana Pauliuchuk, fined 700, 000 BYR; article 23.34 of the Administrative Code. 2. Artur Petsko, Maskouski district court of Minsk, article 23.34 of the Administrative Code, 15 days of jail.

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.

21.01.2008 Mahiliou activists receive summons to police

On the eve of the entrepreneurs’ protest rally which is to take place on January 21st in Mahiliou, a number of Mahiliou civic activists received summons to come to police. They are to come to local police stations in the morning of January 21st.

20.01.2008 45 activists in jail, even more detained (the list is regularly updated)

1. Viachaslau Siuchyk – 10 days of jail

2. Anatol Liabedzka -- 15 days of jail

3. Ales Barazenka -- 15 days of jail

4. Paval Vinahradau – 15 days of jail

18.01.2008 Riot police beat young people in court

Zmitser Fedaruk was beaten brutally when detained in Centralny court of Minsk. He left the court of the Central district together with other visitors. Yesterday the youth activists detained on 16 January, the Solidarity Day, were tried there. When leaving the court, Fedaruk was knocked down by seven police officers and thrown into a police car. He struck his head against the floor of the car, but his legs were outside, and then the policemen began to shove him into the car

18.01.2008 Zmitser Fedaruk arrested for 15 days

Zmitser Fedaruk, activist of the Young Front, was sentenced by Centralny district court of Minsk to 15 days of arrest. Yesterday he was detained in the court where he had come to support the activists detained on 16 January, the Solidarity Day.

18.01.2008 The release of all political prisoners is one of the key conditions for Belarus to renew its

STATEMENT

by Mr Jacek PROTASIEWICZ, The Chairman - DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH BELARUS

18.01.2008 Human rights and democracy in Belarus off to discouraging start in the new year

Chairman of US Helsinki Commission Congressman Alcee Hastings brings the issue of Belarus to the floor

17.01.2008 Numerous Sentences to Young Activists

Several Young Front activists detained on January 16 (Solidarity Day) were brought to court under false charges.

17.01.2008 Kuryanovich gets 20 days of jail; police attempts to detain lawyer Alexander Haliyeu

The last sentence today was the most severe – Paval Kuryanovich, member of the “Jeans for freedom” campaign, was found guilty of violation of two articles – 17.1 and 23.34 of the Administrative Code. On the will of judge Tatsiana Pauliuchuk he will spend 20 days at Akrestsina jail in Minsk.

17.01.2008 15 days of jail to Mauliuda Atakulava

Young Front activist Mauliuda Atakulava was sentenced by “tireless” judge Tatsiana Pauliuchuk to 15 days of arrest. She was charged under article 23.34 of the Administrative Code. Atakulava was detained by police yesterday evening at a skating ring near Sports palace together with Kasia Krasnova and Kasia Halitskaya.

17.01.2008 Another sentence from the conveyer: Siarheyeu receives 15 days of jail

Judge Tatsiana Pauliuchuk sentenced Young Front activist Uladzimir Siarheyeu to 15 days of arrest.