15.11.2011 Trial on Filip Kirdun’s case to continue at 9 a.m. on 16 November

The trial of Filip Kirdun, charged with the use of obscene language towards police officers, continued today at the Frunzenski District Court of Minsk. Judge Liudmila Lapo agreed to question policemen Aliaksandr Birchanka and Siarhei Dounar, who had taken fingerprints from the defendant. They stated that he had called them “Lukashenka’s lackeys”, and police officer Sviatlana Kunitskaya, who is in charge of the procedure of dactylography in the Frunzenski District Police Department of Minsk, stated that Filip’s parents had paid a visit to the police department on 14 November and threatened to her.

14.11.2011 Uladzimir Labkovich: “Bialiatski’s case started with a warning, issued to him by General Procuracy for activities on behalf of an unregistered organization”

On 15 October the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) produced a special report "On the conformity with the universal human rights standards of Article 193-1 of the Criminal Code on the rights of non-registered associations of the Republic of Belarus”. The uniqueness of this instrument lies in the fact that it was the first time when this authoritative legal commission considered only one article in a country’s law.

24.12.2010 KGB raid apartment of “New Life” church’s lawyer

On 24 December, Minsk KGB raided the private apartment of Siarhei Lukanin, lawyer of the “New Life” Protestant Church, seizing PCs and data storage devices.

18.08.2010 “New Life” church members ready to defend their building and pastor

Members of Minsk “New Life” church are set not to pay about 266 million BR fine.

They are also ready to defend their building and pastor Vyachaslau Hancharnka, stated the lawyer of the church Syarhei Lukanin in an interview to BelaPAN.

22.07.2010 Another Protestant Pastor fined

On 29 July 2010 the Kobryn District Court of the Brest region found reverend Viktar Novikau, Pastor of the Church of Evangelic Faith Christians guilty of violating Article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences and fined 2,100,000 rubles (700,000 rubles for three masses, served on 31 May, 7 and 14 June).

14.07.2010 Protestant Pastor asks Ministry of Justice to check professional qualification of judge

On 13 July, an activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, Pastor of the Protestant Church New Generation Uladzimir Kachahur addressed the Ministry of Justice with the request to check the professional qualification of Judge Valery Ramanouski.

17.06.2010 Pastor’s case to be retried

Hrodna regional court reversed the verdict by Navahradak court against Uladzimir Kachahur, pastor of the ‘New Generation’ church, and ruled to initiate retrial of the case by a new judge, the press-service of the Belarusian Christian Democracy reports.

15.06.2010 Court dismisses prosecutor's protest against acquittal of Ivan Mikhailau

On 15 June the Minsk Region Court considered the cassation appeal of the state accuser, L.Daubniuk, against the acquittal of Ivan Mikhailau by the Minsk District Court, and left the verdict of the lower court standing, thus taking the side of the defendant.

10.06.2010 Protestant Church 'New Life' is charged with pollution of more than 3,000 m2 of fertile soil

This information was provided to BelaPAN by the church lawyer, Siarhei Lukanin. According to him, this accusation is stated in the act of examination of the territory of the church that was passed to the believers on 9 June. The document is signed by 10 officials and includes the road that leads to the temple, the car parking and the lawn behind the church.

09.03.2010 Ivan Mikhailau is released on recognizance

The College board of the Minsk oblast court has studied the cassation appeal of Ivan Mikhailau, imprisoned for alleged draft evasion.

03.03.2010 Protestant Pastor Viachaslau Hancahrenka addresses President Lukashenka with open letter

In this letter Viachaslau Hancharenka, pastor of the Protestant Church New Life, calls on the head of the state to establish a commissions on resolution of the conflict between the church and the Minsk authorities.

26.02.2010 New Life church to pay USD 100,000 of environmental damage

Today, Judge Alena Shylko of Minsk Maskouski Court fined the New Life Protestant church BYR 8,750,000 for allegedly causing damage to environment, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports, quoting the church’s lawyer Siarhei Lukanin. The Church will also have to pay BYR 263,000,000 of environmental damage compensation.

23.02.2010 Ivan Mikhailau’s mother gets reply from National Security Commission

The mother of Ivan Mikhailau, convicted of draft evasion, received an official reply from the National Security Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly. In his reply, deputy chair of the Commission Mr. Misurahin states that Article 57 of the Belarusian Constitution ‘does not establish the right to alternative service due to religious beliefs, but only provides for its possible use.’

01.02.2010 Östgruppen condemns sentence to Ivan Mikhailau

The Swedish human rights organization Östgruppen submitted to the Parliaments of Sweden and the EU a protest note concerning the sentence to Ivan Mikhailau, 21, conscientious objector to army service in Belarus.

01.02.2010 Three months of arrest for wish to perform alternative civilian service

Ivan Mikhailau, member of the Messianic Jewish congregation New Testament has been sentenced to 3 months of arrest. According to the European Belarus website, Ivan Mikhailau was found guilty of a criminal offence ‘for draft evasion’