15.06.2009 Ales Bialiatski: Belarus still has political prisoners

Commenting on the sentence that was given on 15 June to the participant of the ‘process of 14’ Maxim Dashuk (15 months of personal restraint without direction to open prison facility) the head of the liquidated Human Rights Center Viasna Ales Bialiatski stated:

15.06.2009 Mitigation of sentences to two participants of ‘process of 14’

Tsentralny district court of Minsk has considered the proposals of the police on mitigation of sentences to Ales Charnyshou and Ales Straltsou, both of whom have 2 months and 15 days of personal restraint left to serve.

15.06.2009 Maxim Dashuk sentenced to 15 months of personal restraint

Participant of the ‘process of 14’, prisoner of conscience Maxim Dashuk has been sentenced to 15 months of personal restraint without direction to open prison facility.

12.06.2009 Participant of ‘process of 14’ Mikhail Pashkevich amnestied

The leader of Young Democrats was familiarized with the order of the prosecutor of Biaroza district saying he was included in the amnesty.

09.06.2009 Mikalai Autukhovich’s lawyer Pavel Sapelka complained to the prosecutor’s office of Belarus against actions of the investigation

‘I cannot tell which actions I am complaining about, because I have signed the pledge of secrecy of the investigation materials,’ said Pavel Sapelka.

04.06.2009 Investigation into case of political prisoner Dubski extended for indefinite term

Artsiom Dubski, a person involved in the ‘Process of 14’, is charged with violation of the rules of serving the sentence.

03.06.2009 Autukhovich to spen another month in jail

The investigation of the case of the political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich is extended for a month till 3 July. The entrepreneur has lost 25 kilograms for 1.5 months of hunger strike. He demands that the case be passed to court as soon as possible or the restraint to him be changed.

22.05.2009 Association of Political Prisoners founded in Belarus

A number of well-known Belarusian social and public leaders withstand political repressions of the authorities.

It has been stated by the ex-candidate for presidency in Belarus, a former political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin, the web-source kozylin.com informs.

Kazulin announced foundation of the new association during a reception dedicated to the 55th anniversary of Radio Svaboda and presentation of the book “One day of political prisoner”, created by journalists of this radio station. Many well-known people of Belarus voted for creation of the association. In different time after Lukashenka’s coming to power, were imprisoned, and many like Alyaksandr Kazulin were recognized prisoners of conscience by international human rights organisations.

20.05.2009 A Day in the Life of a Political Prisoner by Radio Liberty

The Belarusian Bureau of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has issued a book ‘A Day in the Life of a Political Prisoner’, featuring 41 stories by Belarusian prisoners of conscience, starting from 1996. According to the author of the book Hanna Sous, the edition is dedicated to Belarusian political prisoners who had to go through the things the late human rights activist Yana Paliakova refused to bear – the stench of pre-trial detention centers, the plank beds of the Akrestsina prison, days-long transportations of convicted prisoners, the solitude of overcrowded cells, the dull toil of deportation colonies, the hunger-strikes of barracks, the wasted health, homesickness and senseless cassations and, eventually, freedom, when everything seems different and hostile…

15.05.2009 The trial of Maxim Dashuk to start on 1 June

Hearing of the criminal case against activist of the civil campaign European Belarus Maxim Dashuk at Maskouski district court of Minsk is appointed for June 1.

14.05.2009 Minsk: picket of solidarity with political prisoners

An action of solidarity with Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Liavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka was held near the pre-trial detention center #1 of the police department of Minsk city executive committee.

09.05.2009 Police beat up participants of 7 May action

Participants of the rally on 7 May were beaten even for a denial to be fingerprinted, though formally this procedure is voluntary.

09.05.2009 Political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich calls activists to stop hunger-strike of solidarity with him

As said by the lawyer of the political prisoner Pavel Sapelka, Mikalai Autukhovich calls on the people who are keeping the hunger-strike of solidarity with him to stop it. He thanks everybody for the support, but says that their health and youth are necessary to continue the struggle for democracy.

08.05.2009 26 people on hunger strike in solidarity with political prisoners

The number of participants of a hunger strike in solidarity with political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich is increasing every day.

07.05.2009 6th day of action of solidarity: Mikalai Autukhovich hungers for 20 days already

On 6 May the action of solidarity with political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich, who has gone on indefinite hunger strike, was held in Kastrychnitskaya Square of Minsk in presence of riot policemen and law enforcement officers in mufti.