25.03.2008 Vitebsk first on detentions: Siarhei Kavalenka in police station

Vitebsk police detained youth activist Siarhei Kavalenka in the center of the city. He was taken to Kastrychnitski police department. The human rights center “Viasna” found out, the police confiscated a white-red-white flag, which kavalenka had with him. The telephone connection to Vitebsk activist is lost. We are trying to find out the details of the detention.

25.03.2008 Aliaksei Kashkarou arrested

The “tireless” judge Tatsiana Pauliuchuk (Centralny court of Minsk) gave five days of arrest to Aliaksei Kashkarou.

25.03.2008 UCP activists Istomin and Bandarchuk tried in Hrodna

Hrodna human rights defender Viktar Sazonau reports, head of UCP local branch Yury Istomin was fined 5 basic units for foul language. Zmitser Bandarchuk received the fine of 3 basic units. Probably, his language was not as bad. They were tried by judge Tatsiana Herhel.

The activists were detained yesterday at Hrodna railway station.

25.03.2008 Detentions in Brest

In the morning of March 25, Brest road police detained activists of the Movement For Freedom Kanstantsin Balahura and Dzianis Turcheniak. They were told, they had false license plates.

25.03.2008 Yury Istomin to be tried today

Yury Istomin will be taken to court today before noon. He was detained yesterday evening. Head of Hrodna regional organization of UCP Yury Istomin and activist Zmitser Bandarchuk were detained at Hrodna railway station.

25.03.2008 Picket in Vitebsk ended with detentions

Today Vitebsk activists organized a picket in the center of the city. The picket commemorated the 90th anniversary of the Belarusian Democratic Republic. Several activists held white and red balloons and umbrellas. Women unfolded embroidered towel with the symbols of BDR. In a couple of minutes after the beginning they were approached by policemen who detained Barys Khamaida, Vadzim Barshcheuski, Alena Zaleskaya, and Antanina Pivanos.