23.05.2008 Yauhen Afnahel sentenced to 7 days of jail

Activist of the civil campaign European Belarus Yauhen Afnahel was sentenced in is absence to 7 days of arrest by the Pershamaiski district court. The activist has received a copy of the decision of court by post today.

23.05.2008 ‘Case of 14’: trial postponed till 26 May

The trail over the participants of the protest of entrepreneurs has been postponed till 26 May, 9.30 a.m. Maksim Dashuk, Mikhal Subach and Pavel Vinahradau will appear in court. Another participant of the process – Alexander Barazenka, is abroad now. The case will be judged by Viktar Yesman.

22.05.2008 European and national flags seized from oppositionists’ apartment during search

A private apartment of a member of the Young Front was searched on 21 May. The police and people in civvies attached the property in the apartment and seized national and European flags.

21.05.2008 Artur Finkevich sentenced to 7-day arrest in absence for EU flags at official rally

The court of the Pershamaiski district of Minsk sentenced Artur Finkevich, deputy head of the Young Front organisation, to 7-day administrative arrest in his absence.

21.05.2008 Reports against oppositionists drawn up by ideologues

Youth activists Katsiaryna Salauyova and Ales Krutkin, detained in Vushachy town, have been fined by the local court.

Each of the Young front members must pay 30 basic units of fine (1,050,000 Belarusian rubles), RFE/RL reports.

21.05.2008 Andrei Kim transferred into Babruisk prison

Political prisoner Andrei Kim is transferred into Babruisk prison No. 2.

“Nasha Niva” has been informed about that by mother of the political prisoner, Tatsiana Kim. She has found out about that today, when she brought a parcel to her son to the remand prison in Valadarski Street.

20.05.2008 Appeal against judgement to political prisoner Parsiukevich to be heard 30 May

Appeal of political prisoner Siarhei Parsiukevich is to be heard in the Maskouski district court of Minsk on 30 May.

RFE/RL learnt that from lawyer Vera Stramkouskaya.

The court of the Maskouski district of Minsk sentenced Siarhei Parsiukevich, one of the leaders of the entrepreneurs’ movement, to two and a half years in a minimum security colony. The Vitebsk businessman was arrested in Minsk on 4 March for allegedly “violent acts against a police officer.”

19.05.2008 Is new criminal case for graffiti prepared?

Artsiom Lastavetski, activist of the Baranavichy office of the Young Front, was detained on 17 May.

19.05.2008 Political prisoner Parsiukevich threatened in pretrial center

Vitebsk businessman Siarhei Parsiukevich has firsthand knowledge of guard in the Zhodzina pretrial detention center, where he is kept before the hearing of the causational appeal. Leader of entrepreneurs’ movement was sentenced to two and a half years of imprisonment for participation in the protest rally on 10 January. S. Parsiukevich was warned in the detention center an entry “escape inclined” might be posted in his personal file. Natallya, entrepreneur’s wife, learnt about the event from the letter:

19.05.2008 Riot police dispersed action of solidarity in Salihorsk

Youth activists went out to the main square in Salihorsk on the Day of Solidarity to express support to political prisoners Andrei Kim, Siarhei Parsiukevich and Aliaksandr Kazulin.

19.05.2008 Nasha Niva Freelancer Arrested for 5 Days

Jaraslau Stseshyk, a Nasha Niva newspaper freelance journalist, is convicted to 5 days of administrative arrest.

16.05.2008 Artur Finkevich in the list of restricted from traveling abroad

One of the Young Front leaders restricted from leaving Belarus since 14 May.

16.05.2008 Milinkevich fined in Salihorsk

On May 15th leader of the Movement for Freedom Aliaksandar Milinkevich was tried. Representatives of mass media were not allowed in the courtroom.

Liudmila Hraznova reports, many people, including journalists, gathered near the court building in Salihorsk. However, no one was allowed in the courtroom. The police failed to explain the reasons for such a measure

About 7 p.m. the judge announced the verdict: Aliaksandar Milinkevich, who was detained after the meeting with Salihorsk residents at a local market, was found guilty of violation of Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code and fined 20 basic units.

16.05.2008 Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in April 2008

In April the trials of several politically motivated cases were conducted in Belarus. As a result the country got 12 new political convicts, two of whom were sentenced to imprisonment. Despite the addresses of the international structures, the European countries and the US to the Belarusian authorities, politically motivated criminal persecution in Belarus continued and acquired new forms.

15.05.2008 Authorities demand actions of protest against chemical plant be stopped

A group of state officials headed by the energy minister Alexander Aziartsou has met with the working collective of heat station #5 in the settlement of Druzhny (Pukhavichy district). Earlier the officials demanded that the people stopped the actions of protest against the construction of a chemical plant, started by the Russian company Avgust-Bel. The activists stay they will sue on this issue.