22.01.2009 Human rights expert comments on statement by Prosecutor General Vasilevich

On 21 January at a press-conference, dedicated to the recent facts of corruption among Belarusian officials, the General Prosecutor Ryhor Vasilevich said Belarus might abolish death penalty in case the country is admitted to the Council of Europe. Otherwise, Belarus will continue using the sentence as a preventive measure.

22.01.2009 No progress in case of New Life church

The New Life Protestant church has not yet received any official explanation from Minsk City Economic Court, which turned down its claim against Minsk city authorities on 13 January. The believers say they are ready to defend their church unless it regains its official status.

22.01.2009 Mikhail Pastukhou: “Further tightening the screws on journalists expected”

Due to the fact that the law “On mass media” is coming into force on February 8, all mass media are to be re-registered within a year.

At the report published at the webpage of the Information Ministry it is noted that according to the law, when performing professional duties, a journalist must offer service certificate at request. Its standard form is specified by the Ministry’s enactment No. 12 of October 6, 2008 and published at the webpage of the Information Ministry. The text f the law and regulatory legal acts on its implementing are also placed there.

22.01.2009 ODIHR OSCE Director arrives to Minsk

Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, the Director of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), arrives to Minsk on January 22 to discuss recommendations for improvements to Belarus' electoral framework.