22.09.2009 “European Belarus” activists arrested for demanding freedom for political prisoners

Youth leaders Yauhen Afnahel and Maksim Vinyarski were arrested by militia in the evening September 21 for holding a picket of solidarity in Minsk center.

About 10 activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” came to Yakub Kolas Square with portraits of political prisoners Mikalai Autukhovich, Uladzimir Asipenka, and Artsyom Dubski in the evening September 21. The young oppositionists were shouting “Freedom to Political Prisoners!” The picket lasted for 20 minutes. When the participants were going to leave the square, a militia patrol detained youth leaders Yauhen Afnahel and Maksim Vinyarski.

21.09.2009 Procuracy continues to persecute independent journalists

Journalist from Homel Aleh Razhkou, a member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists received a summons to the Homel region prosecutor’s office on September 18.

As baj.by reports, prosecutor Alesya Rabtsava invites the journalist for a conversation as a witness on September 22.

At the beginning of the year, Rabtsava gave warning to Aleh Razhkou for “journalistic activity for Polish satellite TV channel Belsat without accreditation”.

Aleh Razhkou thinks the prosecutor is going to give him another warning. The journalist phoned the prosecutor’s office and was told it would be n ordinary prosecutor’s examination.

21.09.2009 Vileika activists to face civil charges for installing crosses

On 19 September, three pro-dem activists from Vileika, Minsk region Uladzimir Maliarchuk, Aliaksei Siudak and Ales Narkevich were summonsed to local police department and charged with violating the Law on Mass Actions during the installation of memorial crosses on the execution spot of anti-Soviet combatant Lapitski outside Vileika. ‘Since it is politically-motivated case, this is sure to be a damning verdict,’ says Aliaksei Siudak, ‘I don’t know how they are going to prove that our action was an unauthorized meeting. We neither demand nor assert anything. Nor did we consider any social or political issues. The people simply installed several crosses, prayed and laid flowers.’

21.09.2009 For Freedom regional activist to face eighth prosecution within two years

Siarhei Panamarou, member of the For Freedom movement and publisher of the Boiki Kletsk independent newsletter from Kletsk, Minsk region, is likely to face another criminal charge under Article 188-2 of the Criminal Code (libel). In 2007, he was charged with libel against local state legal advisor Natallia Semashkevich in a publication in the Boiki Kletsk. The criminal prosecution was five times suspended and five times resumed. Two different expert assessments failed to find any violations of the Criminal Code. This time, the article is going to undergo another examination.

21.09.2009 Arrests of oppositionists at Dazhynki fest in Kobryn

Alyaksandr Mekh, the head of the local branch of the Belarusian Popular Front, was arrested ahead of Lukashenka’s visit to the town.

The so called festival of harvest – Dazhynki – took place in Kobryn on September 19.the festival is celebrated in Belarus annually on a large scale. Alyaksandr Lukashenka arrived in the town for the event. Head of the local branch of the BOF Party Alyaksandr Mekh was arrested before his visit.

Mekh managed to phone journalists of www.charter97.org, but couldn’t tell anything, we could just hear how he was detained with the use of physical force.

18.09.2009 EU condemns crackdown on September 16 rally and violence against opposition in Belarus

Sweden which is the country presiding in the European Union has made a statement slamming crackdown on the peaceful rally of solidarity in Minsk dedicated to the 10th anniversary of opposition leaders’ abduction.

"The Presidency urges the Belarusian authorities to refrain from the use of force in dealing with peaceful demonstrations and to ensure that representatives of independent media are able to perform their tasks without interference," Sweden, holder of the rotating presidency, said in a statement on Thursday, as quoted by the website of “European Belarus” movement.

18.09.2009 Journalists protest against riot policemen’s lawlessness at opposition rallies

The Belarusian Association of Journalists expresses its protest against harsh interference to professional activities during the rallies on September 16 and 9.

As noted in the statement of the organisation, on September 16 in the evening law-enforcers used force interfering Belarusian and foreign journalists to shoot the events during the rally in commemoration of disappearances of politicians Viktar Hanchar and Anatol Krasouski 10 years ago. “People in plainclothes acted rudely, closing the lenses of cameras, with the risk to damage equipment and hurt journalists, pushed them away from the scene of events, though journalists had identity documents of their editorial offices,” the BAJ statement underlines.

18.09.2009 New political soldier: Yauhen Skrabets taken to army forcibly

A “Young Front” activist from Brest will start service since September 21.

The young activist was given a call to come to the collecting point. On September 21 he is sent to the military unit near Mahilyou. Yauhen Skrabets will serve in railway troops, Radio Svaboda informs.

As we have informed, the military enlistment office started a “hunt” against Brest Young Front member, including his abduction by the unknown, and forcible putting him in a hospital.

Despite of the fact that the young man has a serious back problem, which does not allow him to go to the army, a repeat medical board called on demand of the military enlistment office, found him able-bodied.

17.09.2009 Mazyr human rights activist Pavel Nazdra fined

Mazyr Town Court has convicted local human rights activist Pavel Nazdra of violating Article 28.5 of the Civil Code and fined him BYR 105,000 for failing to submit information upon request from the local military registration and enlistment office, Radio Racyja reports. The activist did not inform the military department of his new job in July 2009. According to Pavel Nazdra, who has already faced several charges initiated by the military department, he is going to appeal the verdict. The activist says his prosecution may be connected with his political and civil activity.

17.09.2009 Swedish human rights activists: The world must remember victims of flagrant crimes in Belarus

Östgruppen human rights organization issued a statement on the tenth anniversary of disappearance of opponents of Lukashenka’s regime.

“Ten years ago, Viktar Hanchar and Anatol Krasouski were kidnapped and killed in the capital of Belarus. Officially, the guilty persons have not been found so far, but an independent investigation revealed: people from Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s inner circle are most likely responsible for the crimes,” the statement says.

17.09.2009 Mass arrests on Solidarity Day in Belarus again

An opposition rally was brutally disbanded on September 16 in Minsk. Riot policemen prevented journalists from videoing violent arrest detention of demonstrators.

Opposition activists have gathered today on October Square in the centre of the city to pay tribute to the memory of Vice Speaker of the Supreme Soviet of the 13th convocation Viktar Hanchar, and businessman and public leader Anatol Krasouski who went missing 10 years ago. By 6 p.m., when the rally was to start, there were many riot policemen in mufti. Public transport was not stopping on the square on purpose. People were searched near the square. White-red-white flags, banners and portraits of Hanchar and Krasouski were searched.

16.09.2009 Two Young Belarus activists arrested in Minsk

Two Young Belarus activists Nasta Mashchava and Yahor Babrou have been detained in Minsk as they were trying to hang a banner ‘Freedom to Political Prisoners!’ across Partyzanski Avenue, Radio Liberty reports. The activists have been taken to local police department.

16.09.2009 Mass detentions in Homel

According to local human rights activist Anatol Paplauny, some 15 persons were arrested by plainclothes policemen in downtown Homel on 16 September. All of them were taken to Homel Chyhunachny police district. The reasons for the arrests remain unknown.

16.09.2009 Kidnapping of Hanchar and Krasouski: authorities have something to hide

The guilty of kidnapping of the oppositionists haven’t bee punished in spite of proofs and evidences.

Head of the Central Election Commission Viktar Hanchar and businessman Anatol Krasouski were kidnapped on September 16, 1999. They were walking down Fabrychnaya Street after visiting a bathhouse. Glass fragments from Krasouski’s car were later found on the site of forceful disappearance. Also blood was found on the glass fragments. A genomic examination defined with a probability of 99.9998% it was blood of Viktar Hanchar.

15.09.2009 Mazyr: Civil activist Pavel Nazdra detained and guarded to district court

The reason for the detention is that the local military enlistment office accuses the activist of violating the rights of military registration for the third time already.