16.12.2009 Amnesty International calls on Lukashenka to stop executions

The Amnesty International human rights organization calls on President Lukashenka to save two Belarusians from executions. Andrei Zhuk and Vasily Yuzepchuk are currently awaiting execution in Minsk. Their appeals have been turned down.

Both men have applied for clemency to President Alyaksandr Lukashenka - but Amnesty International knows of only one case in which clemency was granted since President Lukashenka took office in 1994.

16.12.2009 For Freedom activist to pay 10 million to tax inspection

Homel Savetski Tax Inspection ordered Homel member of the For Freedom movement Uladzimer Katsora to pay 10 million roubles for the Civil Initiatives public association, closed down in 2003. Meanwhile, the activist says he has declared his retirement from the position of the head of liquidation commission of Civil Initiatives.

16.12.2009 Hary Pahaniayla: ‘The state cannot be forced to commit murders itself’

Hary Pahaniayla, lawyer of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, expressed his view against the death penalty, in the framework of the campaign ‘Human Rights Activists against the Death Penalty in Belarus.’

16.12.2009 Nasha Niva journalist arrested

Nastassia Shamrei, reporter of the Nasha Niva independent newspaper, has been detained outside the building of the Iranian embassy on 16 December, the press-service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports. The journalist was arrested during a picket of support to ten Iranian gays sentenced to death.