News on the topic: political persecution
11.07.2008 Statement of Presidium of the political council of the United Democratic Forces
The authorities started using the 4 July blast in Minsk for lynching the political opposition, instead of searching the real criminals. As of 11 July 2008, 16 persons were arrested. The majority of them are activists and members of different democratic political parties, public initiatives and electoral headquarters of the candidates of the United Democratic Forces. Youth activists are terrorized and detained for protest against repressions. The atmosphere of unpunished lawlessness predominates in the country during the electoral campaign.
11.07.2008 Hrodna: police are after Mikola Markevich’s sons
On 11 July Hrodna journalist, former political prisoner Mikola Markevich informed RFE/RL that his sons Aliaksei and Mikola are summonsed to the police.
11.07.2008 13 persons in jail: groundless arrests of opposition activists continue
After the blast of a home-made bomb at the concert on 4 July Illia Bohdan, Siarhei Chyslau, Anton Koipish, Ihar Korsak, Pavel Kuryianovich Miraslau Lazouski, Viktar Liashchynski, Mikhail Pashkevich, Kiryl Paulouski, Tatsiana Pikun, Alexander Siarheyenka, Vital Stazharau and Siarhei Vysotski have been detained.
10.07.2008 Mikalai Charnavus is deprived of building because of intention to run at the parliamentary elections
The political activist Mikalai Charnavus stands in the single list of candidates to the parliament, composed by the United Democratic Forces. His candidacy has been nominated by the NGO For Free Development of Business. Mr. Charnavus intends to run at Baranavichy western electoral district #5. He states that the authorities started harassing him for it. At present he is deprived of the building side for a café.
10.07.2008 Blast news: Detention term extended to Miraslau Lazouski
Miraslau Lazouski, former member of the underground sportive patriotic organization White Legion, was detained within the frames of the criminal case which had been brought on the fact of the bomb blast in the night of 3-4 July during the celebration of the official Independence Day in Minsk.
10.07.2008 Ales Krutkin is expelled from Belarusian State University
The Young Front activist Ales Krutkin, first-year student of the historical faculty of Belarusian State University, learnt after he had returned from abroad, he had been expelled from the university.
10.07.2008 Youth leader Ales Kalita is drafted to army service despite heart illness
Ales Kalita, the head of the youth wing of the Belarusian Popular Front, has been found combat-fit for military service. Such a decision has been adopted by Mahiliou regions draft commission today.
08.07.2008 Salihorsk: five opposition activists are offered to give explanations on Minsk blast
5 Salihorsk opposition activists received telephone calls from police. They were asked to explain where they were on 4 July in the night and whether any of them visited Minsk.
04.07.2008 Youth activist gets to mental hospital for refusal to collaborate with KGB
Activist of the youth organization Civil Forum Artsiom Zabaryn was taken to the Minsk mental hospital for examination after he had refused to answer questions of the KGB offices.
13.06.2008 Alexander Atroshchankau faces heart problems in prison
On 13 June the lawyer Vera Stramkouskaya visited the public activist Alexander Atroshchankau in the remand prison in Akrestsin Street.
12.06.2008 Youth activists are haunted by military enlistment offices
The military enlistment offices have started to summon activists of different youth organizations for medical examination with the aim of drafting them to army service.
09.06.2008 Prison guards steal money from political prisoner Siarhei Parsiukevich?
Siarhei Parsiukevich has found himself without money and food after he was transferred to the Shklou penal colony. According to his wife, Vitsebsk entrepreneurs have recently attended the prison to pass him a food parcel, but the administration of the colony refused to accept it, RFE/RL reports.
05.06.2008 Zmitser Shymanski sues 1st TV channel
Zmitser Shymanski, the chairman of Brest branch of the Belarusian Popular Front Party, has sued to Pershamaiski district court of Minsk for protection of his honor and dignity.
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.
15.05.2008 Foreign travel restrictions to Artur Finkevich
In the morning of 13 May, when the Young Front deputy head Artur Finkevich was driving in a car with his colleagues to the Belarusian-Lithuanian border (Kamenny Loh), the Belarusian customs officers tried not to allow him to cross the border. They explained his name was in the list of temporally restricted to leave Belarus. One of the border crossing officers took a personal decision to permit Finkevich to cross the border.
