24.03.2008 Katsiaryna Salauyova to be tried on March 27th

The trial over youth activist Katsiaryna Salauyova will start in Polatsak on March 27th, 3 p.m.

13.03.2008 Authorities Demand 125 Million Rubles from Participants of Entrepreneurs’ Action

The Young Front activist Uladzimir Siarheyeu, accused of organization of the protest rally of entrepreneurs, was invited to come to the investigation department of Minsk city executive committee for familiarization with the materials of the criminal case on 14 March.

10.03.2008 Mikalai Autukhovich Initiates Creation of International Commission for Legal Expertise of Sentences of Belarusian Courts

Several years ago the entrepreneur Mikalai Autukhovich was found guilty in evasion from payment of taxes for transporting passengers and luggage without registration of firm, which resulted in an exceptionally large loss to the budge of the Hrodna city. On 6 June 2006 he was sentenced to 3,5 years in medium security prison with confiscation of property and deprival of the right to business for five years. On 18 January 2008 the imprisonment with replaced with corrective labor. Belarusian human rights activists consider Autukhovich a prisoner of conscience.

10.03.2008 Criminal Cases for Participation in 10 January Entrepreneurs’ Rally

Recently a criminal case has been brought on the fact of ‘organization and active participation in the actions that grossly violate the public order’ (article 342, part 1 of the Criminal Code), in connection with the peaceful action of the Belarusian entrepreneurs that was held on 10 January in the center of Minsk. The punishments on this article vary from fine to 3 years of jail. At present there are 14 accused in the case.

07.03.2008 Babruisk: Artsiom Dubski Detained

As we learned, Artsiom was going to Minsk with photos for an exhibition in Brussels. The detention was performed by the senior lieutenant Malakhau and ensign Radzkou. They confiscated from Dubski copies of the local non-state newspaper Babruiski kuryier. Bear in mind that Artsiom is one of the fourteen accused in the criminal case brought on the fact of ‘mass riot’ during the peaceful action of protest, held by the Belarusian entrepreneurs on 10 January in the center of Minsk.

07.03.2008 New Accused in Criminal Case on Events of 10 January

20-year-old Anton Koipish is accused in violation of the public order and active participation in the protest rally of entrepreneurs held on 10 January in the center of Minsk. In particular, he is accused of having taken part in stopping the traffic in Nezalezhnastsi Avenue. The maximal punishment under the accusation article is 3 years of jail. He has also been expelled from the fourth year at the mechanic-mathematical faculty of Belarusian State University. He became the 14th person accused in a common criminal case on the fact of ‘mass riot’ during the entrepreneurs’ action.

07.03.2008 Press-conference of Suspects in Criminal Case

On 7 March the opposition activists, suspected and accused on the criminal case on entrepreneurs’ action 10 January, held a press conference in the main office of the United Civil Party. Many riot policemen were watching outside the building where the UCP head-office is situated.

07.03.2008 Siarhei Parsiukevich Left in Jail

The leader of Vitsebsk individual entrepreneurs Siarhei Parsiukevich is to stay in the pre-trial prison in Valadarski Street, Minsk. The decision to uphold the measure of restraint, arrest, has been taken by the prosecutor’s office of Maskouski district of Minsk.

06.03.2008 Entrepreneur Sviatlana Dvaraninava on Indefinite Hunger-strike

The entrepreneur Sviatlana Dvaraninava keeps the sixth indefinite hunger-strike in the women’s jail in Homel.

04.03.2008 Criminal Case against Katsiaryna Salauyova Passed to Court

The criminal case brought against Katsiaryna Salauyova under article 193.1 of the Criminal Code – participation in unregistered organization – has been passed to court.

04.03.2008 Three Accused in Criminal Case on 10 January Protest Action of Entrepreneurs

On 4 March the investigative department of the main board of internal affairs of Minsk city executive committee passed to the participants of the entrepreneurs’ action of 10 January Mikhail Kryvau, Mikhail Pashkevich and Uladzimir Siarheyeu the rulings that they were suspects in a criminal case under article 342, part 1 of the Criminal Code – ‘organization or active participation in group actions that grossly violate the public order.’ All suspects had to give written undertakings not to leave Minsk.

04.03.2008 Siarhei Parsiukevich Arrested for Participation in Entrepreneurs’ Rally

Today by the prosecutor of Maskouski district of Minsk ruled to arrest a leader of the movement of individual entrepreneurs, former police major Siarhei Parsiukevich. The activist was called to testify in the case brought up against him.

27.02.2008 Criminal case against Andrei Kim ready for trial

According to the Code of the Criminal Procedure, the case will be sent to court when Andrei reads through the case materials. The trial is likely to start in March. Andrei Kim faces up to 6 years of imprisonment.

27.02.2008 Criminal persecution of protest action participants continues

At present moment the following activists are suspected:

1. Mikhas Pashkevich 2. Tatsiana Tsishkevich 3. Mikhas Subach 4. Ales Charnyshou 5. Ales Straltsou 6. Paval Vinahradau 7. Aliaksei Bondar 8. Aliaksandr Barazenka 9. Maksim Dashuk 10. Uladzimir Siarheyeu 11. Mikhas Kryvau

26.02.2008 Navumau’s threat to launch 50 criminal cases against action participants slowly coming true

he human rights center “Viasna” found out, investigation department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs started interrogating suspects on the criminal case under Article 342 of the Criminal Code “organization or active participation in group actions that seriously violate the public order”. The criminal case was instigated after the rally and march of entrepreneurs that took place on January 10th in Minsk. According to our information, 12 people are suspected. Today three of the suspected – Uladzimir Siarheyeu, Ales Straltsou, and Mikhas Kryvau -- were summoned to investigation department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for interrogation.