23.02.2010 Main ideologist of Hrodna gave order to arrest oppositionists

Young Front deputy head Ales Kirkevich and activist Veranika Velihor were detained in Hrodna on Monday morning.

The oppositionists were detained for handing round the local newspaper “Christian Defense”.

22.02.2010 Oppositionist in Vitsebsk sentenced in his absence to 7 days of incarceration

An activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Ales Halavan’ has received the decision of the court by post.

05.02.2010 Young Front activist in prison

On 30 January, a Young Front member Ivan Stasiuk was detained while interrogated as a witness in a criminal case, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports, quoting the Young Front press-secretary Tatsiana Shaputska.

04.02.2010 BelSat journalist sentenced to 10 days of prison

Ivan Shulha, journalist of the Poland-based BelSat independent TV channel, has been sentenced to 10 days of imprisonment for violating Article 17.1 of the Civil Code (disorderly conduct).

01.02.2010 Three months of arrest for wish to perform alternative civilian service

Ivan Mikhailau, member of the Messianic Jewish congregation New Testament has been sentenced to 3 months of arrest. According to the European Belarus website, Ivan Mikhailau was found guilty of a criminal offence ‘for draft evasion’

28.01.2010 Another oppositionist, Syarhei Kavalenka’s friend, arrested in Vitsebsk

Aleh Surhan, accused of disobedience to militia during detention for hanging out a national flag, was detained by officers of the Kastrychnitski district militia department of Vitsebsk on January 27.

The incident, which will be considered by court, took place on September 3, 2009. Aleh Surhan and his younger brother Taras Surhan were detained by militiamen at a bus stop near the medical university, where a national white-red-white flag was hung out,” Radio Svaboda reminds.

21.01.2010 Mass arrests of activists of Union of Poles in Belarus

The people coming to support Tereza Sobal, the head of the Polish House in Ivyanets, and not to allow the authorities to take away the building are being detained and arrested.

The website charter97.org learnt from Andrzej Poczobut, a famous journalist, activist of the Union of Poles in Belarus, unrecognized by the authorities. According to him, more than 100 activists of the Union of Poles are going to visit Ivyanets (the Minsk region) today. Road traffic police began to stop their cars, check IDs and search vehicles.

05.01.2010 MIA justifies arbitrary arrests of oppositionists

A leader of Young Front Anastasia Palazhanka and its activist Andrei Liaukovich received answers to their complaints to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

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.

03.12.2009 Arrests for anti-Lukashenka performances

The young activists Pavel Prakapovich and Yahor Babrou were sentenced to 15 days of arrest, and Andrei Kuzminski to 7 days.

02.12.2009 Young Belarus activists detained in Minsk

Four Young Belarus activists – Yahor Babrou, Andrei Kuzminski, Nastassia Mashchava and Pavel Prakapovich – have been arrested in Minsk today as they were holding an unauthorized rally, the organization’s press-service reports. The activist are currently at a local police department.

25.11.2009 Independent trade union activists arrested at BelAZ

On 24 November several members of the independent trade union of radio-electronic industry were detained at the entrance to the BelAZ truck factory in Zhodzina, Minsk region, as they were distributing leaflets in support of their co-activist Yury Loban, fired by the factory administration on 24 November. According to the information available, the activists were taken to the local police department.

19.11.2009 Young Front activists says his arrest was illegal

Yuras Kazak, member of Young Front’s Navahradak office, charged with ‘disorderly conduct’ under Article 339-1 of the Civil Code, has issued a statement, calling the case an outrage against the law. ‘Firstly, how can one disturb public order and express disrespect of society at 3 a.m.? Secondly, there are Lenin idols all over the country, and they abuse Christianity. It is not ‘an exceptional cynicism’, which is what I am charged with, but protection of Christian values and principles, which should become the basis of our country, its policy and power,’ says the activist.

30.10.2009 Svetlahorsk opposition activist fined

On 29 October Judge Vital Vashchylin of Svetlahorsk District Court fined Sviatlana Mikhalchanka, local Belarusian Party of Communists leader, BYR 1,225,000 for illegal distribution of the party’s newsletter ‘Left March’ at the Lausan plant entrance on 3 September. The verdict was based on inconsistent evidence by police captain Andrei Sauchanka and a number of the plant’s officials.

30.10.2009 Two activists detained for anti-nuclear picket in Mahiliou

Two Mahiliou activists Aksana Samoilava and Pavel Varashylau were arrested on 29 October as they were holding a picket against the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus. They were taken to the local police department and are currently awaiting charges and a subsequent trial.