21.01.2008 Aleh Korban jailed for 10 days

Judge Volha Husakova sentenced Young Front activist Aleh Korban to 10 days of arrest.

Korban was detained on Saturday, January 19th, near the jail on Akrestsina Street, where he and friends were trying to register parcels for their colleagues in jail.

20.01.2008 45 activists in jail, even more detained (the list is regularly updated)

1. Viachaslau Siuchyk – 10 days of jail

2. Anatol Liabedzka -- 15 days of jail

3. Ales Barazenka -- 15 days of jail

4. Paval Vinahradau – 15 days of jail

15.01.2008 More Than 50% of Individual Entrepreneurs Have Taken Part in 2-week Strike

‘About 50-60% of Belarusian entrepreneurs supported the strike. In Minsk only about 40% worked,’ said the leader of the campaign For Free Development of Business Viktar Harbachou.

15.01.2008 Brest Police Turn down Complaints against Bad Incarceration Conditions

The administration of Leninski district police department of Brest did not acknowledge the facts that were enumerated in the complaint of the activist of For Freedom movement Inha Abramava against the improper conditions of incarceration in the temporary isolation ward.

15.01.2008 Entrepreneur Ales Taustyka Sentenced to 15 Days of Jail

On 15 January the police detained the activist of For Freedom movement, entrepreneur Ales Taustyka near his house. Then he was guarded to Tsentralny district court of Minsk and sentenced to 15 days of jail for active participation in the protest action of entrepreneurs on 10 December.

14.01.2008 Vitsebsk: Entrepreneur Shapavalau Detained

On 13 January the deputy chair of the republican NGO Perspective Anatol Shapavalau was guarded to Chyhunachny district police department of Vitsebsk. There the policemen composed on him a report for participation in the unauthorized action of protest which took place in Minsk on 10 December. Then the entrepreneur was let go. So, the authorities persecute regional participants of the protest action (about 30 entrepreneurs came to Minsk from Vitsebsk to take part in the action).

14.01.2008 Aliaksandr Makayeu Declares Hunger-strike

On 12 January 2008 the entrepreneur Aliaksandr Makayeu was sentenced to 15 days of jail for alleged ‘dirty swearing’. He was detained after a meeting with the head of Minsk police Aliaksandr Naidzenka, at which he discussed the conditions of incarceration of entrepreneurs in prison in Akrestsin Street. After a short talk Makayeu was forcedly taken to Maskouski district police department of Minsk (where a report under article 17.1 was drawn) and then – to court. Makayeu managed to tell his wife Khrystsina that he announced a hunger-strike of protest against such lawlessness.

14.01.2008 Journalists Seized for Interview with Oppositional Politician

After an interview with the member of the United Civil Party, an economist Pavel Daneika, the police seize the journalists Uladzimir and Halina Samoilaus and a cameraman Valery Buldyk. After the arrest and search policemen confiscated their equipment.

14.01.2008 Entrepreneur Siarhei Parsiukevich Sentenced to 15 Days of Jail

Siarhei Parsiukevich was arrested for 15 days for participation on the unauthorized rally of entrepreneurs on 10 January. The activist of the entrepreneurs’ movement Siarhei Parsiukevich from Vitsebsk has had a trial in the court of Tsentralny district of Minsk today, RFE/RL reports.

14.01.2008 Detained Demonstrators Tortured by Cold and Hunger

On 12 January human rights and youth organizations managed to bring food parcels to most of the convicted participants of the protest rally which was held on 10 January in Minsk. At 10 a.m. relatives and friends of arrested formed a queue near the entrance of the prison.

14.01.2008 Entrepreneur Aliaksandr Makayeu Arrested after Meeting with Police Official

On 12 January Aliaksandr Makayeu, leader of entrepreneurs’ movement, was detained in the center of Minsk just after he left the building of the Minsk city executive committee, where he had a meeting with Aliaksandr Naidzenka, deputy head of Minsk city police department. At the meeting they discussed the conditions in which those who had been detained on 10 January were kept on Akrestin Street.

14.01.2008 Brest: Solidarity of Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs from Brest expressed their solidarity with the demands made at the protest demonstration in Minsk and decided on continuing the strike until all people, sentenced to arrest on 10 January, are released.

14.01.2008 Details of Beatings after Entrepreneurs’ Actions

All arrested participants of the protest rally against the economic policy of the government towards small business in Belarus held on January 10 in Minsk have been taken to Akrestsin Street prison.

14.01.2008 EU Condemns Arrests of Protesters

The Council of the European Union condemns the crackdown on the entrepreneurs’ demonstration, arrests and using force towards the protesters. Christina Gallach, spokeswoman of the EU High Commissioner for Foreign Policy and Security, said it. ‘We condemn arrests and sentences to the people detained. We regard each of them as politically motivated one,’ the spokeswoman said.

11.01.2008 List of Persons Detained at Meeting of Entrepreneurs in Minsk

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