01.08.2008 Aleh Hulak: procedure of complaining is too tough

On 31 July the Central Electoral Commission of Belarus considered the complaints against the refusals to register the initiative groups on nomination of candidates by collection of signatures. The CEC considered in essence only three out of the ten complaints which had been filed to it.

30.07.2008 KGB interested in Valiantsin Stefanovich’s family

Alina, wife of human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovich, received a telephone call from KGB department in Minsk and Minsk region with a proposition to come to the KGB office for a conversation.

16.07.2008 Vitebsk human rights activist taken to police station from intensive care unit

Open Letter of Belarusian Human Rights Defenders

15.07.2008 Illia Bohdan: birthday behind bars

The member of the Belarusian Popular Front Party, human rights activist Illia Bohdan has to celebrate his 21st birthday behind bars. He is kept there on suspicion in relation to the 4 July blast in Minsk.

14.07.2008 Campaign on financial persecution of oppositionists and human rights activists continues

After Lukashenka’s statements that oppositionists lived better than all others without working anywhere the tax agencies started persecuting well known human rights activists and oppositionists.

11.07.2008 Tax inspection still interested in Valiantsin Stefanovich’s income

After the end of the press-conference dedicated to the present arrests and other forms of pressurization applied towards democratic activists within the frames of investigation of the criminal case brought on the fact of the 4 July blast in Minsk, the representative of the Committee of financial investigations in Minsk and Minsk oblast Yu.Bobin phoned to the apartment of the human rights activist Valiantsin Stefanovich to hand a writ to him. Valiantsin’s wife refused to open the door in the absence of husband.

11.07.2008 Police pay a visit to Zmitser Bandarenka’s apartment

On 11 July police visited the apartment of Charter'97 coordinator, one of the leaders of the civil campaign European Belarus Zmitser Bandarenka. His wife was there at the moment, and she refused to let them enter. So far policemen haven’t tried to smash the door open.

10.07.2008 Belarusian Helsinki Committee becomes a partner of the Council of Europe

On 10 July the office of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee received the information that the Council of Europe has granted to it the status of a partner, thereby acknowledging the working relations which have been established between it and BHC.

10.07.2008 Mahiliou: democratic activists state their intention to be present during the formation of electoral commissions

The local democratic activists have addressed the authorities of Mahiliou with the request to inform them about the place and time of the sitting of Mahiliou oblast executive committee and the presidium of Mahiliou oblast soviet of deputies at which the lists of members of electoral commissions will be adopted.

04.07.2008 Another complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee

On 1 July the members of the liquidated cultural and educational NGO Stary Horad which used to operate on the territory of Brest filed a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee against the liquidation. Stary Horad was registered in 1992 for support of the public and cultural initiatives of Brest residents, aimed at development and wellbeing of their city. On 12 April 2007 Brest oblast court ruled to liquidate the organization on suit of Brest oblast executive committee.

25.06.2008 Authorities increase pressure on human rights activists before parliamentary elections

The day when the human rights activists declared their intention to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections, June 12th, the First Channel of the Belarusian TV advertised a news item which insults the honor and dignity of the human rights defenders. Later the video was demonstrated by the Panarama news program on Sunday.

While state-controlled media are trying to discredit the human rights activity, the authorities started detailed examination of tax history of the human rights defenders. During the recent 10 days the Ministry of Taxes and Duties demanded declarations about income and property from BHC chair Aleh Hulak, the former chair of BHC Tatsiana Protska, vice-President of FIDH Ales Bialiatski, BHC member Zmitser Markusheuski, human rights defender Valiantsin Stefanovic, and their family members.

19.06.2008 Another claim sent to UN HR Committee

According to human rights activist Raman Kisliak, BPF member Siarhei Lazenka has filed an individual claim to the UN Human Rights Committee. The activist was detained on 19 August 2007 during an open session of BPF Brest regional office.

12.06.2008 Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders expresses its grave concern with persecution of Leanid Svetsik

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in *Belarus*.

10.06.2008 KGB interrogates victims of RNE-threats

Yan Taupyha, member of the council of the Christian Democratic Party of the Belarusian Popular Front, and party member Yan Dziarzhautsau, were called to the region KGB office. Six month ago they received threatening letters from the Vitsebsk office of the underground pro-Russian neo-Nazi organization Russian National Unity (RNE).

09.06.2008 Homel: police looking for escaped criminal at meeting of human rights activists

On 8 June Homel police thwarted a meeting of human rights watchdogs with activists of youth pro-democracy movement under a pretext of a fugitive criminal search.