27.03.2008 In Vitebsk human rights defender Paval levinau detained

Member of Belarusian Helsinki Committee Paval Levinau was preventively detained near the apartment building of journalist Aleh Barshcheuski. KGB searched Barshcheuski’s apartment. Paval Levinau arrived soon after the beginning of the search and volunteered to be a witness. Instead, the policemen accused the human rights defender of usage of foul language and detained him. Now Levinau is at kastrychnitski police department of Vitebsk.

27.03.2008 Babruisk journalist Andrei Shobin detained after search

KGB representatives searched the private apartment of Babruisk journalist Andrei Shobin. The search was carried out within the framework of the criminal case instigated under Article 367 of the Criminal Code – “Libel against the President of the Republic of Belarus”. As a result of the search all computer equipment and information carriers, including diskettes and video tapes, were confiscated. According to Babruisk human rights defenders, Shobin was detained and will be interrogated as a witness in the case.

27.03.2008 NGO offices searched

Following the searches at the journalists’ apartments, the police and KGB began searches in the offices of NGOs and political parties. The human rights center “Viasna” found out, in Hrodna the law-enforcement bodies are searching the offices of BPF Party and Pahonia NGO. Mahiliou human rights defenders reports, local KGB surrounded the office of civic initiatives “The Circle of Friends”. In Baranavichy the police have just finished a search at the private apartment of Ales Bely, deputy editor-in-chief of Intexpress independent newspaper. They confiscated the system unit of his computer. In Brest the apartment of journalist Natalia Chukhno is being searched.

27.03.2008 Yulia Kotskaya detained in Minsk

In Minsk Yulia Kotskaya, a journalist from Hrodna, is detained. She used to work with newspaper Pahonia, the office of which is now being searched in Hrodna. KGB agents are taking Yulia for interrogation to Kamsamolskaya Street, 30

27.03.2008 Siarhei Kruchkou and Mikhas Yanchuk detained

At one of the offices in Minsk on Starynauskaya Street, 14 the police detained Siarhei Kruchkou (member of the Belarusian Language Society) and Mikhas Yanchuk. It is possible that their detention is linked to searches in the apartments of independent journalists and their offices, which are taking place all over Belarus.

27.03.2008 Babruisk and Mahiliou: searches at journalists’ apartments

The stairway to the apartment of Babruisk journalist Andrei Shobin is blocked by a KGB car. Shobin is accused of working for Belsat. However, they still cannot find Andrei. The police has a search warrant signed by Minsk prosecutor.

The police also confiscated the computer system unit from BAJ member Henadz Sudnik in Mahiliou. Sudnik was not detained.

27.03.2008 On March 25th Belarusian authorities demonstrated their attitude to human rights

Viasna's statement about the events on March 25th

27.03.2008 Case of journalist Andrei Liankevich sent for revision

Yesterday Zavodski court judge postponed the trial over Nasha Niva journalist Andrei Liankevich to Thursday, 9 a.m. Yesterday the judge demanded the documents proving that Nasha Niva was an officially registered edition. Today, in several minutes after the trial began, judge Alena Laptseva ruled to send the case back for revision.

27.03.2008 Searches at private apartments of Vitebsk journalists Alena Stsiapanava and Vadzim Barshcheuski

In Vitebsk KGB agents began searches at private apartments of local journalists Alena Stsiapanava and Vadzim Barshcheuski. Stsiapanava worked with RFE/RL and BelaPAN information agency. KGB is also searching apartments where Radio Racyja journalists live. We receive information from all over the country about searches in the apartments of independent journalists in Brest, Hrodna, Vitebsk, and Biaroza. The journalist from Biaroza is accused of insult of the president. Minsk office of the European Radio for Belarus is blocked. According to some reports, KGB agents show a search warrant signed by deputy Prosecutor General Struk. The search warrant could be given within the framework of the criminal case of insult of the president. Radio Racyja office is also blocked. The search at the apartment of BAJ member Eduard Melnikau ended with seizure of his laptop.

27.03.2008 The police also detained BelaPAN reporter Aliaksandar Yanusik, who came to cover the news.

BAJ reports, KGB agents came to the private apartment of Homel journalist Anatol Hatouchyts. They are also carrying out a search in the apartment of Vitebsk journalist Aleh Barshcheuski. According to preliminary information, similar searches and detentions are taking place in Brest, Vitebsk, and Hrodna, where special services representatives are trying to get into private apartments of journalists. In Biaroza, the police search the apartment of journalist Shchapiotkina, who worked with Radio Racyja. She was shown a search warrant signed by Minsk officials. They accuse her of libel against the president.

27.03.2008 Police search Minsk office of Radio Racyja

Nasha Niva learned from staff of Radio Racyja, about 8.30 a.m. KGB agents came to Minsk office of Radio Racyja. The office of the independent radio is located in a rented apartment. They stand at the staircase and detain everyone who approaches the doors.