23.10.2008 A. Milinkevich to address Ministry of Justice fourth time

Another founding meeting of NGO “Movement for Freedom” took place in Mahiliou.

Its supporters from all over Belarus gathered for the fourth time in order to approve the documents required by the state. Three earlier attempts to register the movement in the Ministry of Justice ended with a failure.

22.10.2008 US won’t lift sanctions against Lukashenka’s regime

The US will alleviate sanctions against Belarus only if the authorities would take further steps for improvement the situation with human rights and development of the civil society.

It has been stated by David Merkel, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, in an interview to Reuters, BelaPAN informs.

22.10.2008 Will Ivan Shyla be restored in school?

On October 31st Salihorsk rayon court will consider the case about exclusion of Young Front member Ivan Shyla from school. Deputy chairman of Young Front Ivan Shyla was excluded “for civic activity” one day before the last exam. Earlier the teachers’ council allowed the youth activist to take exams. However, on the demand from Minsk the teachers’ council gathered for the second time and voted for exclusion of the activist. School principal Volha Siankova protested against the exclusion and quit the job, while her deputy for moral upbringing Alena Semchankova was fired for “poor work”.

22.10.2008 BAJ Statement on the Situation with the Media and the Freedom of Expression in Belarus

Adopted by the BAJ Board on October 21, 2008

22.10.2008 Mikalai Autukhovich not allowed to work as taxi driver

Political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich, who was substituted imprisonment by restraint of liberty at home, wasn’t allowed to work as a taxi driver.

22.10.2008 Independent election observer fined 500 dollars in his absence

Yelsk regional court fined an activist of the United Democratic Party and “parliamentary elections” observer Dzyanis Rabianok for alleged violation of the law on elections. He was fined 1 mln 50 thousand Belarusian roubles. It makes about 500 dollars.

22.10.2008 Yarmoshyna refuses to provide information

In her response to activist of the Movement for Freedom Karen Akopau, CEC chairperson Lidziya Yarmoshyna explains her refusal to provide information about the number of citizens who voted early: she claims, the inquiry of the activist is not based on the norms of the Election Code.

21.10.2008 Entrepreneurs get ready to protest march

Private market vendors in Belarus began preparations to street rally in Minsk which they called the “Entrepreneurs’ March”.

20.10.2008 Journalist Vieranika Charkasava Assassinated Four Years Ago

Four years have passed since the time Vieranika Charkasava was cruelly murdered in her private apartment on October 20th. The legal investigation cannot find anything new on the case. It has been suspended for more than a year already. The latest suspension was announced "for the lack of the person that could be charged as the accused" in February 2007.

17.10.2008 Human rights activist searched

On 16 October Staubtsy police stopped and searched the car belonging to vice-head of Belarusian Helsinki Committee Tatsiana Hatsura.

As a result, she was released without any explanations.

17.10.2008 Hooliganism trial in Brest

On 17 October Leninski borough court judge Piotr Babrouski announced the beginning of hearings of the case of 19 so-called ‘hooligans’ which have served various terms for disorderly conduct.

17.10.2008 Activists detained for green protest

According to Radio Liberty, Hrodna police detained three persons, including activists of the For Freedom movement Edvard Dmukhouski and Nadzeia Krapivina and teacher Ihar Lapekha, that organized an action of protest against a number of trees being cut down by the town communal services.

17.10.2008 Opposition to struggle for new election law

On 15 October, the United Democratic Forces of Belarus adopted an action plan for the nearest future. Their primary goal is introducing changes to the electoral legislation.

17.10.2008 Belarusian language society calls for legislation changes

According to European Radio, Belarusian Language Society has received a reply from the Ministry of Education. The organization is demanding to introduce changes to the language legislation.

17.10.2008 Belarus-German round table discussion in Berlin

According to Radio Racyja, today, October 16th, the Berlin-based Bundestag is going to host a Belarus-Germany human rights round table discussion. The meeting is entitled ‘Belarus after the election: time for political dialogue?’ and will be visited by a number of German parliament members.