15.01.2009 Under-aged Maksim Andreyeu to defend his rights

The 15-year-old Maksim Andreyeu, who, in defiance of the international Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Belarusian Constitution, had been deprived of his right to live with his parents and forced to undergo treatment at a mental hospital, was visited by a Belarusian Helsinki Committee human rights expert Pavel Levinau in Vetryn orphan boarding house where he had been sent by a decision by the Kastrychnitski borough administration of Vitsebsk.

15.01.2009 Young Front activist faces criminal prosecution for draft dodging

Siarzhuk Huminski, member of the Young Front movement, who was forced to leave Belarus due to political oppression from the state and has spent over a year in Poland, is now facing criminal sentence for draft dodging. The activist is officially wanted by the police.

15.01.2009 Human Rights Watch condemns Bush and Belarus

The international human rights organization Human Rights Watch has released its annual report on the implementation of international agreements in the field of human rights throughout the world.

15.01.2009 Asipovichy activist regains property

Ihar Simbirou has been able to take back the newspapers confiscated by the KGB during a mass search campaign in March 2008. The searches were conducted by the police and the KGB officers on charges of contempt against Belarusian president.

15.01.2009 Hrodna University brings to account politically active student

Aleh Pronski, For Freedom activist and coordinator of the For European Masty Region campaign, has been questioned by Aliaksandr Duduk, vice-rector of Hrodna State Agriculture University, concerning his public activity. During the conversation that lasted for about ten minutes, Aleh was shown photos taken during the Kalinouski brothers annual memorial festival in Svislach and other materials on the event from the dzida.org web-site.

15.01.2009 All males of Belarus to be fingerprinted

The Ministry of Internal Affaires of Belarus has filed an application demanding to amend the law on dactylography.

The Ministry of Internal Affaires of Belarus filed application to the Security Council and the Council of Ministers for amending article 1 of the law on state dactylography, minister of internal affaires Uladzimir Navumau told at après conference in Minsk on Thursday, Interfax reports.

15.01.2009 EP resolution on Belarus: No concessions in democracy matters

The European Parliament has adopted a provisional resolution on the political situation in Belarus.

The resolution was adopted by 551 votes in favour, 15 against and 31 abstentions.