16.04.2009 European Parliament to fight Internet censorship

The European Parliament has launched a public campaign to fight Internet censorship across the world. According to the project coordinator Jules Maaten of the Dutch WD party, ‘in such countries as Cuba, Belarus, Iran, Burma and China the authorities want to make the opposition keep silence on the web. Our objective is wide informing concerning Internet harassment.’ The campaign will be carried out in cooperation with the Facebook online social network, which encompasses various social groups.

16.04.2009 Belarusian Christian Democracy denied registration

The Ministry of Justice has denied state registration to the Belarusian Christian Democracy, due to ‘the lack of correspondence between the organization’s charter and a questioning of its founders.’ ‘The Ministry of Justice, trying to interrogate the people two months after the congress, assisted by the KGB, the Ministry of the Interior, local ideology departments, using lies and threats, have been attempting to find out what was wrong about the BCD’s charter, to confuse and intimidate them,’ said one of the association’s leaders Paval Seviarynets.

16.04.2009 Four oppositionists arrested by Belarusian border troops

Belarusian border troops detained four top opposition politicians – UCPB leader Anatol Liabedzka, former political prisoner Aliaksandr Kazulin, BPF vice-head Vintsuk Viachorka and the European Belarus movement leader Artur Finkevich, says Anatol Liabedzka. According to Mr.Liabedzka, their car was searched twice, while Artur Finkevich was not allowed to leave Belarus due to a travel ban.

16.04.2009 Political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich went on hunger strike

Businessman from Vaukavysk Mikalai Autukhovich, kept in the Minsk prison in Akrestsin Street for the third month, went on indefinite hunger strike.

The Charter’97 press center learnt this from Pavel Sapyolka, lawyer of the arrested businessman.

“Autukhovich went on hunger strike on April 16. He demands the investigation to be carried out as soon as possible or the measure of restrain to be changed,” the lawyer said.

16.04.2009 Political prisoner Artsyom Dubski released from pre-trial detention center on his own recognizance

“Young Front” activist Artsyom Dubski was unexpectedly released from the Babruisk pre-trial detention center on his own recognizance until a trial.

Artsyom Dubski was at large in the evening April 15. The Charter’97 press center managed to phone Artsyom Dubski after his release.

“Major Kuturmin, acting chief of the detention center, entered my cell at 9.30 p.m. and ordered me collect personal belongings. I packed my bag quickly, I thought I would be transferred to another cell, this often happens.