18.05.2010 Police search offices of political and civil activists

Today, on 18 May the police searched the offices and private apartments of a number of political and civil activists across the country.

18.05.2010 Dozens searches across Belarus

The local offices of the ‘Havary Praudu’ civil campaign are searched by the police and the KGB, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. The cities under attack include Brest, Homel, Hrodna, Barysau, Mahiliou and Minsk. The search at the campaign’s Minsk office was sanctioned by the city’s Leninski Prosecutor’s Office. The law enforcement agencies seize office equipment and printed materials.

18.05.2010 Council of Europe Secretary General criticizes death penalty sentences in Belarus

Practicing death penalty remains an obstacle in Belarus–Council of Europe relations.

On May 14, the Hrodna region court sentenced two dwellers of Hrodna to death. They were found guilty of the murder of three persons with extreme cruelty and accompanied, robbery with beating which caused grave bodily damage, intentional damage to property, and abduction of a child. The verdict hasn’t taken legal effect and can be appealed against to the Supreme Court within ten days.

18.05.2010 Minsk police break educational seminar

On 17 May Minsk police detained the participants of an educational meeting of the ‘Bespartshkola’ open school, entitled ‘The Civil War in Spain and the Communes of Aragon’, www.belaruspartisan.org reports.

18.05.2010 Minor detained and released without charges

On 14 May the under-aged Viktoryja Ladzis was detained by the police on her way to Minsk art school in Makayonak Street. The police seized the girl’s mobile phone and took her to Minsk Pershamaiski police department.

18.05.2010 Human rights groups condemn two new Belarus death sentences

Аmnesty International, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Centre “Vіasna” London/Minsk