25.08.2010 Vitsebsk court acquits For Freedom activist Zheliapau

Vitsebsk Chyhunachny Court acquitted Khrystafor Zheliapau, activist of the For Freedom movement, previously charged with alleged illegal distribution of opposition periodicals, Aliaksandr Milinkevich’s press-service reports.

25.08.2010 Belarusian HR activist Volha Karach awarded Radebeuler Couragepreis

Belarusian human rights defender Volha Karach has been awarded the international Radebeuler Couragepreis, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

25.08.2010 Brest court returns the materials of Raman Kisliak's case back to the police

The court of the Leninski district of Brest returned the materials of the administrative case of the human rights activist Raman Kisliak back to the police on August 24, informs BelaPAN.

24.08.2010 BYR 700,000 fine for street drawing

On 24 August Salihorsk Town Court fined two Young Front activists Andrus Tychyna and Ryhor Astapenia BYR 700,000 each for arranging a street drawing contest marking the 20th anniversary of the proclamation of Belarus’ independence back on 27 July, European Radio for Belarus reports, quoting a Young Front activist Aliaksei Valabuyeu.

24.08.2010 Capital punishment abolishment is important but it is not the only term of Belarus’ return to PACE

The abolishment of the capital punishment is the main but not the only reason for returning the status of a special invitee to Belarus in PACE. The PACE reporter on Belarus Sinikka Hurskainen has informed about it.

24.08.2010 Food parcels for civil detainees: Necessity or luxury?

The issue of receiving food parcels by civil convicts is beyond the mainstream of public consciousness, says human rights activist Siarhei Ustsinau, quoting Stanislau Daniliuk, judge of the Constitutional Court of Belarus.

24.08.2010 Independent publisher Panamarou put on wanted list

On 23 August, Siarhei Panamarou, publisher of the Boiki Kletsk independent newsletter, was put on the wanted list following a court hearing by Slutsk District Court on the same day, the Nasha Niva newspaper reports, quoting the publisher’s lawyer Pavel Sapelka.

23.08.2010 PACE rapporteur on Belarus arrives in Minsk

Sinikka Hurskainen has arrived in Minsk to gather information, hold meetings with people and discuss the situation in the country.

The rapporteur on Belarus of the political affairs committee at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe said this on August 23 at a meeting with Viktar Huminski, a deputy head of the “house of representatives” of the “national assembly” of Belarus, BelaPAN reports.

23.08.2010 Justice Ministry issued warning to “Adradzhenne” Belarusian Popular Front party

The public association finds the violation for which the warning has been issued a provocation of the authorities.

The formal pretext for the warning was a complaint of some dweller of Babrujsk. She stated that she had been nominated as a member of the election commission from Mahilyou regional organization of the Belarusian Popular Front “Adradzhenne” without her consent.

20.08.2010 Krychau court to consider claim by independent newspaper publisher

Krychau District Court is to consider a claim lodged by the publisher of local independent newspaper ‘Volny Horad’ Uladzimer Kudrautsau against illegal seizure of 297 copies of the newspaper’s latest issue by the town’s police, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

20.08.2010 Activist Bashura transferred to Zhodzina prison

On 19 August, Minsk Savetski Court dismissed the claim by lawyer Tamara Sidarenka, demanding change of a measure of restraint of her defendant Mikhas Bashura, who, however, has been transported to Zhodzina pre-trial prison following the counsel’s motion.

20.08.2010 Homel activists charged with arbitrariness

On 18 August, Vasil Paliakou, chair of UCP Homel regional office, was officially charged with arbitrariness during the 26 July rally marking the 20th anniversary of Belarusian independence. The police say other participants of the event will be prosecuted under civil procedures.

19.08.2010 Publisher of “Bojki Kletsk” asks for political asylum in Poland

An activist of “For Freedom” movement from Kletsk, 58-year-old Syarhei Panamarou, has asked for political asylum in Poland.

A criminal process against him is scheduled for August 23, and the man was to give a written undertaking not to leave the place before the court.

19.08.2010 “Reporters without borders” go to bat for Belarusian oppositional newspapers

The new law on mass media gives the authorities a possibility to tighten control on the press.

As BelaPAN informs, the international human rights organization “Reporters without Borders” has condemned stepping up pressure on mass media in Belarus in the run-up to the presidential elections.

18.08.2010 Mahilou city authorities forbid municipal pickets

Protests against increasing utility bills are planned to be held near the building of the former culture center.

Activists of the organizing committee on creating the Freedom and Progress Party planned to have pickets to gather signatures for solving community problems, such as polyclinic construction, repairing roads and pedestrian street extending, but the pickets were banned in Mahilou, BelaPAN reports.