21.09.2010 Polatsk authorities form Lukashenka’s initiative groups

Polatsk authorities use administrative resources to form the initiative groups for nominating Aliaksandr Lukashenka for presidency, despite the fact the current President has not yet officially announced his participation in the forthcoming election.

20.09.2010 Just World launches Just Elections campaign

The Belarusian Party of United Leftists ‘Just World’ has launched an election observation campaign ‘Just Elections’, the BelaPAN news agency reports, quoting the Party’s leader Siarhei Kaliakin.

20.09.2010 Belarusian authorities oppose implementation of UN recommendations on abolition of Article 193-1

On 23 September the 15th session of the UN Human Rights Council is expected to approve the final text of the Universal Periodic Review. Meanwhile, the Belarusian government has not taken any steps to improve the country’s human rights record.

20.09.2010 Barysau residents join initiative groups of pro-dem candidates

Some 90 residents of the town of Barysau have joined the initiative groups for nominating the four opposition presidential hopefuls - Ales Mikhalevich, Yaraslau Ramanchuk and Andrei Sannikau, with 50 activists on Uladzimir Niakliayeu’s group.

20.09.2010 1,750,000 fine for white-red-white flag

Today, on 20 September, Judge Maryna Damnenka of Homel Tsentralny Court fined Ivan Zaitsau, activist of the Young Belarus opposition movement, BYR 1,750,000 for alleged disorderly conduct and failure to obey the police.

20.09.2010 "Young Front" starts "Get Out!" campaign

The "Young Front" have taken the decision to conduct the civic campaign "Get Out!", at their session on September 19.

The campaign is aimed at conveying the information that Lukashenka's registration as a candidate for President is illegal, to the Belarusian society.

20.09.2010 Participants of picket for Belarusian language in Hrodna to stand trial

Uladzimir Khilmanovich and Ales Astrouski demanded the authorities to grant a constitutional right to their children to study in Belarusian.

On September 23 the court of Leninski district of Hrodna is to try the administrative case against Uladzimir Khilmanovich, who together with the family of Professor Ales Astrouski staged a picket in front of the building of the city executive committee on September 2.

20.09.2010 Opposition activist beaten by unknown security guards in Belarus

Kanstantsin Zhukouski, a coordinator of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party in Homel, was detained by the militia at Call of Palessye festival in the village of Lyaskavichy and taken to hospital.

Medical officers diagnosed Zhukouski with “brain concussion”. According to medical officers, the oppositionist has to remain in hospital for 7–10 days, Radio Svaboda reports.

20.09.2010 Ministry of Information warns "Brest Newspaper"

Official warning for dissemination of false information has been signed by the First Deputy Minister of Information Lilia Ananich. The reason for sanctions has been the article "Eco-settlements to save those who are tired of the city", published on September 14.

17.09.2010 Supreme Court upholds two death verdicts

The Supreme Court upheld the death verdicts to two Hrodna region residents Aleh Hryshkautsou and Andrei Burdyka, previously sentenced to death by Hrodna Regional Court for a triple murder.

17.09.2010 Green activist Valodzin released

On 17 September, green activist Uladzimir Valodzin was released after 9 days of arrest. However, the activist is still facing criminal charges in three cases.

17.09.2010 Foreign journalists urge Belarus to guarantee protection of media freedom in Belarus

Representatives of the international mass media community recommend the Belarusian authorities to intensify legal protection of journalists, says a statement released by the participants of the international conference ‘10 years on – no justice for Georgiy Gongadze – the need to find new ways to fight impunity', held in Kyiv by the Article 19 and the International Media Support organizations, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

17.09.2010 Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign on the web

News and analytical materials by the activists of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign are now available online: in the Facebook social network and in the livejournal blog system. The campaign is also represented in the Twitter.

17.09.2010 Another warning to “Narodnaya Volya” newspaper

It is the forth warning to the independent newspaper since the begging of the year.

Minister of information Aleh Pralyaskouski issued another warning to “Narodnaya Volya”, the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists informs.

17.09.2010 Belarusian militia arrests demonstrators and seizes portraits of killed journalists

Residents of Minsk gathered near Church of St Joseph holding portraits of the repressed people on Solidarity Day.

More than 40 activists of Belarusian Christian Democracy, European Belarus civil campaign, Young Front, and Tell the Truth campaign took part in the picket.