22.12.2011 Babruisk court fines local protesters

Judge Tatsiana Tarabuyeva of Babruisk town and district court has fined four local residents BYR 700,000 each for alleged violation of the Mass Events Code requirements.

22.12.2011 BPF Slonim leader sues local authorities over picket ban

Ivan Sheha, Slonim leader of the Belarusian Popular Front Party, has lodged a lawsuit against local executive authorities, after he has been repeatedly denied the right to hold pickets in support of imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski between 3 September and 3 December 2011.

22.12.2011 Rights defender demanding apologies from KGB for failing to return seized items

Human rights defender Aleh Volchak has demanded apologies from the Committee for State Security (KGB) for failing to return seized items and breaking his computer.

22.12.2011 Book about victims of post-election crackdown published in Minsk

A book-launch event for journalist Alyaksandr Tamkovich's Suprats Plyni (Against the Flow), which describes the fates of 18 victims of the post-election crackdown on government opponents in Belarus, was held in the office of the Belarusian Popular Front in Minsk on December 21.

22.12.2011 Ales Bialiatski will not be able to see father, says Interior Ministry

The Interior Ministry’s Department for the Execution of Sentences has banned the meeting of imprisoned Viasna leader Ales Bialiatski with his dying father, says his wife Natallia.

22.12.2011 Vitsebsk regional court upholds verdict to local pro-dem activists

Judge Iryna Smaliakova of Vitsebsk Regional Court has upheld the verdict to local Belarusian Christian Democracy member Tatsiana Seviarynets and independent trade union activist Iryna Yaskevich for involvement in the organization of the People’s Assembly on 8 October.

21.12.2011 Belarusian Helsinki Committee observer fined

Yulia Khlashchankova, observer of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, has been fined BYR 315,000 for involvement in a protest in central Minsk on 19 December (Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code).

21.12.2011 Vitsebsk opposition activist Siarhei Kavalenka faces three years of prison

Vitsebsk activist of the Conservative Christian Party “Belarusian Popular Front” Siarhei Kavalenka may be imprisoned for up to three years for alleged violation of suspended sentence restrictions.

21.12.2011 BCD activists appeal arrest

Brest activists of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Zmitser Shurkhai and Ales Charkashyn are appealing their 5-day arrest for alleged disorderly conduct on 15 December.

21.12.2011 International NGOs stand up for human rights in Belarus

Joint statement of 19 non-governmental organisations International NGOs will organize street actions across Europe to stand up for human rights in Belarus on 19 December 2011.

21.12.2011 Ministry of Taxation insists on closing down Belarusian Helsinki Committee

The latest registered human rights organization in Belarus is on the verge of closing down.

21.12.2011 US expands sanctions against Minsk

The House of Representatives of the United States has announced about news sanctions against Belarus.

A list of officials subject to visa sanctions was expanded and financial restrictions were imposed on the country’s political leaders and security service chiefs.

21.12.2011 UN General Assembly adopts Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training

New York, 19 December 2011 -- This morning, the United Nations General Assembly in New York adopted the Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training. This landmark document recognises the right of every one of the planet's seven billion people to have access to human rights education, a lifelong process involving all ages, all parts of society, and every kind of education, formal and informal.

20.12.2011 FEMEN activists beaten and shaved bald in Belarus

Preliminary information appeared about whereabouts of the Ukrainians, who disappeared in Belarus yesterday.

As charter97.org website has learned, the girls managed to call their friends and say they were in the Yelsk district of the Homel region. They say they were beaten and left there. Their money and documents were seized.

20.12.2011 Minsk courts convict participants of yesterday’s protest

The courts of the city of Minsk have considered the administrative cases of the detained participants of yesterday’s rally marking the anniversary of the 19 December 2010 post-election protest, sentencing them to 3 to 15 days of arrest and fines.