04.06.2008 Viachaslau Siwchyk detained after memorial action in Kurapaty forest

On 3 June in the evening representative of the democratic movement installed a memorial shield on one of the mass graves where the remains of 62 persons, shot by Stalin’s chastisers in the 1930-ies.

04.06.2008 Kurapaty: 20 years after discovery

On 3 June 1988 the Belarusians learnt the truth about Stalin’s repressions in the country through an article Kurapaty –the Road of Death in the Litaratura i Mastatstva newspaper, written by Zianon Pazniak and Yauhen Shmyhaliou. This article also provoked one of the first mass protest action in the USSR – people came to Kurapaty on Dziady (the day of the dead).

02.06.2008 Polatsk: 'Young Front' activist gets detained for EU flag

During the ceremony of opening The Geographic center of Europe memorial sign in Polatsk activists of the Young Front ran up a flag of the EU.

14.05.2008 Homel: tax inspection harasses Kastus Zhukouski

Today Tsentralny district court of Homel has started the trial on the suit of the district tax inspection for forced exaction of 2 115 000 rubles (about 993 US dollars) of taxes from the local activist of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Kastus Zhukouski.

14.05.2008 Detentions of youth activists in Polatsk

14 May, at 7.30 p.m., an action in support of political prisoners took place in Polatsk. Members of the Young Front and the Belarusian Christian Democracy held a banner Freedom to Political Prisoners. The action lasted for several minutes only. Then its participants were detained and guarded to a police department. Among them there is Mikalai Dzemidzenka Siarhei Hlinski, Siarhei Karalionak, Ales Krutkin, Zmitser Sakalou and Mikhas (surname not known yet).

05.05.2008 Baranavichy: Young Front activists get fined

Yaraslau Hryshchenia, leader of the Baranavichy Young Front branch, activist Artsiom Lastavetski and Ales Pershak, detained ahead of 1 May, had administrative trials in Baranavichy on 2 May.

02.05.2008 Labor Day: preventive detention in Mahiliou

In Mahiliou a building tradesman, member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada Mikola Rasiuk was detained preventively detained by the police on 1 May.

02.05.2008 1 May action brings detentions and arrests

About 30 activists of the civil campaign European Belarus were detained yesterday near the National Library in Minsk suburb Uruccha where pro-regime trade unions were celebrating May Day. Among the detained are Yauhen Afnahel, Andrei Babitski, Zmitser Barodka, the Young Front leaders Zmitser Dashkevich, Artur Finkevich, Zmitser Khvedaruk, and chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Hramada) Mikola Statkevich.

25.04.2008 Andrei Liubianchuk detained

Brest human rights activist Uladzimir Vialichkin reports, civic activist Andrei Liubianchuk was detained today at about 3.30 p.m. His car was stopped by road policeman Anatol Bashko for examination. He suspected that the car was stolen. The car was checked at Maskouski district police department, but the activist was not released. Probably, the police are looking for a reason to prevent Liubianchuk from participation in Chernobyl March.

25.04.2008 Uladzimir Kishkurna fined for Chernobyl flyers

On April 25th Minsk district court found BPF activist Uladzimir Kishkurna guilty of violation under Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code and fined him 15 basic units.

Uladzimir Kishkurna was detained on April 21st in his own car near kaliadzichy. The police examined the car and found flyers dedicated to the planned mass rally. In the police station they drew up a report about the offence and seized the flyers.

25.04.2008 Mikalai Rasiuk detained in Mahiliou

Today Mahiliou police detained activist of the Social Democratic Party Hramada Mikalai Rasiuk. Rasiuk is a migrant from the territories contaminated after the Chernobyl disaster.

Recently he applied to Mahiliou city executive committee with the request to speak at the official rally dedicated to the 22nd anniversary of Chernobyl disaster. He was promised about 5 minutes to make a short speech. Mikalai Rasiuk wanted to speak against building of the new nuclear power plant. However, the police detained the democratic activist on his way to the rally. The police searched his belongings and found books by Sviatlana Aleksiyevich and a white-red-white scarf in his bag. Besides that, Mikalai Rasiuk was holding a wreath, which ribbons read: “From the United Democratic Opposition of Mahiliou city”.

The police took Rasiuk to a police station and let him go when the rally was over. The policemen did not explain the reason of the detention. Rasiuk believes that they wanted to prevent him from saying his speech.

25.04.2008 Siarhei Tryfanau detained in Homel

The democratic activist was traveling on business, and could not be present in court for the hearing of an administrative case against him. When he returned he was immediately detained by police and taken to police station. The activist will stay behind bars until the trial.

The police drew up reports of administrative offence under Article 23.34 (Violation of the order of organizing mass events) on participants of the historical tour dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Belarusian Democratic Republic. Seven people have already been tried, four of them were sentenced to 7-15 days of jail, and three were fined from 15 to 20 basic units. Siarhei Tryfanau is the last person who is to be tried on these charges.

18.04.2008 Three teenage activists detained in Vitsebsk

Three BPF’s Youth members – Yulia Mikhailava, Khrystsina Chyzh and Vika Chyzh were detained by Vitsebsk police during a Solidarity Day action in the city center on April 16. They were standing and holding portraits of Belarusian political prisoners. 15 minutes later the action was broken up by the police. The girls were taken to local police department and three hours later released.

17.04.2008 Activists detained

Kanstantsin Zhukouski and Sviataslau Shapavalau, activists of the Belarusian Christian Democracy movement, were detained for distributing leaflets in the town of Vetka, Homel region.

14.04.2008 Young Front members detained

A number of Salihorsk activists were detained on April 11 for supporting the teenagers detained during the March 25 and March 2 actions in Salihorsk and Minsk. As a result, Ivan Shyla and Khrystsina Samoilava were fined 1,050,000 roubles each, and Andrus Tychyna was fined 700,000 roubles. The activists say they are going to appeal the verdict.