19.03.2010 Gagged statues in Minsk – we all deprived of voice

European Belarus activists held an action in Minsk against an attack on independent journalists.

The young people protesting against pressure on independent journalists gagged statues and hung posters “Telling Truth is Forbidden in Belarus”, “No to Pressure on Independent Press!”, “I don’t Want Independent Websites to be Closed”, the website of European Belarus campaign reports.

09.03.2010 First detention for election postcards ‘Tell The Truth’

Civil activists Mikhail Bashura, Volha Mikitsenka and Vasil Busel were detained in Minsk when they were carrying postcards of the civil campaign Tell The Truth.

20.01.2010 Brest court turns down claim by local activist

Brest Leninski Court turned down a complaint lodged by Uladzimir Andrashchuk against a city executive committee official Viachaslau Khafizau, following a ban to hold a demonstration on the International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2009, European Radio for Belarus reports.

15.01.2010 Lukashenka creates special secret service for Internet

The Operating and Analytical centre under the president is given the right to control online correspondence of Belarusians and monitor which websites they browse.

12.01.2010 Authorities disrupt round table on unlawful Internet restrictions

The Belarusian Language Society (BLS) named after Francysk Skaryna received a warning of the Ministry of Justice saying that discussion of draft decrees of Lukashenka contradicts to the organization’s charter.

11.01.2010 ’Reporters Without Borders’ is worried about the government’s plans to tighten control of the Internet

Reporters Without Borders is worried about the government’s plans to tighten control of the Internet in a country where free expression is already restricted. President Alexander Lukashenko acknowledged on 30 December that his government is putting the final touches to a bill to this effect. The draft decree was leaked to the media on December 14, 2009. The discussions around it remain secret.

23.12.2009 Court denies restoration of rights to Vitsebsk human rights activists

Alena Papkova, Deputy Chair of Vitsebsk Kastrychnitski Court, turned down a complaint by a number of local human rights activists striving for the restoration of their civil rights. On 25 November 2009 a group of Vitsebsk human rights activists submitted an application for holding a picket on the International Human Rights Day, 10 December.

22.12.2009 Court fails to consider complaint by Homel human rights activists

On 21 December Judge Siarhei Shytsikau of Homel Tsentralny Court ruled not to consider appeal filed by local human rights activists Anatol Paplauny and Leanid Sudalenka against decision #299 by Homel city authorities, denying a right to hold a picket on the International Human Rights Day, 10 December.

15.12.2009 Belarusian authorities prepare decree on Internet limitations

Nasha Niva newspaper received a draft decree On measures for revising the use of the national segment of the World Wide Web.

20.11.2009 Mahiliouski chas newspaper denied registration again

The Ministry of Information has turned down the application for state registration by the Mahiliou-based Mahiliouski chas independent newspaper, claiming that the applicants failed to provide all the necessary documents.

19.11.2009 Brest resident to appeal picket ban

Pavel Kazlou, a 73-year-old resident of Brest, has lodged a complaint with Brest Regional Court against the decision to ban a picket by Brest Leninski Court, the BelaPAN news agency reports. The activist’s aim was to attract public attention to the issue of ‘indifference of local officials while considering people’s applications’, as well as violations of the Law on Public Appeals. In 2008 Mr. Kazlou was deprived of a working license.

12.11.2009 Ministry of Information denied registration to ‘Prefekt Plus’ newspaper

As the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, this is the sixth registration denial to ‘unreliable’ media outlets for the last three months. On 10 November the founder of the regional newspaper Prefekt Plus (the town of Hlybokae, Vitsebsk oblast) was returned the document he had sent to the ministry for the official registration on 7 October.

11.11.2009 Road police try to hinder activities of ‘BelSat’ film crew

A film crew of Belsat TV channel came to Navahradak on 11 November to shot an item about the monument to Lenin poured with paint.

06.11.2009 Biaroza: journalists detained at ‘Nioman’ glass plant

Policemen detained journalists Aloaksandr Dzianisau and Aliaksandr Khilimon at the glass plant Nioman.

05.11.2009 ‘BelSat’ director not let in Belarus again

Agzieszka Romaszewska, who was going to Minsk on the invitation of the organizers of Minsk Forum XII on 4 November as a guest of honor, was denied the Belarusian visa.