08.08.2008 Minsk: it is prohibited to hang paintings on the walls at BPF central office

On 8 August representatives of the fire security service of Savetski district of Minsk visited the central office of the Belarusian Popular Front Party. They held a check-up there and made several remarks to the secretaries of the office.

07.08.2008 Vitsebsk: police inspector persecuted for intention to run for Parliament

Captain Andrei Levinau, 36-year-old local police inspector of Vitsebsk district police department, stated his intention to run for the parliament. This became a surprise not only for the authorities but also for the opposition, because till lately this officer had nothing to do with politics.

07.08.2008 Civil case brought against Ivan Kruk

A civil case has been brought against Ivan Kruk, potential candidate at Iuye electoral district. The case was brought on the suit of the housing economy of Astravets for protection of honor and dignity. On 5 August Mr. Kruk received a writ from Smarhon district court, inviting him to the preliminary court sitting, appointed on 12 August.

05.08.2008 Fingerprints taken from Barys Vyrvich

On 4 August the police officers Kiryl Khlus and Alexander Rusetski came to the apartment of Barys Vyrvich, hear of the initiative group of the candidate to the Chamber of Representatives Ryhor Kastusiou, member of the BPF Party. The police officers asked Mr. Vyrvich where he had been on 3 July. Then they took his fingerprints and a saliva sample. Barys Vyrvich is convinced that the interrogation in the case of the blast in Minsk is connected with his public position and activities as the head of Kastusiou’s initiative group.

05.08.2008 Kobryn: MP confesses blackmailing Alexander Mekh

Kobryn court has carried out preliminary consideration of the case on complaint of the Belarusian popular Front Party activist Alexander Mekh. He complains of illegal dismissal from work.

05.08.2008 BPF party is forced to remove white-red-white flag from façade of its office

The housing and maintenance department of the Savetski district of Minsk demands that the Belarusian popular Front party remove a white-red-white flag from the building where the headquarters of the party is situated, and warned that otherwise the rental contract with the party could be dissolved. The office in Masherau Street, 8 where the headquarters of the Belarusian Popular Front is situated, is the place where opposition traditionally holds many its meetings.

04.08.2008 UCP members are interrogated in ‘Minsk blast’ case

Zmitser Slutski, head of Hrodna city organization of the United Civil Party, and leader of Hrodna organization of Young Democrats Alexandra Vasilevich, were called to the KGB directorate for Hrodna region.

01.08.2008 Elections are coming near, the pressure on civil society representatives increases

With nearing of the elections the pressurization of participation of the electoral campaign and democratic activists from the side of law machinery and tax inspections increases.

01.08.2008 Trade union leaders are interrogated in the case of 4 July blast

Siarhei Antusevich, representative of the primary organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BITU) at Hrodna-Azot open company, and Anatol Khotska, BITU representative in Hrodna oblast, were interrogated by Hrodna oblast KGB department. The trade union activists were asked to explain where they were in the night of 3-4 July. The KGB officers also proposed that the activists gave their fingerprints and asked whether they knew how to make bombs.

01.08.2008 Smarhon: KGB interrogates former deputy head of BPF Youth’s Smarhon branch

On 31 July Vadzim Zharomski, former deputy head of Smarhon branch of the BPF Youth, was taken away from work and guarded to Smarhon KGB department. There he was made to give explanations concerning the blast which had taken place on 4 July. Then Zharomski was fingerprinted at the police department.

01.08.2008 Police interrogate members of Vasil Paliakou’s initiative group concerning Minsk blast

On 30-31 July Natallia Shchukina and Tatsiana Tserashkova, member of the initiative group of Vasil Paliakou, were summonsed to Savetski district police department of Minsk by a telephone call. A police officer who did not introduce himself told them to come to the police department. He offered no explanations either.

21.07.2008 Illya Bohdan: “About 100 persons were arrested in blast case. All of them were called political”

The released opposition activists tell how many people are in reality detained in the case related to the blast in Minsk on July 4.

On July 20 after 11 a.m. activist of the Belarusian Popular Front Anton Koipish and Illya Bohdan were released from the remand prison in Akrestsin Street, Minsk. They were detained for 10 days as suspects in a criminal case relating the blast at the concert on July 4 in Minsk dedicated to Independence Day. Charges were not brought up against them.

15.07.2008 Ales Krauchenia is fired from Baranavichy State University

A week ago the administration of Baranavichy State University issued the order for expulsion of the student Ales Krauchenia from the fifth year of the faculty of engineering. On 14 July the activist had to take his documents away from the university.

15.07.2008 Mahiliou: Uladzimir Yurchanka is deprived of position on ‘proposal’ of police officer

Uladzimir Yurchanka, head of Mahiliou Kastrychnitski district organization of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada, has lost his position of master builder at the construction administration of powermen Lavsanbud.

15.07.2008 Illia Bohdan: birthday behind bars

The member of the Belarusian Popular Front Party, human rights activist Illia Bohdan has to celebrate his 21st birthday behind bars. He is kept there on suspicion in relation to the 4 July blast in Minsk.