News on the topic: political persecution
14.07.2008 Blast news: some of the detained activists get released from jail
The opposition activists Siarhei Vysotski and Alexander Serhiyenka, detained over the case of blasts on 4 July, were released from the KGB detention center on Saturday, 12 July.
12.07.2008 Monitoring of the electoral campaign: the general public and political atmosphere is disturbing
By his decree #344 of 24 January 2008 Alexander Lukashenka appointed the elections to the Chamber of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus of the fourth convocation to 28 September 2008.
11.07.2008 Ales Bialiatski: ‘A civil intimidation campaign has been started against the background of the electoral campaign’
On 11 July human rights activists, relatives of the arrested ex-members of White Legion and democratic leaders held a press conference dedicated to the groundless arrests in connection with the blast which had taken place on 4 July in Minsk, at celebration of the official Independence Day.
11.07.2008 Tax inspection still interested in Valiantsin Stefanovich’s income
After the end of the press-conference dedicated to the present arrests and other forms of pressurization applied towards democratic activists within the frames of investigation of the criminal case brought on the fact of the 4 July blast in Minsk, the representative of the Committee of financial investigations in Minsk and Minsk oblast Yu.Bobin phoned to the apartment of the human rights activist Valiantsin Stefanovich to hand a writ to him. Valiantsin’s wife refused to open the door in the absence of husband.
11.07.2008 Statement of Presidium of the political council of the United Democratic Forces
The authorities started using the 4 July blast in Minsk for lynching the political opposition, instead of searching the real criminals. As of 11 July 2008, 16 persons were arrested. The majority of them are activists and members of different democratic political parties, public initiatives and electoral headquarters of the candidates of the United Democratic Forces. Youth activists are terrorized and detained for protest against repressions. The atmosphere of unpunished lawlessness predominates in the country during the electoral campaign.
11.07.2008 Hrodna: police are after Mikola Markevich’s sons
On 11 July Hrodna journalist, former political prisoner Mikola Markevich informed RFE/RL that his sons Aliaksei and Mikola are summonsed to the police.
11.07.2008 13 persons in jail: groundless arrests of opposition activists continue
After the blast of a home-made bomb at the concert on 4 July Illia Bohdan, Siarhei Chyslau, Anton Koipish, Ihar Korsak, Pavel Kuryianovich Miraslau Lazouski, Viktar Liashchynski, Mikhail Pashkevich, Kiryl Paulouski, Tatsiana Pikun, Alexander Siarheyenka, Vital Stazharau and Siarhei Vysotski have been detained.
10.07.2008 Mikalai Charnavus is deprived of building because of intention to run at the parliamentary elections
The political activist Mikalai Charnavus stands in the single list of candidates to the parliament, composed by the United Democratic Forces. His candidacy has been nominated by the NGO For Free Development of Business. Mr. Charnavus intends to run at Baranavichy western electoral district #5. He states that the authorities started harassing him for it. At present he is deprived of the building side for a café.
10.07.2008 Blast news: Detention term extended to Miraslau Lazouski
Miraslau Lazouski, former member of the underground sportive patriotic organization White Legion, was detained within the frames of the criminal case which had been brought on the fact of the bomb blast in the night of 3-4 July during the celebration of the official Independence Day in Minsk.
10.07.2008 Ales Krutkin is expelled from Belarusian State University
The Young Front activist Ales Krutkin, first-year student of the historical faculty of Belarusian State University, learnt after he had returned from abroad, he had been expelled from the university.
10.07.2008 Youth leader Ales Kalita is drafted to army service despite heart illness
Ales Kalita, the head of the youth wing of the Belarusian Popular Front, has been found combat-fit for military service. Such a decision has been adopted by Mahiliou regions draft commission today.
08.07.2008 Salihorsk: five opposition activists are offered to give explanations on Minsk blast
5 Salihorsk opposition activists received telephone calls from police. They were asked to explain where they were on 4 July in the night and whether any of them visited Minsk.
04.07.2008 Youth activist gets to mental hospital for refusal to collaborate with KGB
Activist of the youth organization Civil Forum Artsiom Zabaryn was taken to the Minsk mental hospital for examination after he had refused to answer questions of the KGB offices.
13.06.2008 Alexander Atroshchankau faces heart problems in prison
On 13 June the lawyer Vera Stramkouskaya visited the public activist Alexander Atroshchankau in the remand prison in Akrestsin Street.
12.06.2008 Youth activists are haunted by military enlistment offices
The military enlistment offices have started to summon activists of different youth organizations for medical examination with the aim of drafting them to army service.
