The political situation in Belarus is getting harder and harder. Now it reminds of the second half of 1920-ies, the beginning of repressions against Belarusian intellectuals in the Soviet Union. Now the state persecutes everyone who can’t be controlled or doesn’t prove to be 
loyal.(11-JUN-2005)
On 31 May the former chairman of Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada Mikalai Statkievich and one of the leaders of Young Front Paviel Sieviaryniets were sentenced to 3 years of jail on charges of “organizing group actions that disturb the public order” (Article #342 of the Criminal Code) for participation in the actions of protest against falsification of the election and the referendum in 2004.
On 10 June 2005 Minsk Tsentralny Borough Court sentenced Andrei Klimau, deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the 13th Convocation, to 1,5 years of personal restraint upon the same charges.By the way, it is not the last trial of Klimau. He is also charged with libel of president (part 2 of Article #368 of the Criminal Code) and insult of president (part 1 of Article #368 of the 
Criminal Code) that have been allegedly found in his books and articles.
On 1 June the political prisoner Valiery Lievanieuski, chairman of the Nationwide Strike Committee of Businessmen, went on hunger-strike. His main demand is the retirement of the head of the chair of the department of execution of punishments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Valiery Lievanieuski believes that his complaints and statements aren’t considered properly or aren’t considered at all because of the order of this official.The thing is that Valiery Lievanieuski has spent more than two months already trying to complain against the summary punishment that were issued to him at prison as a result of which the amnesty of 2005 becomes inapplicable to his case.
Several days ago the court decided the fate of the property that belonged to the political prisoner Mikhail Marynich and his old family. Judge Natallia Vaitsiakhovich ruled to leave only iron, veloergometer and TV-set to Marynich’s sons and ex-wife.
In the photos: Paviel Sieviaryniets and Mikalai Statkievich
