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On 11 May, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) held its annual convention. Lawyer Aleh Hulak was elected the new chairperson of the organization. “The BHC is ready to assist governmental agencies, organizations and officials in democratization and the protection of human rights.”  It is also going to monitor upcoming parliamentary elections. (15-MAY-08)
 

Today, it is nine years since the disappearance of Yury Zakharanka, right, a former interior minister turned opposition politician. In April, the Prosecutor General´s Office extended its years-long investigation into the 1999 disappearance by another three months. (08-MAY-08)
 

On April 22, ten young activists detained during the entrepreneurs’ demonstration in Minsk 10 January received their sentences, varying from fines of 1100 Euro to 1.5 years´ imprisonment. Yesterday, Siarhei Parsiukevich, right, one of the entrepreneurs´ leaders, was given 2.5 years behind bars. (24-APR-08)
 

On 25 March, many journalists covering the demonstration in Minsk suffered the riot police´s actions. Two days later KGB officers carried out searches all over the country at the offices of independent mass media as well as in journalists´ private homes. Among the victims were Nasha Niva newspaper journalist Dmitry Linkevich, right, who was beaten and detained and Siamen Pechanka, who was detained for 15 days. (18-APR-08)
 

Following the recent KGB searches, the Belarusian Association of Journalist (BAJ) has appealed to the Public Prosecutor General´s Office, the KGB and the Public Prosecutor´s Office of Minsk, asking them to return seized property and guarantee the journalists´ rights and legal interests. BAJ has questioned the existence of sufficiently lawful grounds for KGB to carry out its recent actions. (2-APR-08)
 
 

On 27 March, Belarusian police staged a nation-wide search of the homes of independent journalists and of their offices. According to the Republic of Belarus Media Association, the police action is being carried out under Article 367 of the Republic of Belarus Penal Code that penalises “libel” against the Republic of Belarus President. There are fears that this may lead to further arrests in the Republic of Belarus, reports IFEX. (29-MAR-08) 
 

Amnesty International urges the Belarusian authorities to immediately stop the obstruction, harassment and intimidation of civil society activists engaged directly or indirectly in the promotion and defence of human rights in the Republic of Belarus. In the statement nelow Amnesty is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all those who have been detained and sentenced for the legitimate and peaceful expression of their views. (1-APR-08)
 

The “Nasha Niva” correspondent Siamion Piechanko is sentenced to 15 Days of Jail. The photographer Andrei Lankievich will be tried on March 27. Both were detained while they covered the demonstration in the centre of Minsk on March 25. Both journalists are accused of violating the order of arrangement and holding mass events (26-MARCH-08).
 

Mass arrests and beatings were the results of the peaceful commemoration of the Belarusian National Republic´s 90th anniversary. According to belarusian human rights defenders, about five thousand people took part. More than 100 were detained. Among the injured detainees is Andrei Lyankevich, a photographer who works for the independent Belarusian newspaper Nasha Niva. (26-MAR-08)