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14 persons might face up to 3 years of prison, charged for ‘organization and active participation in the actions that grossly violate the public order’. They all participated in the peaceful demonstrations organized by entrepreneurs in Minsk at the beginning of this year. Human rights activist warn about a new wave of political repressions. (16-MAR-08)
 

Amnesty International welcomes the release of Zmitser Dashkevich on 23 January 2008 and urges the Belarusian authorities to release Alexander Kazulin immediately and unconditionally as well. Over 2.400 people have already joined an online photo petition calling for the release of prisoners of conscience in the Republic of Belarus. Read the Press Release below. (15-MAR-08)
 

The preliminary investigation of the criminal case on ‘mass riot on 10 January 2008 in Minsk’ is over. That day several thousand representatives of small businesses came to Kastrychnitskaya Square to protest against the president’s decree #760 by which they were prohibited to employ more than three close relatives since 1 January. This decree made redundant thousands of people who worked in small business. (04-MAR-08)
 

Last year numerous youth activists were crossed out from the list of students. This practice still continues. Human rights activists believe that the isolation of an active student and political activist Zmitser Zhaleznichenka by deprival of the right to education and forced recruitment to army demonstrate the real attitude of the authorities to public activists. (9-FEB-08)
 

6 February Terry Davis, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, condemned the recent executions in the Republic of Belarus. Earlier, Rene van der Linden, Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, had also called upon the President of Republic of Belarus to abolish the death penalty. Three leaders of Homel criminal gang – Valery Harbaty, Ihar Danchanka and Siarhei Marozau – were recently executed by shooting. Right, Ales Bialiatski, Vice Chairman of the International Federation of Human Rights. (8-FEB-08)
 

Three leaders of Homel criminal gang – Valery Harbaty, Ihar Danchanka and Siarhei Marozau – have been executed by shooting lately. On 6 February the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis condemned the new facts of death punishment in Republic of Belarus. Earlier the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Rene van der Linden also called the president of Republic of Belarus to abolish the death sentences to the criminals. (8-FEB-08)
 

Democratic forces in the Republic of Belarus have started a campaign demanding decent serving conditions in the detention center in Akrestsina Street in Minsk. This institution is well-known in the Republic of Belarus as the jail where participants of civic actions, youth activists and political opponents of the regime serve short-term arrests. The present conditions of incarceration, mainly of political prisoners, are more like torture, according to Valiantsin Stefanovich, right, a Belarusian human rights lawyer, working for Viasna. (29-JAN-08)
 

Minsk city court announced its verdict on the case against Alexander Zdzvizhkou, former deputy editor-in-chief of Zhoda newspaper. He was found guilty of violation of article 130 part 2 of the Criminal Code “inciting religious enmity” for reprinting caricatures of Prophet Mohammed. Zdzvizhkou was sentenced to three years´ of imprisonment in a medium security prison. (18-JAN-08)
 

On January 10th individual entrepreneurs held a mass protest action in Minsk. The action was carried out within the framework of the nation-wide strike of January 1-15. Protest rallies were also held in Mahiliou, Barysau and other cities. Entrepreneurs protest against some regulations of president’s edict # 760. According to the edict, since January 1st entrepreneurs are not allowed to hire employees except for their family members. (11-JAN-08)