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Two participants of the events in Kyiv in the end of November — the beginning of January 2004 asked the president of the Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko for political asylum. In their appeals they stated that Belarusian authorities persecute and threaten them. Besides, a criminal case has been already brought against one of the applicants. (15-FEB-2005)

In the Republic of Belarus many methods are used to persecute public and political activists. One of such methods is dismissal from work. For the first month of the new year two such cases have been registered. (22-JAN-05)

Though the parliamentary election and the referendum are already over, the struggle of officials against “undesirable” information doesn’t stop. Less than a month has passed since the New Year, but even for this short period many facts of lawless limitation of the right to receive and distribute information were registered.

The organisations in the emerging Human Rights House will organise a seminar in Minsk 18-19 of February 2005. The object is to familiarize Belarusian journalists, lawyers and judges with European standards of human rights. A delegation from the Norwegian PEN and the Huma Rights House Foundation will attend the seminar in Minsk. (20-JAN-05)
 

Hrodna Prosecutor’s Office officially warned the head of Minsk Regional organization of United Civil Party Maryna Bahdanovich. The reason was her radio speech as a candidate to the Parliament at Hrodna regional radio, in which the prosecutor´s office allegedly found insults to Aliaksandr Lukashenka. (16-JAN-2005)
 

On 2 December Homel Chyhunachny Borough Court started the open trial about which the correspondent of Narodnaya Volia newspaper Iryna Makavetskaya wanted to report. In the beginning of the trial the head of the court Tatsiana Adrybets ordered Makavetskaya to leave the court hall. The journalist refused to do it. Then Adrybets called the police who took Makavetskaya to Homel Chyhunachny Borough Board of Internal Affairs and composed a protocol of violation of article 166 of the Code of Administrative Violations (disrespect to court, up to 15 days of jail as punishment). At present, Makavetskaya is tried.  (16-JAN-2005)

Accordig to VIASNA the housing authorities of the city of Hrodna ordered Hrodna organization of Belarusian People’s Front to leave their office in Karl Marx Street. The head of Hrodna BPF organization Mikola Voran believes that such actions of Hrodna authorities create danger for the future existence of the organization. (11-JAN-05)
 

In the night of 8 January the police detained the activist of “Zubr” youth movement Mikita Sasim on the suspicion that he had written “Set Marynich Free!” on several buildings in the center of Minsk reports VIASNA. (11-JAN-05)
 

18 opposition activists, mainly youths, were detained in Minsk on the evening of December 28 for participation in solidarity action with the democratic forces of Ukraine after their leader Viktor Yushchenko’s victory in Ukraine`s presidential election, reports Charter97`. (10-JAN-05)