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On Monday, August 6, Lithuanian and Belarusian civil society activists are coming to the embassy of Belarus in Lithuania to express the support and solidarity with Ales Bialiatski, head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” and vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), who was arrested on August 4, 2011 and later sentenced to four years and six months of imprisonment for his human rights activities.

Imprisoned Belarusian opposition activist Siarhei Kavalenka filed a petition for clemency under pressure of colony’s administration on 25 June, but was not released.

Journalist Anton Surapin and real-estate agent Siarhei Basharymau have been arrested and are still kept in custody for their alleged involvement in the case of the “teddy bear drop”. At least two more people were interrogated by KGB officers. Amnesty International calls for the release of Surapin. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has not recognized the fact of violation of Belarusian border by the Swedish aircraft which dropped teddy bears on the territory of the country.

A young Belarusian journalist has been arrested and detained – for publishing photographs of teddy bears. The bears were dropped over Belarus on 4 July by a Swedish advertising agency designed to promote free expression. The Belarusian government denies the flight.

On 4 July Swedish pilots penetrated Belarusian air defence and dropped around 800 toys on Minsk. Anton Surapin (right), a 20-year-old journalist who was the first to publish photos of “teddy bear drop” on his web-site, was detained by the KGB on suspicion of involvement in the organisation of the actions.

In July the Belarusian political prisoner, HR defender Ales Bialiatski has lost two more court cases. By verdicts of two Minsk Courts, Bialiatski is to pay more than 140 million roubles as a fine, and also the apartment where human rights defenders from “Viasna” worked is to be confiscated. At the same time, world-known personalities and organisations voice their support for Bialiatski.

Within three days, from 5 to 7 July, the UN, OSCE and the European Parliament adopted three resolutions condemning human rights violations in Belarus.

Activist Andrei Mouchan, who was brutally beaten by police, was fined by the court for walking down the street with a white-red-white Belarusian flag.

The United Nations Human Rights Council decided to establish a new special rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Republic of Belarus.