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Polish minority activist in Belarus under pressure
The criminal prosecution against the director of Polish House in Ivianiec Taresa Sobal town has been started. Teresa Sobal is a member of unrecognized Polish minority union, headed by Anzhalika (Andżelika) Borys. Members of the Polish organization call the prosecution a mere provocation.
Independent media: no improvements so far
By the end of the year 2009 two independent newspapers face the pressure of Belarusian authorities. National paper “Narodnaja Volia” got the official warning and local newspaper “Hazieta Slonimskaja” was not registered. Belarusian officials quite obviously treat state media in different way than independent media, which is confronted with new attacks.
Belarus: Government tightens grip on Internet
Reporters Without Borders is worried about the government’s plans to tighten control of the Internet in a country where free expression is already restricted. President Aliaksandr Lukashenka acknowledged on 30 December 2009 that his government is putting the final touches to a bill to this effect. The draft decree was leaked to the media on 14 December.
Belarusians will observe the presidential election in Ukraine
On 6 January a new stage of the Election Observation: Theory and Practice began in Vilnius. Throughout a week more than 40 participants from Republic of Belarus, Lithuania and Sweden will be completing an intensive theoretical course dedicated to a study of basics of an electoral process and election observation.
Belarus 2009: standstill and dynamics simultaneously
For the Belarusian third sector 2009 was rich on events. Opposite in its ideological directions, authoritarian tendencies went hand in hand with a liberal thaw. Which one of these directions was most noticeable and influential on a general socio-economic field of the country?
Preventive human rights defence: reality or utopia?
From 23 to 25 December Belarusian HRH hosted a conference Possibilities of Preventive HR Defence. Representatives of various organisations from Republic of Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine and the Russian Federation shared their views and exchanged ideas.
Belarusian House joined a letter to support the unregistered
The letter by international human rights NGOs is aiming to press the Belarusian authorities to provide official registration to the party of Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD) and stop the persecution of its members. The HR defenders also urge to abolish the repressive Article 193.1 of Belarusian Criminal Code.
Find the text of the letter below.
Media equal treatment: the Belarusian style
December in the Republic of Belarus was marred by a new wave of ideological coercion. In particular, a campaign of forced subscription to state-owned publications has begun. It is linked to a country wide subscription for 2010.
Human Rights Alliance awarded prizes
On 9 December in Minsk the human rights award was announced. Human Rights Alliance, registered in Lithuania, annually gives out the prize. Two out of three laureates are alumni of the Human Rights House Network educational program.