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Reporters Without Borders regrets that President Alexander Lukashenko (Aliaksandr Lukashenka) signed a decree on 1 February 2010 establishing extensive control over Internet access and online content. “The Belarusian authorities are trying to tighten their control over the Internet as they already did with the traditional media,” Reporters Without Borders stated.

On 29 January a trial of Ivan Mikhailau, who refused the compulsory military conscription due to his religious beliefs, began in the Minsk regional court. Several European civic and human rights organisations have signed an open letter to the Belarusian president Aliaksandr Lukashenka in support of Mikhailau and others, who were prosecuted for refusal of taking up arms and joining the army because of their faith.

From 13 to 20 January the Belarusian-Lithuanian-Swedish group visited Ukraine for the presidential election. Participants of the Election Observation: Theory and Practice project went to Odessa, Donetsk, Kyiv and Lviv regions to see for themselves the election campaign for the head of the neighbouring state.

Representatives of the Human Rights House Network meet once a year to discuss the human rights situation in their countries, share their knowledge and create new joint projects. This year’s annual meeting will be hosted by the Belarusian Human Rights House in exile in Vilnius.

The activist of Republic of Belarus National front party Siarhei Kavalenka from Viciebsk (city in north Belarus) is under risk to be convicted for up to 6 years of prison. He is accused of public violence under the article 339 of Criminal code of Republic of Belarus. The reason for criminal case was a national flag which he hanged in city center.

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.

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.

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.

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.