20:06 US ready to impose new sanctions against Lukashenka’s regime

The US plan to impose new economic sanctions against Belarusian state enterprises, US Ambassador to Belarus Karen B. Stewart stated at a press conference in Minsk. “I must condemn in the strongest terms the action taken by the authorities against peaceful protesters,” Karen Stewart said.

19:34 Minsk on the eve of Putin's vist (Photo-report)

A protest rally “For independent Belarus!” ended in a cruel “mopping-up” and beating of many protesters on December 12. The rally was timed to Putin’s visit to Minsk. Hundreds of riot policemen were sent against Belarusian patriots.

19:32 President of Russia arrived in Minsk

Vladimir Putin arrived in Belarus on the official visit and went to the meeting with Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Actions “For Independent Belarus” continue in Minsk. Another action against Vladimir Putin’s visit to Belarus was organised today in Minsk at 6.20 p.m. Some tens of activists of the civil campaign “Jeans for Freedom!” with a banner “Putin, Go Home!” came out to the Minsk center in Nyamiga Street. The young people unfurled European, national and official Belarusian flags, shouted “Putin, Go Home!” “Independence!”, “No union with Russia!”, “It’s not Russia here!” and tore portraits of Putin into pieces.

16:25 They are having fun

More than hundred of riot police officers were thrown against the Belarusians, who took to October Square of Minsk for action “For Independent Belarus!” yesterday. The policemen behaved extremely cruelly – roughly pushing people from the square, they stroke and kicked demonstrants, though there were girls and elderly women among protesters. They stamped on national and official flags, loudly insulted people, using slimy language.

15:28 Action «Putin, go home!» dispersed in Brest

Human rights activist Uladzimer Vyalichkin said Radio Svaboda that riot police detained some public activists near the building of Consulate General of Russia in Brest.

14:17 Riot police swore allegiance to Putin

After yesterday’s slaughter, I’d like to exclaim, addressing those colourless clones in uniform, like a heroine of the soviet film: “You're Beasts, Messieurs!” But I can’t.

14:07 Riot policemen brutally assaulted participants of rally “For Independent Belarus!” (VIDEO)

More than a hundred of riot policemen and policemen were fed into battle against participants of the peaceful rally in defense of independence of Belarus held today on the October Square in Minsk. The rally was timed to Vladimir Putin’s visit to Minsk. The Belarusian citizens wanted to express their protest against creation of the “union state” with Russia. As a result, a real “mopping-up operation” was staged in the center of the city. People, who gathered on the square with national flags, were beaten up unmercifully.

14:03 Poets Arrested for Speaking Belarusian

Belarusian poets Ales Turovich and Syarzhuk Minskevich have been sentenced to an administrative arrest, Zmitser Vishnyou fined 175,000 Br. The authors were detained before the rally on December 12 for speaking Belarusian.

13:34 Andrei Sannikov: «Insensate power of riot police will turn against regime»

“Impudence and insensate power of riot police will finally turn against regime. Formation of armed gangs under protection of state has always had consequences for regime,” international coordinator of Charter’97 Andrei Sannikov thinks.

13:02 Mikola Statkevich: «We will build monument to these heroes!»

Mikola Statkevich, head of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Gramada), participated in the rally “For Independent Belarus!” form the beginning to the end. He was a witness how riot police were beating and dispersing the action participants, were jeering at member of the Young front Zmiter Hvedaruk.

11:30 Beaten by riot police Young Front leader in grave condition

Young Front leader Zmiter Hvedaruk, who has been beaten recently, is still in grave condition. “Zmiter can speak now, but only in whisper. He can’t walk, because he is too weak and feels giddy. This morning he was X-rayed, as he has large bruise on his face, but, thanks God, he has no jaws and skull fractures,” Katsyaryna Galitskaya said to the Charter’97 press center.

“When they began to push us down, to Svislach, Zmiter Hvedaruk was given a hard jab and knocked down. It was awful. Riot policemen were stamping on him! They are not people, it is a killing machine... We should be a civilised European country. But what is happening now? It has become dangerous to live in Belarus,” Alyaksandr Zinkevich, Russian language teacher, told the Charter’97 press center. He was a witness how the Young Front leader Zmiter Hvedaruk, participant of the rally “for Independent Belarus!” was beaten up.

10:19 "Malady Front" leader beaten up by OMON cannot speak because of pain shock (Photo)

The Young Front leader Zmitser Fedaruk is placed to the hospital No.9 in Minsk. After the first examination doctors diagnosed a brain concussion. It is not excluded that the activist has other traumas.

10:15 Anti-Putin action cracked down brutally in Minsk (Video)

Ahead of Vladimir Putin’s visit to Minsk the demonstration “For Independent Belarus!” against Russia’s plans to join Belarus to the so called union state was organised in Minsk. The action was cracked down brutally by Minsk riot police.

10:14 US Department of State condemns disband of demonstrations in Minsk

The United States condemned the severe beating of pro-democracy protestors by police in Belarus on Wednesday, which left at least one activist hospitalized.

9:15 Vintsuk Vyachorka: “Lukashenka cannot defend independence”

Yesterday a protest rally against threats to Belarusian independence was held. It was timed to the visit of Russian president Vladimir Putin to Minsk. Policemen and riot policemen were sent against the peaceful rally. Policemen were headed by a deputy commander of police lieutenant colonel Najdzenka. When he noticed Vintsuk Vyachorka among the protesters, he ordered to detain him, but the deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front party was defended by other protesters.

9:11 US Helsinki Commission protests against beating of demonstrators during anti-Putin rally

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings, Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), also known as the Helsinki Commission, has made a statement in connection with cruel beating up of the 19-year-old Zmitser Fedaruk during a peaceful rally in Minsk on December 12. According to witnesses, Fedaruk was beaten and knocked unconscious by riot policemen, then rushed by ambulance to the hospital.

A protest rally “For independent Belarus!” held in Minsk on the eve of Vladimir Putin’s arrival to Minsk, was disbanded by riot policemen.