17:40 Mikola Statkevich: “Regime has confronted serious opponent”

In an interview to Charter’97 a former political prisoner, leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic party “Narodnaya Hramada” Mikola Statkevich has called the protest rally of small businessmen the most successful rally over the recent years.

17:37 2008 to be Year of Belarusian Statehood

An enlarged session of the co-heads of the National organising committee on celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic (BNR) with heads of political parties, movements and public associations took place on 8 January. The appeals to the Belarusian people and governmental bodies “On announcement of year-2008, year of 90th anniversary the Belarusian National Republic, the Year of Belarusian Statehood” were accepted.

17:24 Beltelekom: independent sites may have been blocked by other organisations

On 10 January many Belarusian Internet users faced blocking of sites, which spread independent information about the events in Belarus.

17:23 Alyaksandr Milinkevich: “Agony is approach. This regime cannot stay for long”

“I am proud of our entrepreneurs. They have shown that they are able to fight for their legal rights. Yesterday’s protest has proved that Belarus has great prospects. The regime is illegal and cruelly repressive. And if such agony of death is taking place, the regime cannot exist for long. I am sure that this year is to become a year of eye-opening for Belarusians. It was evident yesterday. People’s sentiments are very radical. And it’s normal. If free election is not taking place in a country, people take to the streets,” the Charter’97 press-center was told by the leader of “For Freedom!” movement Alyaksandr Milinkevich.

15:30 US Embassy condemns harsh sentences to demonstrators

Beating up and arrests of people cannot be justified, US Embassy representative, Deputy Chief of Mission Jonathan Moore told to Radio Svaboda in the court of Maskouski district of Minsk.

15:08 6 detained people declare hunger strike in court room

6 participants of the protest action of individual entrepreneurs, who were guarded to trial to the court of the Minsk Maskouski district, went on hunger strike.

14:32 Andrei Sannikov: “More and more new people would join resistance”

“The demonstration on January 10 has shown that more and more new people, new social and professional groups fed up with this regime are to join the resistance. Entrepreneurs have shown an example of selfless, courageous struggle for their rights,” told the Charter’97 coordinator Andrei Sannikov, commenting on protest rally of entrepreneurs in Minsk.

13:52 Some participants of protest action beaten brutally by police

Vera Stramkouskaya, lawyer of the detained on 10 January participants of the entrepreneurs’ action, demanded to call an emergency ambulance to the court of the Central district. 5 activists were guarded to the court, all of them have injuries.

12:54 Belarusian entrepreneurs against Lukashenka (Video)

Mass protests of entrepreneurs against Lukashenka’s decrees, ruining their business, were held in Minsk Jenuary 10. More than 2.000 people came to October (Kastrychnitskaya) Square, and then tried to break through to the President’s Administration. A hundred of riot policemen and armoured vehicles were thrown against the people to shut the passage to the building of the administration. Then the determined protesters moved to the House of Government on the traffic way of the Independence Avenue. The authorities were so scared by the mass protests that they blocked all oppositional Internet resources, including website of Charter’97, which could give on-line reports about the events.

12:06 Head of Interior Ministry: “My eyes were dimmed with tears yesterday when I saw my officers being beaten up”

The Interior Minister of Belarus Uladzimir Navumau will insist on harsh legal assessment of the actions of the participants of the meeting held on January 10 in Minsk.

12:00 Stop 760!

A photo report of the protest rally of market vendors in Minsk by Nasha Niva photographer Yuliya Darashkevich.

11:15 Arresting Lyabedzka riot policemen stole city bus

The leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka was detained after the protest of market vendors. The arrest took place in a bus. At the bus stop near the Central Post office Anatol and 5 more protesters entered the bus. Riot policemen in black followed them instantly.

10:47 Riot policemen beaten up underage guy in pedestrian subway

Yesterday after the protest of market vendors underage Artur Kutsukha was beaten up by riot policemen in mufti. As the Charter’97 was told in the Committee for Defence of Repressed “Solidarity”, 17-year-old guy was seized in a pedestrian subway in Independence Square, knocked on the ground and beaten up.

10:42 Alyaksandr Taustyka: “If regime won’t make terms, our struggle would turn into political one”

“In case at the top level the authorities speak about different kinds of dialogues, with West, with Russia, and even to some extent with political opposition, the yesterday events have shown that the only dialogue the regime is not ready for is the dialogue with its own people. They are talking with their nation exclusively from a position of strength. As only threats, intimidation by some punitive actions against us are heard from the authorities, once again demonstrates that the today’s Belarusian regime is totally anti-people’s regime,” one of the leaders of the entrepreneurs’ movement Alyaksandr Taustyka to Charter’97 press-center, commenting on the yesterday’s protest rally of entrepreneurs.

More than 500 market vendors holding sole entrepreneur status demonstrated on Mahilyow’s Lenin Square in front of the regional executive committee on January 10, demanding the abolition of the requirement that sole entrepreneurs should not employ workers other than three family members.

More than 200 market vendors holding sole entrepreneur status staged a protest on the central square of Barysaw, the Minsk region’s second largest city, on January 10, demanding the abolition of the requirement that sole entrepreneurs should not employ workers other than three family members.