News on 18.01.2008

18.01.2008

Minsk ATMs refused to withdraw cash

18:42, — Economics

Minsk cash machines haven’t operated for the last days. Nevertheless, they withdraw cash from accounts.

40 political prisoners over last days in Belarus 14

18:13, — Politics

After the rally of entrepreneurs in Minsk on 10 January more than 40 people were detained. 23 people were sentenced to 15 days of arrest on the next day after the action. About 20 people were arrested during the week after the4 rally. Many of the detained were guarded to the special prison facility on Akrestin Street beaten by riot militiamen.

Political Prisoner Mikalay Autukhovich Released 18

17:33, — Politics

The level of restriction has been changed for corrective labour to the political prisoner and small businessman Mikalay Autukhovich. Mikalay Autukhovich has informed about that in an interview to the Charter’97 press-center. He has already left for his home town of Vaukavysk from Minsk.

Editor-in-chief Imprisoned for 3 Years for Cartoons of Muhammad 2

15:42, — Politics

Minsk City Court has sentenced the former editor-in-chief of Zhoda newspaper Alyaksandr Zdzvizhkou to 3 years of imprisonment in a colony with a reinforced regime.

Iran to Buy S-300 Missile Systems in Belarus 23

15:18, — Politics

The British informational military company “Jane’s” has learnt that Belarus, not Russia, will sell S-300 systems to Iran.

The New York Times: “Generation Jeans,” performance about Belarus stand-up routine 8

14:57, — Culture

The US tour of the Belarusian Free Theatre has great success. Mikalai Khalezin’s performance “Generation Jeans” presented as part of the Under the Radar festival in New York. Belarusians are to take part in the theatre workshop in the California Art School. Leading US newspapers published review to the performances of the Free Theatre. “It is a sort of Belarus stand-up routine, what follows is basically a one-man human-rights rally,” the influential New York Times running.

Zmiter Hvedaruk arrested for 15 days

13:11, — Politics

Zmiter Hvedaruk, activist of the Young Front, was sentenced by the court of the Central District of Minsk to 15 days of arrest. Yesterday he was detained in the court where he had come to support the activists detained on 16 January, the Solidarity Day.

They couldn’t expel him from university, so they called him up for military service

12:56, — Politics

A student-oppositionist Zmitser Zhaleznichenka who has been reinstated in the university by the court, is drafted into the army.

Justice Ministry Decided to Liquidate Association of Entrepreneurs 11

12:54, — Politics

Justice Ministry has decided to revoke the statement of claim on liquidation of the Republican public Association “Perspektiva”.

Minsk ATMs refused to withdraw cash 36

9:50, — Economics

Minsk cash machines haven’t operated for the last days. Nevertheless, they withdraw cash from accounts.

Emergency ambulance comes to Akrestin Street every day 4

9:06, — Politics

Emergency ambulance is called almost every day to Akrestin Street for the detained after the protest action on 10 January. As lawyer Vera Stramkouskaya says, emergency was called for Syargei Parsyukevich yesterday. He had asthmatic attack and fever.

Riot militiamen beat young people in court 26

8:57, — Politics

Zmiter Hvedaruk was beaten brutally when being detained in the court of the Central district.

Students celebrated “Stowaway day” (Photo) 5

8:38, — Politics

On January 17 about 100 students celebrated one month after the law on reverse of benefits was adopted. They held a flash-mob. Students gathered near A. Pushkin monument, put on hares’ masks and decided to mark the “Hare’s Day” (Stowaway Day) every month by different actions.