News on 26.03.2008

26.03.2008

That’s the way journalists are beaten up in Belarus (PHOTO) 3

20:32, — Politics

A press journalist of “Nasha Niva” Andrei Lyankevich was brutally beaten by riot policemen on March 25 during a demonstration in Minsk. Together with dozens of other detained Belarusians he spent a night in Akrestsin Street. Today he faced trial.

Break up of demonstration in Minsk – first PR-reaction of Lukashenka and Lord Bell 32

18:13, — Politics

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has recently has gone into business with British Lord Timothy Bell, PR specialist. He declared in the interview to foreign media he had started working. The whole world the first results of their cooperation.

Photojournalist Andrei Lyankevich released till tomorrow 1

16:59, — Politics

Andrei Lyankevich, “Nasha Niva” photojournalist, is to stand trial tomorrow in the court of Zavadski district. The judge at the hearings demanded to show documents which could prove that the journalist works for a registered media, and was performing a task of the editorial office. The journalist was released until trial.

Ukrainian consul Vasil Serdega: “It was hard to get information” 2

16:43, — Politics

Ukrainian Consul to Belarus Vasil Serdega said to the Charter’97 press center Ukrainian citizen Yury Biryuk, detained at the demonstration yesterday in Minsk, was set free after identity check. The consulate learnt it from the law enforcement bodies.

Roman Catholic priest arrested at rally 11

16:19, — Politics

A Roman Catholic priest from Vitsebsk diocese Fr. Yury (Barok) stood trial in Maskouski district court in Minsk today. Judge Husakova decided to punish the priest for participation in the oppositional rally with a maximum fine of 30 basic units.

Russian flag in bus of riot policemen (Photo) 24

16:09, — Politics

Journalists of the Charter’97 press-center have managed to picture a Russian flag in a bus of riot policemen, when detained protesters were taken to the court of Savetski district of Minsk.

World shocked with brutality of Belarusian authorities 10

15:52, Tatsyana Karavyankova, “Belorusskie Novosti” — Politics

Crackdown of an opposition action in honour of Freedom Day 25 March in Minsk is in the focus of attention of the biggest world informational agencies, newspapers and TV channels.

Journalist Syamyon Pechanko sentenced to 15 days of arrest

15:36, — Politics

The journalist of “Nasha Niva” has been sentenced to 15 days of arrest by the court of Maskouski district of Minsk. The verdict was passed by Judge Tamara Unukevich.

Mikita Shutsyankou: “Riot policemen snatched European flag from my hands 5

15:30, — Politics

“We were detained in Independence Avenue and near the “Vecherniy Minsk editorial office. Riot policemen encircled us and started to press us from every side. They snatched my European flag and tore it. Then they formed a “corridor”, and, punching and clubbing us on heads and legs, made us go through it” , -- the Charter’97 press-center was told by an activist of the campaign “European Belarus” Mikita Shutsyankou.

Colonels Padabed and Paulichenka were in command of atrocious disband 30

15:01, — Politics

The commander of Minsk of riot police regiment of Minsk Yury Padabed and the commander of internal troops Special Forces Dzimtry Paulichenka were in command of crackdown on the peaceful demonstration in Minsk on March 25.

Why authorities are hiding signs of riot militia outrage? 1

14:10, — Politics

The information appeared, that people, who had been beaten up especially brutally during the detention, will have trials in the detention center on Akrestin Street.

Conveyer of trials over demonstrators (permanently updated) (VIDEO, PHOTO) 46

13:54, — Politics

Participants of the rally on Freedom Day are tried in all almost district courts of Minsk (Partyzanski, Savetski, Frunzenski, Zavodski, Tsentralny and Maskouski). All judges are involved. According to human rights watchdogs, about 100 persons were detained in Minsk yesterday. According to witnesses, many arrested are taken to courts in paddy wagons are battered. First verdicts are fines and arrests.

Lukashenka distracted with sanctions (Photo, video) 129

13:54, — Politics

Celebration of the Belarusian National Republic 90th anniversary in Minsk ended with mass arrests and cruel beating of people. Hundreds of policemen and riot policemen were thrown against participants of the demonstration. More than 100 people were detained. Many persons were beaten. As detained activists said to Chater’97 press center, emergency took demonstrators with broken ribs and head injuries. 5-7 thousands of people took part in the action, held in different parts of Minsk.

Beaten up people guarded to courts 8

13:22, — Politics

“Beaten up people are guarded to Minsk courts. Artur Finkevich has swollen face. Zmitser Dashkevich was in very bad condition. He had bruises, hematomas...” Youth leader Paval Sevyarynets said to the Charter’97 press center.

In fact state of emergency was imposed in Minsk on March 25 3

13:11, — Politics

The leader of the United Civil party Anatol Lyabedzka and his assistant Valyantsina Palevikova have written a protest to the book of complaints and suggestions of Minsk city executive committee related to the fact that in fact a state of emergency was imposed in Minsk near Yakub Kolas Square on the order of city authorities, and rights of hundreds of the capital citizens had been violated.

Paval Sevyarynets: Mahilou riot militiamen committed atrocities at demonstration 14

12:43, — Politics

Youth leader Paval Sevyarynets said to the Charter’97 press center, the yesterday’s action in Minsk was broken up by Mahilou special rapid reaction unit.

Why does NTV lie? 35

12:36, Alyaksandr Tamkovich, ucpb.org — Politics

To be more precise, it doesn’t say the truth, because I can’t believe only laypersons work there now. Let’s think Viktor Kuzmin is not strong in elementary arithmetic. Otherwise it may be difficult to explain that only some hundreds of people took part in the demonstration, when other informational agencies reported about thousands.

“When riot militiamen forcing Yauhen Afnahel into paddy wagon, blood was gushing from his mouth” 13

12:26, — Politics

Participants of the demonstration on 25 March in Minsk told to the Charter’97 press center terrible details of beating people by riot militiamen.

Militia major: “Lithuania and the rest of the world shouldn’t see it” 5

11:54, — Politics

Lithuanian TV journalists were detained by riot militia, though they showed their certificate. A cassette was taken away from them and no official explanations were given.

World news Agencies Reported about Events in Minsk 5

11:53, — Politics

Celebration pf Freedom Day and reaction of the regime to peaceful protests are in the focus of attention of international news agencies.

Attack on Charter’97 site 17

11:46, — Politics

A distributed denial-of-service attack on Charter’97 site was executed at 00.00am today.

About 100 participants of Freedom Day demonstration have trials today 5

11:38, — Politics

Trials over participants of brutally dispersed action on Freedom Day are held today in courts of Tsentralny, Savetski, Partyzanski, and Maskouski Districts of Minsk. Human rights activists say about 100 demonstrators were detained yesterday.

Democratic activists were detained and beaten according to check-list 2

11:35, — Politics

The rally dedicated to the 90th anniversary of declaration of the Belarusian National Republic was accompanied by manhandle and mass arrests.