16:28 Witness of tortures accused of theft

Yury Lingo, a former prisoner who reported about beating in a penal colony in Hlubokaye (the Vitsebsk region), was released from the police department in Smarhon.

16:25 Russian jet carrying hockey team crashes, 43 dead (Photo, video)

A Russian jet carrying a top ice hockey team crashed into a river bank while taking off Wednesday, killing at least 43 people and leaving two others critically injured, officials said. It was one of the worst crashes ever involving a sports team.

14:59 Russia`s Memorial calls on Belarusian authorities to free Byalyatski

Memorial, a leading Russian human rights organization, has called on the Belarusian authorities to release human rights activist Ales Byalyatski who was arrested in Minsk a month ago on a tax-evasion charge following the disclosure of details of his bank accounts in Lithuania and Poland.

14:54 Financial assistance to Lukashenka regime ruled out without its dialogue with opposition

The Lukashenka regime will not receive financial assistance from the West without beginning a robust dialogue with his political opponents in the country, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at a meeting with Belarusian pro-democratic activists in Warsaw on Tuesday.

14:44 Lithuania wants “careful” cooperation with dictatorship

The Lithuania Foreign Minister, Audronius Azubalis, speaks against termination of the agreement on legal assistance with Belarus.

13:21 EU wants full rehabilitation of all political prisoners

The European Union considers the release of certain persons convicted in the December 19 criminal case as a positive step, but expects full rehabilitation of all political prisoners.

12:50 Statkevich taken to medical unit after an injury

Maryna Adamovich, the wife of the politician, says that presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich is in the medical unit of the penal colony in Shklou (the Mahilou region).

10:23 Wife travels to Vitsyebsk region for meeting with imprisoned ex-candidate Andrey Sannikaw

Journalist Iryna Khalip was expected to begin on Wednesday her extended conjugal visit with her husband and former presidential candidate Andrey Sannikaw in a correctional institution in Navapolatsk, Vitsyebsk region.

9:51 How much is the head?

The process of releasing political prisoners in Belarus resembles slave trade.

2:04 Belarus: testing ground for donors

There is a country in EU’s neighbourhood which could be called a donor desert. Belarus.