11.04.2008

Justification of Belarusian regime’s cruelty by Russia looks simply monstrous 27

15:21, Sergei Bajmukhametov, “Russian Bazaar” (New York, USA) — Politics

The EU and the US have announced that economic sanctions against Lukashenka’s regime can be used after the latest crackdown on the oppositional rally and unseen repressions against journalists. And Russia has taken Belarus under its shelter.

By crackdown on rally March 25 Belarusians were deprived of cheap Schengen visas 10

11:32, — Politics

European deputies do not want to sign the declaration for lowering the cost of visas for Belarusian citizens, the reason for that was a harsh response of the Belarusian authorities to the opposition rally on March 25 in Minsk.

10.04.2008

European press: “Lukashenka’s behaviour remains erratic and unpredictable” 6

14:45, — Politics

Foreign policy signals from Minsk embarrass. Though Alyaksandr Lukashenka was wheedling the European Union lately, the dictator continues to direct fire against his critics inside the country, Neue Zürcher Zeitung runs.

Artur Finkevich: “I’ve changed six cells during 15 days of arrest” 7

13:06, — Politics

Artur Finkevich, one of the Young Front leaders, told in the interview to the Charter’97 press center about 15 days of arrest, he had to serve in the detention center for participation in Freedom Day demonstration. He had to change six cells during his term.

All participants of demonstration of 25 March released (Photo) 1

9:34, — Politics

All people, detained for participation in the action on Freedom Day 25 March, were released from the detention center on Akrestin Street, where they had served 15 days of arrest.

9.04.2008

Zmitser Dashkevich: “It’s worse in Akrestsin Street prison than in Valadarsky Street center or Shklou Colony” 3

16:40, — Politics

The leader of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich was released from the special detention center in Akrestsin Street. He has spent 15 days there for participation in the peaceful rally on the holiday, Freedom Day. During the arrest Dashkevich was brutally beaten up, like many other participants of the rally. Photos of his face after riot policemen did that job on him, was published in newspapers all over the world. IN an interview to the Charter’97 press-center Zmitser Dashkevich told that riot policemen were beating him with fists and ankle boots.

8.04.2008

Address of youth leaders to Belarusians abroad, to friends of Belarus in world 25

13:10, — Politics

Friends! The Belarusian authorities have tightened repression against democratic activists for the first moths of 2008. Solemn peaceful demonstration on 25 March, dedicated to proclamation of the Belarusian National Republic’s independence, was broken up violently.

7.04.2008

Lukashenka’s image-maker doesn’t comment arrests on March 25 and searches at journalists’ apartments 6

13:37, — Politics

English PR man Timothy Bell has informed that the plan for improving image of Belarus abroad has been already put on Lukashenka’s table.

Yauhen Afnagel: “Process was expedited by clubs and kicks” 10

8:53, — Politics

Participants of the rally on March 25 are started to be released. The demonstrators told the Chareter’97 press center what expected them after detention, told the activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Yauhen Afnagel.

4.04.2008

Riot militia broke ribs of participants of Freedom Day demonstration 33

16:51, — Politics

Doctors of Minsk hospital No 3 diagnosed Andrei Babitski, activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus,” with “closed displaced fracture of eighth rib.” The youth activist and dozens of other participants of the demonstration on 25 March were beaten up brutally by riot militiamen. Emergency brigade, called to the Savetski district internal affairs department, refused to help the oppositionist.

31.03.2008

Grand gig Solidarity with Belarus in Warsaw (Photo) 11

17:14, — Politics

Thousands of people attended a concert titled Solidarity with Belarus, held on Warsaw Castle Square. Polish bands and Belarusian musicians Lyavon Volski, Zmitser Vaitsyushkevich, Rusya, Alyaksandr Kulinkovich, Alyaksandr Pamidorau and IQ 48 played there.

To stop riot militia brutality (Photo) 6

10:00, — Politics

At a crossing of Independence Avenue and Kazlou Street, where opposition demonstration was beaten up brutally on 25 March, an action demanding to stop cruel crackdown of peaceful demonstrations in Minsk was held at 6.00 30 March.

People protest and demand freedom in Minsk (Photo) 4

8:28, — Politics

Some actions demanding to release political prisoners, opposition activists, arrested 25 March, and stop pressing upon independent Belarusian media were held in Minsk 30 March.

30.03.2008

Padabed thinks supporters of independence are slime 19

16:07, — Politics

Alena Makarevich, Young Front activist and participant of the action dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic independence, told Radio Svaboda about beating and arrests of the youth on 25 March.

29.03.2008

Slovak foreign ministry decries persecution of independent journalists in Belarus

14:57, — Politics

The Slovak foreign ministry has condemned the recent instances of persecution and harassment of independent journalists in Belarus.

27.03.2008

European Parliament president urges Belarusian government to release people arrested during police crackdown on demonstration in Minsk 8

18:27, — Politics

The president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, has urged the Belarusian government to immediately release the people arrested during a police crackdown on a demonstration staged in Minsk on March 25 on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic.

25 March authorities did their best to ruin Belneftekhim 28

8:38, — Politics

"On Freedom Day the authorities did their best to ruin Belneftekhim and make Europe to work out harsher policy towards the Belarusian dictatorship," Andrei Sannikov, international coordinator of Charter'97, member of the organising committee of the civil campaign "European Belarus," said commenting on break up of the peaceful opposition demonstration on 25 March.

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.

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.

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) 130

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.

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.

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.