7.02.2008

Small Businessmen to take to streets on February 18 36

15:45, — Politics

Leaders of the movement of entrepreneurs of Belarus have come out for holding a rally on October Square in Minsk on February 18.

5.02.2008

Private unitary enterprises will follow destiny of individual entrepreneurs

9:18, Yury Bekhtserau “Belarusy i Rynok” — Politics

If private unitary enterprises take position of individual entrepreneurs in the economy tomorrow, they will turn into political opponents for the authorities and will be declared an uncivilised form of business subject to abolishment according to a proven scheme...

4.02.2008

Do parents take blame for children? 3

9:28, — Politics

After the rallies of entrepreneurs on 10 and 21 January, in which 17-year-old Alena Makarevich took active part, her mother was called to the KGB department of the Frunzenski district upon pain of dismissal. She was offered to sign a statement saying Alena wouldn’t engage in public activity.

29.01.2008

No free places in Palace of Republic for unwanted entrepreneurs 12

11:28, — Politics

A business conference “On Development Problems of Business and Improving Business Climate in the republic of Belarus” is held to day in the Palace of the Republic in Minsk. But entrepreneurs’ leaders, who organised protest actions on 10 and 21 January, were not allowed to the conference.

28.01.2008

Ales Makaeu: In prison we were singing “Mighty God”

12:25, — Politics

A member of the coordinating council of small businessmen Ales Makaeu has been discharged from prison in Aktrestsun Street. He was on hunger strike of protest for 15 days.

25.01.2008

Participants of entrepreneurs’ protest released early 6

14:31, — Politics

22 people sentenced to 15 days of arrest for participation in the entrepreneurs’ protest action on 10 January, have been released today. Among them are Anatol Shumchanka, leader of the republican public organisation “Perspektiva,” and Anatol Lyabedzka, head of the United Civil Party.

24.01.2008

Council of Europe urges Belarusian authorities to release all political prisoners

16:48, — Politics

Participants of Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) of the Council of Europe expresses its deep concern with the situation of human rights in Belarus.

Criminal case has been initiated against participant of market vendors rally (Photo) 16

14:55, — Politics

A criminal action has been initiated against an activist Andrei Kim, one of the participants of the protest rally of small businessmen on January 21. The young man has been charged with “violence or a threat of violence against policemen” (Article 364 of the Criminal Code). Under this Article the young man faces up to 6 years of imprisonment.

23.01.2008

Viktar Kryval: Lukashenka ashamed to look into eyes of entrepreneurs 6

9:15, — Politics

“Entrepreneurs have to resort to political means to solve economic problems,” Viktar Kryval, activist of the campaign “For Free Development of Business,” said commenting statements of Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

22.01.2008

Market Vendors Penalized by Huge Fines and Arrests 43

18:37, — Politics

On January 22 participants of the third protest rally of entrepreneurs were standing trial in the courts of Tsentralny and Maskouski districts of Minsk. Individual entrepreneurs protest against discriminatory decree No. 760, which has forced them out of business since the New Year.

Lukashenka finally responded to entrepreneurs 17

13:08, — Politics

Participants of the rally of entrepreneurs held yesterday in Minsk required Lukashenka to come to them. Lukashenka scared and didn’t come. But after the demonstration was over, he went “bravely” for the people. “... they apparently need this destabilisation. We won’t let calm and quiet Minsk be turned into a bustling city,” BelTA quotes Lukashenka.

Photo-report from rally of entrepreneurs in Minsk 67

9:18, — Politics

Belarusian entrepreneurs held a protest action in the Belarusian capital today. Heavy forces of militia equipped with truncheons and shields were rushed up to the peaceful protesters. Navumau, minister of internal affairs, was in charge the operation.

21.01.2008

New VIDEO from rally of entrepreneurs in Minsk

17:19, — Politics

Today in Minsk Belarusian individual entrepreneurs have held a protest rally. A numerous column of participants of the rally marched from October Square to the House of Government to demand a meet gin with Prime Minister. Policemen disbanded protesters and forced them out of the center of the city. There are persons aggrieved.

Police to give legal treatment of protesters’ actions

16:57, — Politics

Policemen have detained a number of participants of the unsanctioned protest in Minsk, Interfax was informed by the Main Internal Affairs Directorate of Minsk. “There have been isolated cases of arrests of the unsanctioned action’s participants. At the moment the number of the detainees is being,” Main Internal Affairs Directorate source said. They have also noted that “police is to give legal treatment to the actions of the unsanctioned action’s participants”.

Rally of entrepreneurs in Minsk: on-line report (updating, Photo) 117

11:46, — Politics

Belarusian entrepreneurs continue their protest action in the Belarusian capital. A large column of participants of the action has gone from October Square to the House of Government to require a meeting with the prime minister. The militia has begun to disperse the protesters and push them to the neighbouring streets. On-line report from the protest action is to begin on our site at 12.00pm (Minsk time).

Political prisoner in jail on Akrestin Street wasn’t allowed to receive congratulations on his birthday 3

10:24, — Politics

Administration of the special prison facility on Akrestin Street refused to pass greeting cards to Anatol Shumchanka.

Rally of entrepreneurs to take place in Minsk at midday today 4

9:03, — Politics

Belarusian entrepreneurs are going to take to October (Kastrychnitskaya) Square in Minsk today. They continue to demand the authorities should cancel the decree 760, forbidding entrepreneurs to employ people except for close relatives. As the protestors think, the decree ruins their business and makes many people jobless. The previous action took place in the Belarusian capital on 10 January. Small businessmen are going to go on an indefinite strike without paying taxes from 1 February. On-line report from the protest action is to begin on our site at 12.00pm (Minsk time).

17.01.2008

Actions of solidariy in Minsk. 10 people arrested (Photo) 6

8:53, — Politics

Actions of solidarity with political prisoners took place in Minsk on 16 January. Activists of the civil campaign “Jeans for Freedom” came out to Independence Avenue, Nyamiga Street, Yubileinaya Square, and Sport Palace.

16.01.2008

Arrests of entrepreneurs all over the country 9

9:20, — Politics

Valadar Tsurpanau, organiser of the rally of entrepreneurs in Magilou, held on Lenin Square on 10 January, was arrested.

15.01.2008

Entrepreneurs to take to streets on January 21 at noon 51

14:59, — Politics

On January 21 at noon small businessmen are to gather of October Square. This time they plan to protest not only against the discriminatory decree No. 760, but as a response to unjustifiably cruel reaction of the regime to the protest rally on January 10. It has been told to the Charter’97 press-center by the leader of the campaign “For Free Development of Enterprise” Viktar Harbachou.

14.01.2008

Arrests go on 2

12:26, — Politics

Syargei Parsyukevich was arrested for 15 days for participation on the unauthorised rally of entrepreneurs on 10 January. Activist of the entrepreneurs’ movement Syargei Parsyukevich from Vitebsk has had a trial in the court of the Central district of Minsk today, Radio Svaboda reports.

Detained Demonstrators Tortured by Cold and Hunger 1

9:02, — Politics

On January 12 human rights and youth organizations managed to bring food parcels to most of the convicted participants of the protest rally which was held on January 10 in Minsk. At 10 a.m. relatives and friends of arrested formed a queue near the entrance of the prison.

12.01.2008

Entrepreneur arrested after his meeting with administration of internal affairs department 30

13:35, — Politics

Alyaksandr Makayeu, leader of entrepreneurs’ movement has been detained today in the Minsk center. As Makayeu said to the Charter’97 press center, he was detained just after he left the building of the Minsk city executive committee, where he had a meeting with Alyaksandr Naidzenka, deputy head of the city internal affairs department. The theme of the meeting was conditions, in which prisoners having been detained on 10 January, were kept on Akrestin Street.

Solidarity of entrepreneurs 6

13:18, — Politics

Entrepreneurs from Brest expressed their solidarity with the demands, made at the protest demonstration in Minsk, and decided on continuing the strike until all people, sentenced on 10 January, are released.

Protesters Beaten up in Paddy Wagons by Riot Policemen 13

13:16, — Politics

All arrested participants of the protest rally against the economic policy of the government towards small business in Belarus held on January 10 in Minsk are placed to Akrestsin Street prison.

Authorities trying to intimidate entrepreneurs by arrests 63

11:39, — Politics

The participants of the entrepreneurs’ rally, held in Minsk on 10 January, have trials today. Individual entrepreneurs were protesting against Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s decree, which deprives many of them of work since 1 January.

Decision to railroad leader of entrepreneurs 7

9:24, — Politics

The court of Barysau region, which earlier acquitted Viktar Harbachou, the leader of the campaign “For free development of entrepreneurship”, has reopened the case on petty hooliganism charges. thus the court cancelled its decision, Belapan was informed by V. Harbachou.

EU condemns arrests of demonstrants 13

9:10, — Politics

The Council of the European Union condemns crackdown of the entrepreneurs’ demonstration, arrests and using force towards the protesters. Christina Gallah, spokeswoman of the EU High Commissioner for Foreign Policy and Security, said it. “We condemn arrests and sentences to the people detained. We do not regard every of them other as politically motivated one,” the spokeswoman said.

11.01.2008

US Embassy condemns harsh sentences to demonstrators 8

15:30, — Politics

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.

6 detained people declare hunger strike in court room 7

15:08, — Politics

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.