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Alerts - Belarus

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Belarus

Journalist and political activist Dimitry Bondarenko released

Bondarenko, along with opposition politician Andrei Sannikov, was freed earlier this week, more than a year ahead of his scheduled release date.

Belarus

Serious concern over health of political prisoner

Dzmitry Bandarenka was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for taking part in a peaceful gathering on 19 December 2010; he is being held in Penal Colony No. 15 in the city of Mohylev.

Belarus

Writer loses appeal, sentenced to 4 years in labour camp

Ales Byalyatski was sentenced on charges of tax evasion, which are widely believed to be politically motivated charges aimed to stop him from continuing his human rights work.

Belarus

Independent reporter imprisoned

Aleksandr Borozenko was sentenced to 11 days in jail for having reported on a one-person vigil for the Poland-based satellite broadcaster Belsat.

Belarus

Authorities tighten grip on the Internet

The new law affirms that anyone going online in an Internet cafe or using a shared connection will have to identify themselves, while a record of everyone’s browsing history will be kept for one year.

Belarus

Pro-opposition news website attacked, shut down

Anonymous individuals logged on to Chapter 97's administrative section, deleted archives, and created a false news story about opposition presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov.

Belarus

International delegation denied entry in Minsk

The delegation had planned to visit members of PEN Belarus, the Belarusian Writers Union, the Belarusian Association of Journalists and local writers and publishers.

Belarus

Conviction of rights defender a blow for rule of law, says Human Rights Watch

The organisation views the sentencing of Ales Bialiatski to four and half years in prison on tax evasion charges as a move to silence someone who helped victims of abuse.

Belarus

Leading rights defender detained

The investigation against Ales Belyatsky, allegedly for tax evasion, is a thinly veiled tactic to imprison a prominent human rights defender and should be discontinued, Human Rights Watch said.

Belarus

Dozens of journalists detained as crackdown continues

These arrests are part of a disturbing pattern of censorship of protests, CPJ says.

Belarus

Journalist given suspended three-year prison term

Convicted of libeling President Lukashenko, Andrzej Poczobut plans on appealing the decision arguing that he simply published his opinion on the president's policies.

Belarus

Minsk police detain and beat a dozen reporters, break equipment

Police briefly detained and beat more than a dozen reporters, and broke their equipment, at protest rallies in Minsk and Brest.

Belarus

Russian journalist deported and banned from reentering country

Police in Minsk detained Rodion Marinichev after he interviewed Irina Khalip, a prominent Belarusian journalist who had been handed a suspended two year prison term then was deported from Belarus.

Belarus

Irina Khalip handed suspended two-year prison term

The Zavodskoi District Court in Minsk declared the correspondent guilty of "organizing and preparing activities severely disruptive of public order", according to press reports.

Belarus

Two newspapers threatened with closure

"Narodnaya Volya" and "Nasha Niva" learned about the ministry's motion to shut them down from press reports; they were not directly contacted, staffers at both papers told CPJ.

Belarus

After deadly metro blast, new crackdown on the press

Authorities must immediately stop harassing independent media outlets in retaliation for their critical reporting on the recent lethal bombing on the Minsk subway, CPJ said.

Belarus

Polish daily's correspondent arrested again

Andrey Pachobut was on his way to Minsk to take part in a videoconference about the persecution of journalists.

Belarus

Authorities search home of Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut

The raid followed news that the Grodno state prosecutor opened a criminal investigation against the journalist for allegedly insulting President Alexander Lukashenko.

Belarus

Increased harassment of journalists on eve of Freedom Day

Aleksandr Lomashkin was arrested for insulting a customs officer and sentenced to three days in prison; Ales Asiptsu was arrested for for allegedly "urinating in a public place."

Belarus

Prominent human rights defender expelled

"Andrei Yurov is being punished for doing nothing more than monitoring human rights in Belarus," said Human Rights Watch. "His expulsion is part and parcel of the government's post-election crackdown on civil society."

Belarus

Journalist sentenced to prison term

Andrzej Poczobut was sentenced to 15 days in jail on charges of "participation in the unsanctioned protest rally" that followed the December 19 presidential elections.

Belarus

Authorities free Radina, Khalip but impose severe restrictions

The Belarusian security service released journalists Natalya Radina and Irina Khalip but has maintained criminal charges against them and is severely restricting their activities.

Belarus

Two more independent journalists jailed

Boris Goretsky was sentenced to 14 days in jail for his alleged participation in protest rallies and Yevgeny Vaskovich was sentenced to 10 days in jail for "hooliganism".

Belarus

Journalists continue to be detained and tried

The KGB has detained journalist Andrzej Poczobut and freelance reporter Irina Charniauka; Poczobut was also summarily tried and fined.

Belarus

More raids on journalists' homes amid KGB crackdown

In the last two weeks, at least five independent reporters and one newsroom had equipment taken during raids carried out by the Belarusian security service.

Belarus

Journalists charged with mass disorder, police raids continue

CPJ called on the European Union to condition its diplomatic relations with Belarus on the release of all recently arrested journalists and the halt of Minsk's official crackdown on the independent press.

Belarus

More newsroom raids as crackdown continues

Security agents raided offices shared by the weekly "Nasha Niva" and the Belarusian PEN Center, and politician Andrei Sannikov has reportedly been tortured in detention.

Belarus

CPJ demands end to assault on press

Government agents confiscated equipment from the offices of Evroradio, raided the Belsat television channel's premises and searched the home of journalist Irina Khalip.

Belarus

Crackdown on the press continues, with journalists arrested, sentenced

Photojournalist Aleksandr Astafyev was sentenced to 10 days in jail and is currently on a hunger strike to protest the authorities' actions.

Belarus

Dozens of journalists beaten, arrested in post-election crackdown

Security police have arrested at least 20 journalists and beaten at least 20 more according to local news reports.

Belarus

Writer and former Belarusian PEN President, Vladimir Neklyaev, arrested and beaten

Vladimir Neklyaev was kidnapped from the hospital where he was taken after being beaten by security agents during post-election protests; his whereabouts are unknown.

Belarus

Thousands protest flawed election; access to independent media blocked

Attempts by authorities to suppress voices of opposition during and after the election have extinguished any hope for a free and fair process, according to Freedom House.

Belarus

Journalists, media outlets harassed in run-up to presidential vote

Authorities must stop harassing independent media outlets and journalists and allow them to cover the presidential elections without fear of reprisal, CPJ said.

Belarus

Journalist found dead outside Minsk, CPJ calls for investigation

"Both the circumstances of (Aleh) Byabenin's death and the fact that his website carried criticism of the authorities warrant further investigation," says CPJ.

Belarus

Authorities step up Internet restrictions, harassment of online journalists

The police are using interrogation and seizure of equipment to harass Internet users and online journalists, while new legislation is reinforcing control of Internet usage and restrictions on online free expression.

Belarus

Effort to shut down paper seen in filing of lawsuit

Editor-in-chief Svetlana Kalinkina said the lawsuit constitutes an attempt by the authorities' to stop the paper's publication.

Belarus

Writer Vladimir Neklyayev and editor Sergei Voznyak released

The charges of "spreading false information" remain.

Belarus

Poet and Belarusian PEN president Vladimir Neklyayev detained in Minsk

According to PEN's information, Belarusian officials were specifically targeting the "Speak the Truth" campaign. Its offices were searched, and all computers, books and leaflets were confiscated.

Belarus

Police seize computers from four journalists

Police recently searched the journalists' residences as part of the investigation into a slander case involving a former State Security official.

Belarus

Police experts given access to several journalists' e-mail and instant messaging accounts

Prosecution of Charter 97 website continues.

Belarus

Court ruling obstructs Belarusian Association of Journalists

BAJ has one month to meet the conditions of the order or face a six-month suspension.

Belarus

Police raid news offices in defamation probe

The Minsk police raided the offices of the independent news site Charter 97, the independent newspaper "Narodnaya Volya", and the home office of reporter Irina Khalip.

Belarus

New government regulations may restrict distribution of foreign publications

Public agencies in Belarus now have the right to ban dissemination of foreign media publications.

Belarus

Government extends its control over all media

President Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree on 1 February 2010 establishing extensive control over Internet access and online content.

Belarus

Government tightens grip on Internet

In a country where free expression is already restricted, the government is putting the final touches on a bill to tighten control of the Internet.

Belarus

Journalist threatened, warned not to publish investigative report

CPJ called on authorities to prosecute the perpetrators who made death threats against "Novaya Gazeta" correspondent Iryna Khalip.

Belarus

Politically-motivated threats against journalist working for opposition website

RSF condemns the continuing threats against journalists working for the Charter 97 news and opposition website.

Belarus

Journalist Andrzej Poczobut harassed, denied press accreditation

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 5 March 2009 CPJ press release:

Belarus

Divisive new media law increases barriers for independent media outlets despite return of two exiled newspapers, says IFJ

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 17 February 2009 IFJ media release:

Belarus

Court ruling calling newspaper "extremist" an attempt to silence independent voice, says IFJ

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 26 September 2008 IFJ media release:

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