Katsiaryna Salauyova (20 year old democratic activist from Polatsk) is a member of Malady Front (Youth Front). She is a committed Christian and person of high moral values. She is the daughter of a protestant pastor. She has been twice expelled from Polatsk State University for her political activities. Now she faces criminal charges.
The criminal case opened against her was initially based on three articles of the Criminal Code. Later, the investigation decided to leave only the Article 193.1. The Article 193-1, included into the Criminal Code on December 2005, provides criminal responsibility of up to two years of imprisonment for participation in unregistered civic organizations. Previously, four activists of Partnership and nine activists of Young Front were punished under the Article 193.1, the leader of Young Front Zmicer Dashkevich serving the almost 1.5 year prison sentence under it.

  Paval Kuryanovich, activist of the civil campaign “European Belarus”, was arrested for 15 days for participation in the action of solidarity with Tibetan people struggling for independence from China.

 Natallya Skuharova, judge of the court of the Savetski district of Minsk, found Paval Kuryanovich guilty of “participation in the unauthorised event” and sentenced him to 15 days of arrest. The witnesses at the trial were militiamen Savich and Laptsevich.

Sentenced to 12 days of arrest democratic activist Zmitser Kaspyarovich was diagnosed with hypertensive crisis.

According to “Nasha Niva,” the young man was transferred to prison hospital today. He has increased health problems: doctors diagnosed him with hypertensive crisis, and was appointed medical examination, concerning low-back pain for the next day. “I feel so-so,” Zmitser said about his health.

 The trial in the case of the young activist Andrei Kim is to start on April 1 in the court of Tsentralny district of Minsk.

 The political prisoner Andrei Kim was detained during the protest rally of market vendors on January 21 in Minsk and was arrested for 10 days. After serving the arrest he was placed in a pre-trial detention center. Charges relating Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (violence or a threat of using violence against a policeman) have been filed against him.

After peaceful protests of entrepreneurs (10 and 21 January 2008) Andrei Kim was accused of violent acts against militiaman (article 364 of the Criminal Code). He may face up to 6 years of imprisonment. On the 31st of January he was put in Minsk pre-trial prison. Unfortunately there is not enough information on this case as Andrei Kim’s lawyer signed statement of non-disclosure of the case’s materials.

After peaceful protests of entrepreneurs on 10 of January 2008 S. Parsyukevich was detained and sentenced to 15 days of arrest. While serving the sentence in the Akrestsina jail (Minsk) he was brutally beaten up by a warder. Aware of the Syarhei’s bronchial asthma, warrant officer Aliaksandr Dulub was also grasping his handcrafted victim by the throat not allowing him to breath. It should be also noted that despite Syarhei’ requests warders of prison did not give him to get necessary medical treatment and pills during the rest of the days of his jailing.
Once S. Parsyukevich came out from prison he filed an appeal to the district prosecutor calling on the fact of torture and misuse of power of militiaman in the Akrestina jail. But instead of investigating his complaint Belarusian authorities opened a case against Syarhey himself, blaming him for attack and inflicting a militiaman.
On 4 of March Syarhei Parsyukevich was arrested after his showing up in the district prosecutor office where he was called to. Nowadays being suspected of violent acts against militiaman (article 364 of the Criminal Code) Syarhei is kept in the Minsk pre-trial prison.
In 2004 Syarhei Parsyukevich retired from the post of the head of crime investigation department in rank of major. After retirement he started his business as an individual entrepreneur in Vitebsk. In 2005 he became Chairman of Council of individual entrepreneurs in the Smalensky market of Vitsebsk. Syarhei’s activity in the Vitebsk region and participation in peaceful street protests in Minsk have become the occasions of administrative persecution targeting not only him but his business. In the beginning of 2008 the local administration in Vitebsk ruined his business by depriving him from license. Now his wife and 14 year old son have left without means of subsistence.

We consider that Syarhei’s detention is not valid and has no legal evidence at all. The authorities want to intimidate and to isolate Syarhei Parsukevich because of his political activities.

Belarusian human rights defenders decided to nominate Iryna Kozulina to RFK Human Rights Award. Iryna Kazulin, the wife of imprisoned former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin, died on February 23 at the age of 48 after a long struggle with breast cancer. She struggled a lot for the freedom of her husband and other political prisoners in Belarus.

GUM department store in Minsk has raised a 28-million invoice for participants of the entrepreneurs’ rally on 10 January. Youth activist of the United Civil Party Mikhail Pashkevich said it to “Nasha Niva. “

The Committee for Defence of Repressed ‘Salidarnasc’ would like to draw your attention to the situation with political prisoners in Belarus, in particular to the situation with Syarhei Parsyukevich, the leader of Vitsebsk’s individual entrepreneurs.
After peaceful protests of entrepreneurs on 10 of January 2008 S. Parsyukevich was detained and sentenced to 15 days of arrest. While serving the sentence in the Akrestsina jail (Minsk) he was brutally beaten up by a warder. Aware of the Syarhei’s bronchial asthma, warrant officer Aliaksandr Dulub was also grasping his handcrafted victim by the throat not allowing him to breath. It should be also noted that despite Syarhei’ requests warders of prison did not give him to get necessary medical treatment and pills during the rest of the days of his jailing.
Once S. Parsyukevich came out from prison he filed an appeal to the district prosecutor calling on the fact of torture and misuse of power of militiaman in the Akrestina jail. But instead of investigating his complaint Belarusian authorities opened a case against Syarhey himself, blaming him for attack and inflicting a militiaman.

The human rights center "Viasna" found out, investigation department of Minsk city police had created an investigation group for investigation of the criminal case on the January 10th entrepreneurs’ unsanctioned mass action in Minsk. The criminal case is instigated under two articles of the Criminal Code: Article 342 part 1 of the Criminal Code -- “Organization or active participation in group actions that seriously violate public order”, and Article 339 part 2 “Hooliganism committed by a group of people or connected with resistance”.