Jailed Belarusian Activist Honored By U.S. State Department

The U.S. State Department has named jailed Belarusian rights activist Ales Byalyatski a recipient of its annual Human Rights Defenders Award.

What is the Belarusian Regime?

teaser:  By Siarhei BohdanLast week, some opponents of the Belarusian regime called for a demonstration outside the Belarus National Theatre's performance in London. In fact, that theatre has nothing to do with political persecutions and actually represents a part of[…]

World Hockey Championships 2014: Minsk or Elsewhere?

teaser:  By: David Marples On May 14, 28 members of the US House of Representatives appealed to International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President Rene Fasel not to hold the 2014 world championships in Minsk. The politicians argued that the people[…]

Not 'Borat,' But Not Bad: Baron Cohen Tries Straight Comedy In 'The Dictator'

British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has earned worldwide notoriety for his edgy brand of humor. The star of the blockbuster hits "Borat" and "Bruno" is back on the screen, this time as an eccentric dictator hell-bent on maintaining an iron[…]

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urges Belarus to address systemic violations

Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Belarus. Extracts.

Dollar Rate Breaks Two Months’ Record

teaser:  At the end of trading on the Belarusian Currency and Stock Exchange on Friday, May 18, the U.S. dollar rate grew up by Br40, or 0.49%, up to Br8.210 thousand against the previous day. The last time when the[…]

IIHF Head Backs Belarus as Venue of Hockey Championship

teaser:  The president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) on Friday reiterated his opposition to moving the 2014 world championship from Belarus, BelaPAN said. Speaking at an IIHF congress in Helsinki, Rene Fasel stressed that "sport cannot and should[…]

Independent journalist Larysa Shchyrakova summoned to Homel Prosecutor’s Office

Homel journalist Larysa Shchyrakova has been summoned to Homel Regional Prosecutor’s Office. The journalist fears she may receive a warning for contributing to foreign media.

Siarhei Kavalenka’s wife detained in Vitsebsk

Alena Kavalenka, wife of imprisoned opposition activist Siarhei Kavalenka, has been reportedly detained this morning outside the Vitsebsk Regional Court building, where an appeal against the activist’s prison term is expected to be heard today.

Two Young Front activists jailed

Uladzimir Yaromenak and Pavel Siarhei, activists of the Young Front opposition movement, were sentenced to seven and five days of administrative arrest respectively in yesterday’s trial at Minsk Frunzenski District Court.

Belarus’ Ministry of Education Introduces Minimum Pass Grade for University Entrance

teaser:  In Belarus, one should score at least 7 out of 100 points for the centralized testing to participate in the enrolment competition, said the Ministry of Education. The Ministry has established two conversion scales of the CT results: for[…]

Authorities Upbeat on EurAsEC Loan Tranche

teaser:  The Belarusian finance ministry expects to iron out all differences with the Anti-crisis Fund of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) and secure a third tranche of the Fund's $3-billion loan at talks in Astana next week, Minister Andrey Kharkavets[…]

Belarus Aims to Double its Share in Global Industrial Production

teaser:  Belarus plans to double its share in world industrial production by the end of 2020. A corresponding statement was made by First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Uladzimir Siamashka at an opening ceremony of the Belarusian Industrial Forum, Xinhua[…]

IMF Asks Belarus to Embark on Policy Overhaul to Qualify for Aid

teaser:  Belarus must commit to a “consistent strategy based on stabilization and reform” to secure financial aid, the International Monetary Fund said after completing a mission to the former Soviet republic. “Program negotiations would require agreement among all policy makers[…]

Relatives of the executed demand amendments to Belarusian Penal Code

Liubou and Tatsiana Kavaliova, mother and sister of Uladzislau Kavaliou, who was executed in March 2012, addressed the President of Belarus Aliaksandr Lukashenka and other officials with a question about the articles in the Belarusian legislation, under which the body[…]

Belarusian Activist Jailed For Mocking Plainclothes Officer

A Belarusian opposition activist has been sentenced to 15 days in jail for using a placard to mock a plainclothes security officer.

Gay Protests Not Allowed In Minsk

MINSK-- Authorities in the Belarusian capital Minsk have prevented gay activists from holding protests to mark the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17.

Homel authorities ban screening of film on Stalinist repressions

The administration of Homel-based “Tourist” hotel has refused to provide premises for the screening of a documentary “Stalin’s Line. Homel Region” produced by local pro-democratic activists.

Video: Moose Run Loose In Belarus

Nature lovers in Minsk got a surprise this week when a moose cow and a juvenile visited Chelyuskinites Park in the Belarusian capital.

Kazakhstan to Help Belarus Get Observer Status in OIC

teaser:  Kazakhstan will support Belarus in getting the observer status in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, over which Kazakhstan is presiding at the moment, Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev said after talks in Minsk on 14 May. Nursultan Nazarbayev said: "Kazakhstan[…]

EU Sets Another Condition for Closer Relations with Belarus

teaser:  The condition of rapprochement between the EU and Belarus is not only the fulfillment of the EU political requirements by Minsk, but the entry of Bealrus into the World Trade Organization. This is stated in the report on the[…]

Use of death penalty continues in Belarus despite international pressure

Capital punishment in the Republic of Belarus continues to violate international human rights standards and mechanisms, and denies basic human dignities

Editorial office searched on the eve of World Press Freedom Day

On 2 May, on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, which is celebrated on 3 May, the office of Belarusian independent radio station "Racyja" in Minsk was searched. The police seized the office equipment.

Uzbekistan and Belarus among most censored countries in the world

These two post-soviet states are on the new Committee‘s to Protect Journalists (CPJ) list of ten countries in the world where free media is most heavily censored. Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are the runners-up.

Belarusian political prisoner's right of correspondence resitricted

Political prisoner Siarhei Kavalenka (right), who has recently stopped hunger strike, is currently held in a psychiatric hospital “Navinki”, where he has been sent to for a forced psychiatric examination. The activist's wife speaks about his current condition and about[…]