Belarus

The political prisoner can be “pardoned” if “it is proved the damage he caused with the tax fraud has been repaid.”

The book by the political prisoner could "damage the image" of the country according to authorities.

The whole system that should ensure a functioning public opinion in Belarus is perverted.

The status quo between the European Union and Belarus remains in place. The EU Council prolonged its present sanctions against Belarusian officials last week.

Keeping tight control over every sphere of social life is the general policy of the Belarusian authorities. This is true not only about politics, economy or media; arts and culture face censorship as well.

Music: to “black lists” and back

From 5 to 10 October, the Human Rights Center Viasna will hold Week Against the Death Penalty, full of events and information on the painful issues raised by human rights activists in the Belarusian society.

The first ever Václav Havel Human Rights Prize – which honours outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights – has been awarded to Belarusian human rights activist Ales Bialiatski.

The International Observation Mission of the Committee on International Control over the Human Rights Situation in Belarus announced an open call for applications for the position of Representative on the situation of the media and freedom of expression.

Ales Bialiatski, the imprisoned leader of the Human Rights Center "Viasna" and vice-president of the International Federation for Human Rights, will celebrate his 51st birthday on September 25.

Despite recent modest improvements to media freedom in Belarus, journalists fear renewed repression is likely.