Watchdog

BAKU -- An activist from Azerbaijan's opposition Popular Front Party (AXCP) has been sentenced to 20 days in custody after taking part in a public protest.

A court in Baku issued the rulking against Ruslan Nasirli on April 8.

Two other party activists who took part in the April 5 protest, Sadif Qurbanov and Turkel Alisoy, were sentenced to 25 and 30 days in custody, respectively, on April 6.

Alisoy was found guilty of hooliganism, while Nasirli and Qurbanov were found guilty of resisting police.

Rights groups say Human rights organizations have accused Azerbaijani authorities of clamping down human rights defenders, political and civil activists, journalists, and bloggers.

The trial of rights activist Rasul Cafarov continued in Baku on April 9.

Cafarov is charged with tax evasion, abuse of power, illegal business activities, and embezzlement.

He denies guilt and says the case is politically motivated.

HOMEL, Belarus -- Police in Belarus' southeastern city of Homel have searched the home of local human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka.

Deputy Chairman of opposition United Civil Party, Vasil Palyakou, told RFE/RL April 8 that police also searched offices at the city's civic and political center.

The searches have been sanctioned by the local prosecutor's office and were connected to the distribution of pornographic material, allegedly from Sudalenka's computer, Palyakou said.

Sudalenka is currently on trip to Sweden.