Belarus

EU To Read Riot Act To Belarus

The crackdown following Belarus's presidential election last month is expected to come in for condemnation from the European Parliament this week. Members of the European Parliament today put the final touches on a draft resolution that will go to a vote on January 20.

More Belarus Activists Detained

More political activists have been detained in Belarus, as Minsk set a provisional date for the presidential inauguration following last month's disputed election.

Belarus KGB Searches More Homes

Volha Nyaklyaeva, wife of imprisoned former presidential candidate Uladzimer Nyaklyaeu, told RFE/RL that three KGB officers stopped her as she was leaving her apartment block on her way to meet Durbin early on January 14. She said the KGB officers showed her a search warrant dated January 3. Other searches and raids continued as well.

Belarus Accuses EU States Of 'Coup'

Belarus today accused EU members Poland and Germany of seeking to topple President Alyaksandr Lukashenka by organizing the December mass protests against his reelection.

Crisis In Belarus; Arizona Shootings; An Interview With Author Michael Cunningham

Report Says Decline In Freedom Continues Across Former Soviet Union

The latest "Freedom in The World" report by the U.S.-based rights watchdog Freedom House indicates that authoritarian regimes across a broad geographical range are stepping up their suppression of freedom.

Lithuania Takes OSCE Helm, Pledges to Defend Media Freedom

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis made media freedom a priority for his country's chairmanship of the OSCE, declaring in a speech on Wednesday at the organization's headquarters in Vienna, "...more than 1,100 journalists and media staff have been killed worldwide while pursuing their legitimate and valuable profession. This cannot continue."

No Travel For Belarus Candidate's Wife

Milana Mikhalevich said security personnel in the central province of Baranovich halted her in the early morning hours as she was en route to Poland for a conference on the situation in Belarus.

Belarusian Parties' Offices Searched

Police in the western Belarusian city of Hrodna today searched the offices of the opposition United Civic Party (AHP) and Belarusian Popular Front (BNF).

European Parliament Panel Advises Getting Tough With Minsk

The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee met in Brussels as the EU mulls imposing sanctions against Belarus in the wake of a violent crackdown against the opposition.

Belarus Radio Station Loses License

A Minsk-based radio station that broadcast campaign advertisements for opposition presidential candidates has been taken off the air due to the cancellation of its license.