Index on Censorship’s Mike Harris joined a panel debate at the OSCE parallel conference on adopting a joint resolution on Belarus, giving consideration to the country’s suspension from the OSCE, which will now go to the Council of Ministers.
The founder of one of Belarus’ leading human rights organisations has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for alleged tax evasion.
Index calls on the UK Foreign Office to press for Ales Bialiatski’s freedom
(more…)
A Belarusian opposition leader has been sentenced to ten days of “administrative detention” for his involvement in the opposition-organised People’s Assembly. Viktar Buzinaye from the United Civic Party was found guilty of “violating the law on public gatherings,” yesterday following an assembly in eastern town of Babruisk on October 8, which was not approved by local authorities. Buzinayeu pleaded not guilty claiming the gathering was held as a town hall meeting, and adhered to laws and regulations.
Two more foreign banks halt cooperation with Belarus after German Chancellor Angela Merkel tells Index on Censorship and Free Belarus Now that she would intervene to stop Deutsche Bank from selling government bonds to Europe’s last dictatorship. 
