The United States’ sanctions against Belarus have been extended for one year in the hope of pushing for democratic reform. A White House spokesman reported that the executive order stood in opposition to corruption, censorship and human rights abuses. Despite acknowledging the 2008 release of three political prisoners, the report emphasised that “serious challenges remain”.
The Belarusian “Public Council of Morality” have attempted to tone down any suggestion of homosexuality during Elton John’s imminent performance in Minsk. State officials have asked the singer’s management for early Elton albums to ensure that they are not “inconsistent with the law and morality”. Previous pride march attempts have been broken up by police in a state attempt to “prevent the promotion of homosexuality”.
A court has fined seven activists for participating in a gay pride march. Riot police forcibly detained activists on the Slavic Gay Parade in the capital Minsk on Saturday. About 230 people gathered for the annual event, which is held in a different country ever year to mark International Day Against Homophobia. Local officials banned the march on the grounds that it would pass too close to underground pedestrian crossings and metro stations. In a separate incident on Monday, activists were arrested protesting against the detention of political prisoners Mikalai Autukhovich and Uladzimir Asipenka. On Friday, a court fined Maksim Vinyarski of the European Belarus movement for participating in a protest held in March against the prisoners’ detention.
Two journalists were barred yesterday from the trial of a party activist who hung up a white-red-white flag. Syarhei Serabro and Uladzimir Staraverau of the Narodnye Novosti Vitebska newspaper were told by police that they did not have permission to attend the trial of Syarei Kavalenka. Kavalenka, an activist for the opposition BDF party, is accused of hooliganism, he displayed the national red and white flag, a symbol of opposition to the government of President Alexander Lukashenko.