Belarus Latest: 31 People Still in Prison Over Election Protests

More than a month after the disputed Presidential election, more than 30 people remain in prison in Minsk over the 19 December protests.

Four Presidential candidates --- Alexei Mikhalevich, Vladimir Neklyaev, Andrei Sannikov, and Nikolai Statkevich --- are still held.

The other 27 accused include candidates' representatives, social activists, journalists, and a former police officer who spoke out on behalf of the protesters.

There has been limited communication with detainees.

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Belarus Feature: Europe Criticises, But Will It Make a Difference?

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe agreed on Wednesday to a statement about “the worrying developments that took place in Belarus following the Presidential elections held on 19 December 2010 [which] raise a number of questions". The Committee asked for "additional information on what basis the presidential candidates, journalists, and human rights activists were arrested in the wake of the elections", demanding their immediate release, and insisted, "Political freedoms should be fully respected.” 

The Committee warned that it "will continue supporting the establishment of closer relations between the Council of Europe and Belarus only on the basis of respect for European values and principles".

But will the statements matter?

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Belarus Feature: Crackdown on Dissent Continues (Schwirtz)

As Belarussian diplomats scrambled on Wednesday to assuage European concerns about the sweeping crackdown on dissent in their country, the authorities in Belarus were stepping up their campaign against the family of a former presidential candidate whose three-year-old son they have threatened to seize.

The security services conducted a search of the home of the former candidate, Andrei Sannikov, as well as the apartment of his wife’s mother, who has been caring for the child, Danil.

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Belarus Video: The Moment Candidate Sannikov and Journalist Khalip Were Arrested

An amateur video captures the moment when Belarussian forces stopped the car of Presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov and his wife, journalist Iryna Khalip, taking the two to the prison of the state security service, the KGB. Khalip was speaking on Russian radio when the autombile was stopped.

Both Sannikov and Khalip are still detained.

Belarus Updates: The Latest Charges of "Organising Riots"

Charges have been filed against Iryna Khalip, journalist and wife of detained Presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov. 

Khalip's father said Khalip was visited by her lawyer on Wednesday and Thursday. The lawyer reported that Khalip had been interrogated again and had been charged with organisation of and participation in mass riots.

Natallia Radzina, the editor of the Charter97 website, has also been charged with organisation of the protests on Election Day, 19 December, and will be detained for two months while investigations are conducted.

Radzina was arrested in Charter97's offices at 4 a.m. on 20 December.

The maximum punishment for organisation of riots is 15 years in prison.

The state security service KGB, apparently looking for photojournalist Julia Doroshkevich, have raided her apartment and detained her husband Paul Yuhnevich, an activist of "European Belarus".

Belarus Updates: Security Forces Raid Opposition Offices and Homes

1210 GMT: Viasna has updated its list of opposition candidates and prominent political detainees facing charges of "organising riots" and "hooliganism":

1. Vladimir Neklyaev  - presidential candidate
2. Andrei Sannikov - presidential candidate 
3. Ryhor Kastusiou - presidential candidate
4. Aliaksandr Atroshchankau - Press-Secretary of Sannikov's election headquarters
5. Ales Mikhalevich - presidential candidate

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