18:11 Deputy assistant secretary at the US Department of State David Merkel: “New sanctions against Belarusian government are possible”

David Merkel, deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs at the US Department of State said on an interview to Radio Svaboda that Washington can expand sanctions already implemented against the Belarusian regime because of massive violation of human rights.

17:06 Artist Pushkin fined for celebration BNR anniversary under national and European flags (Photo)

A warning and fine of 25 basic unit (875 000 rubles) was a judgement delivered by the Krupki district court to artist Ales Pushkin.

16:03 Belarusians hang out banners on high-risers and national flags – on electrical wires (Photo)

On 3 May activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” hung out national flags and banners calling to release political prisoners Alyaksandr Kazulin, Andrei Kim and Syarhei Parsyukevich in the Minsk city district Zakhad.

15:45 Lawyer Dzmitry Harachka: Emanuel Zeltser changed greatly in prison

Lawyer Dzmitry Harachka visited US citizen Emanuel Zeltser in the Belarusian KGB jail. As the lawyer told to the Charter’97 press center, his client continued to complain about health problems and about the fact he is not given necessary medicines.

14:00 Milinkevich meets with French foreign minister (Photo)

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on May 5 met with visiting Belarusian opposition politician Alyaksandr Milinkevich to discuss the situation in Belarus, BelaPAN said.

13:58 Authorities in Brest ban opposition activists from demonstrating on anniversary of Yury Zakharanka’s disappearance

The Brest City Executive Committee has denied permission for a rally that would mark nine years since the disappearance of opposition politician Yury Zakharanka.

12:56 Minsk city executive committee banned action in memory of Yury Zakharanka

Svyatlana, widow of kidnapped ORT TV channel operator Zmitser Zavadsky, received a refuse from the deputy head of the Minsk city executive committee to her application on holding a picket in Minsk on 7 May, dedicated to the 9th anniversary of disappearance of General Yury Zakharanka.

12:42 KGB and Belarusian TV spoke about “spies” again

Valer Nadtachaeu, head of public relations and information center of the KGB, told the Belarusian TV on Sunday that members of spy ring operating in the country headed by Kurt Finley, allegedly illegally took videos and photographs of Belarusian citizens, and watched militia officers.

12:23 Zmitser Bandarenka: “Response to repressions is boycott”

“The regime has given up on dialogue and democratization by unleashing a real terror against political opposition and the civil society. That is why the democratic forces are to start realization of a different strategy,” believes the coordinator of the Charter’97 Zmitser Bandarenka.

11:01 White-red-white flag above militiamen’s house (Photo)

A banner with text “I love Belarus!” and national white-red-white flags appeared in Asipovichy town on Tuesday. A white-red-white flag was hung out even above the house, where militia officers live.

10:46 EU protests against expelling US diplomats from Belarus

The European Union called on Belarus to reconsider the decision on expelling American diplomats.

8:29 Kazulin won’t go to law against Lukashenka

Political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin replied to the statements by Alyaksandr Lukashenka about him, he said in his annual address to the “parliament.”