17:51 Detention of journalist Kastys Shytal

On 7 October independent journalist Kastus Shytal was hitchhiking to his home town, Dzisna.

16:20 Belarusian ambassador to UK decides to cancel Free Theatre

The Belarusian authorities do not give up attempts to press on the Belarus Free Theatre even abroad.

15:59 Belarusian Foreign Ministry talks about “same rakes” again

The decision of the EU Council to expand visa sanctions against Belarus will make no difference at all, stated the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Andrei Savinykh.

14:55 Homel: dry hunger-strike and fines

Uladzimir Katsora, an oppositionist from Homel and organizer of the People’s Assembly, was taken to the Tsentralny district police department, where a report under article 23.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (violation of order of holding mass events) was drawn up on him.

14:37 Dzmitry Drozd: Time of changes has come!

Dzmitry Drozd, a former political prisoner, has made a statement at the People’s Assembly on October 8 in Minsk.

13:49 Uladzimir Katsora goes on hunger strike in custody

One of the organizers of the People’s Assembly protests against illegal detention.

13:43 Visa restrictions extended. Waiting for economic sanctions?

A decision to expand the list of Belarusian officials banned from entering the EU countries has been taken at a meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Luxemburg.

13:28 Is Khimvolokno accident hushed up?

A spillage of Dowtherm A has taken place at Khimvolokno republican unitary enterprise in Svetlagorsk.

13:12 PACE Ad Hoc Committee on Belarus calls on Minsk to release those imprisoned following last year’s presidential election

The Ad Hoc Committee on Belarus of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has called on the Belarusian authorities to release the opposition activists remaining in prison after being arrested following last year’s presidential election.

13:09 Former presidential candidate Uss denies that he has schizophrenia

Former presidential candidate Dzmitry Uss denied that he had schizophrenia as claimed by Alyaksandr Lukashenka on Friday.

12:40 Dzmitry Uss: I don’t know if Rymasheuski’s evidence impacted my punishment

The presidential candied said about record of interrogation of Vital Rymasheuski, the leader of the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, attached to his criminal case.

12:25 European Strategy. The Case about $9 billions

At a time when the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has calculated the price that could be offered Lukashenko for a new illusion of liberal reforms, opposition politicians have been tortured in Belarusian prison.

11:58 Dollar is not sold at today’s additional session

The reason for it is Columbus Day celebrated in the USA today.

11:56 Telephone girl refused to send words “Let’s defeat moustachioed bastard” in telegram

“I cannot pass such a text. I know whom you mean. We have an instruction not to disseminate such things,” the telephone girl said.

11:21 Tusk continues bargaining with Lukashenka

Western assitance to Belarus can even exceed $9bn if the country fulfills a set of conditions.

11:10 World Day Against the Death Penalty: Belarus urged to end executions

Amnesty International activists around the world are coming together on the World Day Against the Death Penalty to demand an end to executions in Belarus, the only country in Europe and the former Soviet Union that still executes.

10:43 Sikorski: It’s high time Lukashenka recall other dictator’s lives

The European Union and Poland in particular “should not boycott Lukashenka,” believes Polish Foreign Minister.

10:15 Russian journalist to Belarusians: “You are fascists. You must be killed” (Video)

A journalist from Russia, Elena Badyakina, attacked picketers near the Embassy of Belarus in Moscow.

9:38 Do “black lists” return?

At about 4.30 p.m. on 8 October Belarusian border guards took away the passports of human rights defenders viktar Sazonau and Yan Roman, who were returning home from Bialystok.