Belarus: Eighty protesters detained during peaceful rally

More than eighty protesters have been arrested at a rally in Minsk, Belarus, which was intended to mark the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Belarus as an independent country.

Among those detained is human rights defender, Zmitser Dashkevich, who was released in January 2008 after spending more than a year in prison, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

Protesters used the celebrations on 25 March, also known as 'Freedom Day', to speak out against President Alexander Lukashenko's rule and the human rights abuses taking place in the country.

Many of these protesters were brutally beaten and detained by police, and some former political prisoners who had recently been released following negotiations between the EU and Belarus were re-arrested.

Most received a15-day prison sentence and were charged under Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code for "violating the order of organising or holding mass events".

Zmitser Dashkevich was previously jailed on 1 November 2006 for his involvement in a pro-reform youth movement. He was charged with "organising or participating in the activity of an unregistered non-governmental organisation."

He was also fined the equivalent of £412 in November 2007 for refusing to reveal the names of his friends in the Young Front movement, prompting a European Commission statement urging the Belarusian authorities to release all political prisoners.

CSW's Advocacy Director, Alexa Papadouris, said: "We condemn the recent actions of the Belarusian authorities and urge them to immediately release all those detained for peacefully protesting.

"This heavy-handed approach used to quash the protests is indicative of the wider repression of human rights defenders and religious organisations, including the rights to assembly and free speech.

"The Belarusian authorities must engage civil society activists like Zmitser Dashkevich, rather than repeatedly trying to silence them with prison sentences."