Minsk, 22th December 2010: More than 650 citizens of Belarus who have participated in peaceful protest after the election-day have been detained by riot police on December 19th and have been sentenced to up to 15 days in prison in closed court hearings by Minsk District Courts during December 20th and 21st. Another 18 persons – among them seven Presidential candidates, civic activists and journalists - face high criminal charges for “organising mass protest”. The offices of HR Centre Viasna and Charter 97 have been raided, members of Viasna, Belarusian Helsinki Committee and Charter 97 as well as numerous civic activists and journalists have been detained, websites of independent Belarusian civic organisations have been blocked. You may find regular updated news on the events in Belarus under www.sprin96.org