A court in Belarus handed jail sentences of at least two years to 11 university students and a teacher for taking part in anti-government protests last year, local rights group Vyasna said.

Charged with violating public order, 10 of the students and the teacher were sentenced by the court in Minsk to two years and six months in prison, while another was given two years, it said.

Belarusian police searched the offices and homes of journalists and human rights activists for the third successive day, extending what rights activists say is a new crackdown on opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko.

The Poland-based Nexta Live channel said the office of US&nbsp;broadcaster Radio Liberty in the capital Minsk was among those raided.&nbsp;Belarusian human rights organisation Viasna-96 reported that two Radio Liberty journalists had been detained.

The authorities have shut down a number of non-state media outlets and human rights groups since protests began last August against a presidential election which the opposition say was rigged. Lukashenko, in power since 1994, denies electoral fraud.

Police officers went on Friday to the homes of a journalist from Polish TV channel Belsat and those of several local reporters, Viasna-96 reported.

On Wednesday and Thursday, security officials conducted searches in around 20 human rights, charitable, media and expert institutions, detaining more than 15 people, including the head of Viasna-96.

The searches and detentions in the former Soviet republic have been condemned by Western politicians, international human rights activists and&nbsp;Belarusian protest leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is based in Lithuania.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said Britain condemns an "escalation in repression" in&nbsp;Belarus, and the European Union and United States have imposed sanctions on&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;in recent months.

(With inputs from agencies)

A court in Belarus handed jail sentences of at least two years to 11 university students and a teacher for taking part in anti-government protests last year, local rights group Vyasna said.

A court in Belarus handed jail sentences of at least two years to 11 university students and a teacher for taking part in anti-government protests last year, local rights group Vyasna said. Charged with violating public order, 10 of the students and the teacher were sentenced by the court in Minsk to two years and six months in prison, while another was given two years, it said. Belarusian police searched the offices and homes of journalists and human rights activists for the third successive day, extending what rights activists say is a new crackdown on opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko. The Poland-based Nexta Live channel said the office of US broadcaster Radio Liberty in the capital Minsk was among those raided. Belarusian human rights organisation Viasna-96 reported that two Radio Liberty journalists had been detained. The authorities have shut down a number of non-state media outlets and human rights groups since protests began last August against a presidential election which the opposition say was rigged. Lukashenko, in power since 1994, denies electoral fraud. Police officers went on Friday to the homes of a journalist from Polish TV channel Belsat and those of several local reporters, Viasna-96 reported. On Wednesday and Thursday, security officials conducted searches in around 20 human rights, charitable, media and expert institutions, detaining more than 15 people, including the head of Viasna-96. The searches and detentions in the former Soviet republic have been condemned by Western politicians, international human rights activists and Belarusian protest leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is based in Lithuania. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said Britain condemns an "escalation in repression" in Belarus, and the European Union and United States have imposed sanctions on Belarus in recent months. (With inputs from agencies)

Belarus jails 11 students, teacher over protests

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday&nbsp;blocked&nbsp;the website of a newspaper that has been critical of the veteran leader&nbsp;and the editor's wife said her husband had been taken away for questioning.

The newspaper, Nasha Niva, one of Belarus's oldest, covered protests against Lukashenko last summer and was an important source of information for opposition supporters.

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Authorities in the ex-Soviet country, which is in the throes of a months-long crackdown on dissent, said it had barred access to Nasha Niva over accusations it had published illegal content.&nbsp;

"The information ministry made a decision to restrict access to the internet resource nn.by," it said in a statement.

Nasha Niva reported on social media that it had lost contact with several employees, including its editor-in-chief, Yegor Martinovich. His wife confirmed on Facebook Thursday morning that he had been detained.

Citing eyewitnesses, the Viasna rights group reported security officials had entered the publication's editorial offices.

Separately, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reported that the editor-in-chief of another independent news site, orsha.eu had been detained and that an outlet which covers the IT sector had also been blocked.&nbsp;

The move to bar access to Nasha Niva is part of a broad crackdown in the wake of historic opposition protests last year.&nbsp;

Journalists who covered the mass demonstrations have come under mounting pressure in recent months, with several receiving long jail terms.

Popular news website Tut.by was blocked in May and several of its employees arrested on tax evasion charges.

Alexander Lukashenko, the long-serving authoritarian leader who sparked the rallies by claiming a sixth presidential term, has drawn scorn from the West whose leaders say the vote was not free or fair.

A leading opposition figure in&nbsp;Belarus, Viktor Babaryko, who was considered one of Lukashenko's strongest opponents in the elections, was jailed for 14 years this week on contested fraud charges.

Western nations have slapped a slew of sanctions on Lukashenko and his regime but they appear to have had limited effect as&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;maintains backing from key ally and creditor Russia.

(With inputs from agencies)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday blocked the website of a newspaper that has been critical of the veteran leader and the editor's wife said her husband had been taken away for questioning.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday blocked the website of a newspaper that has been critical of the veteran leader and the editor's wife said her husband had been taken away for questioning. The newspaper, Nasha Niva, one of Belarus's oldest, covered protests against Lukashenko last summer and was an important source of information for opposition supporters. Authorities in the ex-Soviet country, which is in the throes of a months-long crackdown on dissent, said it had barred access to Nasha Niva over accusations it had published illegal content. "The information ministry made a decision to restrict access to the internet resource nn.by," it said in a statement. Nasha Niva reported on social media that it had lost contact with several employees, including its editor-in-chief, Yegor Martinovich. His wife confirmed on Facebook Thursday morning that he had been detained. Citing eyewitnesses, the Viasna rights group reported security officials had entered the publication's editorial offices. Separately, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reported that the editor-in-chief of another independent news site, orsha.eu had been detained and that an outlet which covers the IT sector had also been blocked. The move to bar access to Nasha Niva is part of a broad crackdown in the wake of historic opposition protests last year. Journalists who covered the mass demonstrations have come under mounting pressure in recent months, with several receiving long jail terms. Popular news website Tut.by was blocked in May and several of its employees arrested on tax evasion charges. Alexander Lukashenko, the long-serving authoritarian leader who sparked the rallies by claiming a sixth presidential term, has drawn scorn from the West whose leaders say the vote was not free or fair. A leading opposition figure in Belarus, Viktor Babaryko, who was considered one of Lukashenko's strongest opponents in the elections, was jailed for 14 years this week on contested fraud charges. Western nations have slapped a slew of sanctions on Lukashenko and his regime but they appear to have had limited effect as Belarus maintains backing from key ally and creditor Russia. (With inputs from agencies)

Belarus President Lukashenko blocks newspaper that covered protests, detains editor

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