News on 12.11.2007

12.11.2007

EU Commissioner: Our offers remain in force

18:09, — Politics

Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner has expressed concern over reports that Zmitser Dachkevich was fined by the Belarusian court for refusing to testify in a case against a fellow-member of an NGO, Mr Ivan Shyla.

Olof Palme Center Representative Not Allowed to Visit Minsk

17:41, — Politics

Yesterday border police of Minsk airport without any explanations didn’t allow a representative of Olof Palme International Center in Stokholm, Natasha Alekseeva to enter Belarus.

Anti-fascist action in Minsk (Photo) 13

17:21, — Politics

Youth activists have held an anti-fascist action in Minsk. The reason was that provocative actions of hooligans, who name themselves members of pro-fascist organizations “Belaya Vola” (“White Will”) and “Belaya Rus”, have become more frequent in the last time.

Meat has risen in price by 1,000 rubles again

14:04, — Economics

Meat has risen in price in Belarus again. Carbonade’s price went up last week, and now the price has risen 600 rubles more, some other meat gourmet items by 1,000 Br. Pork cannot be found at the price 14,000 Br. Fresh meat costs at least 15,000 rubles per kilogram.

Fascist provocation at a reception in Poland’s Embassy

13:41, — Politics

The Polish Embassy held a reception in the restaurant “Gostinyi Dvor” in Minsk on the occasion of the Polish Independence Day of November 11. Activists of the Union of Poles from different regions of Belarus were invited to the reception. Suddenly a dozen of people dressed in some kind of a military uniform appeared at the entrance to the restaurant and started to shout out insulting words against the guests.

Compensation in Lukashenka’s Style. 10,000 Soviet Rubles Cost less than USD 10 28

13:17, — Politics

In 1994 one of the main issues in Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s election agenda was “compensation of the population’s lost deposits of money according to the currency exchange rate of ruble to dollar in 1985” (that is, one US dollar for one Soviet ruble). And notably, Lukashenka promised to give back money partially in TV sets and refrigerators. In 1998, when he was a president already, he issued a special decree in line with which compensation was to be paid by January 1, 2008. And now, after 14 years of his “promising” rule, Belarusians who hadn’t been given TV sets or refrigerators, are being invited to Belarusbank. They are given back their deposits. But the exchange rate is amazing! 500 Soviet rubles are compensated by… 999 Belarusian. Just for comparison, metro ticket costs 600 Belarusian rubles… Isn’t it a mockery?

“Kommersant” and “Novaya Gazeta” are banned

12:32, — Politics

Several Russian newspapers – “Kommersant,” “Novaya Gazeta,” “Moskovskiy Komsomolets,” “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” - were not listed in the subscription catalogue of the “Belpochta” (Belarusian Post) enterprise for the 1st half of 2008.

Lukashenka delayed the session on privileges again 3

12:13, — Politics

The announced yet in October session on the canceling of privileges with the participation of Aliaksandr Lukashenka hasn’t yet taken place. According to Mikola Korbut, Minister of Finance, it was scheduled for 6 November. Later it was said about 12 November.

1.5 years of corrective labour for seminar in Poland

11:28, — Politics

A trial over an activist of the Belarusian Popular Front Party, a teacher from the village of Talka Natalya Ilyinich. The woman was tried for instigation for falsification of documents and sentenced to a year and a half of corrective labour with paying 20% of salary to the state.

Brest City Executive Committee: “We shall remove all satellite antennas”

11:24, — Society

A law-abiding Brest dweller decided to obtain approval of officials for a satellite antenna installation. He has received a threatening but baseless answer.

Siamashka offered Miller oil-refinery plants? 7

9:54, — Economics

The meeting of Belarus’ Vice Prime Minister Uladzimir Siamashka and chairperson of the board of Gazprom Aleksei Miller held in Moscow, which wasn’t made public until the last night, came as a surprise for the public.

Kremlin security took BRSM activists for extremists 4

9:46, — Politics

The members of the Kremlin guard took a group of 30 BRSM (pro-Lukashenka organization Belarusian Republican Youth Union) activists for extremists, when the people unfurled the official Belarusian flag with the inscription BRSM on Red Square. The members of the Kremlin guard demanded to take away the “extremist poster” and stop “unauthorized meeting”.

Belarus’ Home Ministry: “Frontier guards can stop you and say you’re in the data base”

9:30, — Society

The police have elaborated the presidential decree on abolition of permission stamp to leave the country. At the same time it is proposed to accept the Clause on the data base of the citizens prohibited from leaving abroad. The new rules are supposed to come into force on 1 January 2008.

Demi-rep judges 5

9:13, — Politics

Gomel opposition activists spread CDs with the movie “Demi-rep called Femida” among local judges and law enforcement bodies officials.

4.5 thousand Belarusians cheered Archbishop Kandrusievich

9:04, — Religion

About 4.5 thousand people, including 300 guests, took part in the solemn ceremony of the assumption to the post of apostolic administrator of Minsk-Magiliou archdiocese Tadeush Kandrusievich. The ceremony was held in the cathedral of the Name of Saint Mary in Minsk.

Black list of restricted to travel abroad Belarusians 9

8:47, — Politics

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus is creating a data base of citizens, temporally banned to leave the republic, Interfax was said in the Department of Citizenship and Migration at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus.