News on 19.11.2007

19.11.2007

Aliaksandr Milinkevich awarded Prize for Freedom

18:16, — Politics

The Belarusian “For Freedom” movement leader, Aliaksandr Milinkevich was awarded the Prize for Freedom in Hamburg on Day of Belarusian Solidarity, November, 16.

European Commission delegation to arrive in Minsk to discuss environmental projects

18:10, — Politics

A delegation of the European Commission is expected to arrive in Minsk on Monday evening.

Hungarian premier to visit European Humanities University

18:09, — Politics

Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany is to visit European Humanities University (EHU) in Vilnius on November 20.

General Prosecutor’s Office insists on sentence to Kazulin

16:52, — Politics

The General Prosecutor’s Office refused to appeal against the sentence to former candidate for presidency political prisoner Aliaksandr Kazulin. Aliaksandr Kazulin’s lawyer knew it from the letter from the General Prosecutor’s Office.

Belneftekhim profitability decreased twofold

16:07, — Economics

The enterprises of the concern Belneftekhim showed that the profitability of products, work and services sold is twice as little as in last year - it has declined from 28.8% to 14.6%. According to the Ministry of Statistics and Analysis, return on sales reduced from 18.3% to 10%.

Police’s Nervous Reaction to European Symbols 1

15:12, — Politics

A complaint from a Minsk dweller has been received by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee. He was detained in the run-up to the European March just for passing by European symbols painted on the wall.

25 schoolchildren arrested for protest against repel of benefits

14:37, — Politics

Police detained schoolchildren in Mozyr, who came to Lenin Square protesting against repel of benefits.

Representatives of Belarusian Counterculture in Europe

14:32, — Culture

Two large events connected with advance of European culture took place last week. In Romanian Craiova a regular assembly of the European theatre convention took place, while the European Forum Culture Action Europe took place in the capital of Poland. The Belarusian counterculture was represented by the Belarusian Free Theatre at the both events.

Entrepreneurs protesting, but nobody hears them (Photo) 18

14:11, — Economics

1000 of individual entrepreneurs took part in a meeting held in Park of Peoples’ Friendship in Minsk on November, 19.

Why picket of human rights activists was taken pictures?

13:55, — Politics

The action of solidarity with the victims of totalitarian regime of Belarus took place in The Hague (the Netherlands) from 1 p.m. till 2 p.m. on November, 16. The picket was organised by Dutch student initiative “Mission to Minsk” and civil initiative “We Remember”.

Belarus to sell Russian Iskander to Iran and Syria? 1

12:20, — Politics

Deploying missile launchers Iskander in Belarus could be just an intermediate stage for selling armaments to Middle East, believes the military expert of Novaya Gazeta Pavel Feldengauer.

Rock-cola festival banned in Polatsk

11:54, — Culture

Two days after the last sounds of “Rock-cola 2007,” on 30 October 2007, the Council of law enforcement bodies actions coordination of Polatsk municipal executive committee resolved to suspend the festival in Polatsk. Thus, the 17-year history of the rock-festival in Polatsk is over.

Cardinal Sviontek asks to bring the priest deported for his criticism towards Belarus’ government back

11:52, — Politics

Apostolic administrator of diocese of Pinsk cardinal Kazimir Sviontek applied to chairperson of Rechytsy district executive committee (Gomel region) Aliaksandar Baranau asking to change the resolution and register the catholic service of dean of the local church Grzegorz Hudek, a Polish citizen.

Belarusian government has great problems 6

11:08, — Politics

Sanctions of the US Treasury Department can be imposed to the enterprises that are parts of the concern Belneftekhim. An expert from one of the Belarusian consulting companies said it to the news agency PRIME-TASS. ”According to the US and EU laws, parent company is one who can control other companies. Belneftekhim is such a company,” the expert noted. He also reminded that according to its statute, approved by the government resolution № 788 on June, 26, 1997, the concern runs the owned by the state and passed to it stock of economic agents, appoints state representatives in their managerial bodies and controls their activity.

US Embassy and Minsk airport were «mined»

10:35, — Society

Police officers established the identity a person who said that the building of the US Embassy in Minsk and Minsk National Airport had been mined, Interfax learnt from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus.

Battle Goes On (Photo)

10:33, — Politics

Young people are continuing to fight for political prisoners’ freedom. On November 16, on the Day of Belarusian Solidarity, streamers: “Freedom to Dashkevich!”, “Freedom to Finkevich!”, graffiti “Freedom to Klimau!”, leaflets with a demand to release Alyaksandr Kazulin emerged n Minsk.

Youth gives a chance to authorities (Photo)

10:18, — Politics

Numerous actions of solidarity were held in Minsk on November, 16. The youth came out to Nezalezhnasti Avenue, St. Iosif Church, city district Uruchcha, and Kamarouski Market with portraits of political prisoners.

Rally in Warsaw: Belarusian Embassy’s Worker Went Wild (Photo)

10:16, — Politics

Belarusian students in Warsaw have celebrated the Day of Solidarity with political prisoners. The rally was held near the Belarusian Embassy where students fixed portraits of political prisoners: Zmitser Dashkevich, Artur Finkevich, Alyaksandr Kazulin and Andrei Klimau. The students lit candles as a sign of solidarity.

Lukashenka tosses a challenge to 5 millions of citizens 13

10:05, — Economics

The matter-of-factness with which the ruling regime disposes of the social allowances, didn’t left much hope that they would come to their senses, the leader of the trade union Alyaksandr Bukhvostau believes. However, on November 16 everybody was convinced that Lukashenka won’t return allowances.

Strange meeting of a strange association 13

8:27, — Politics

The Constituent Assembly of the republican public association “Belaya Rus” (“White Russia”) was held on Nobemver 17 in the Small Hall of the Palace of Republic in Minsk. The staff of the initiative group of this strange organization is rather motley: National Bank head Piotar Prakapovich, Minsk municipal executive committee Mikhail Paulau, sportsmen Ivan Tsikhan, Natallia Tsalinskaya, and Yulia Niestsiarenka, singer Iryna Darafeyeva, and others.