News on 29.11.2007

29.11.2007

Workers were said about political prisoners 3

17:09, — Politics

Activists of the United Civil Party spread leaflets with the information about political prisoners and 1.500 copies of the newspapers “Svobudu Belarusi” (“Freedom for Belarus”) and “Glotok Vozdukha” (“Jolt of Fresh Air”) near the gate of the Minsk Refrigerator Plant.

Lukashenka: “We have no other way if we want to survive” 42

16:52, — Politics

Belarus should make the most use of the advantage of being between two strong poles, Russia and Europe, Alyaksandr Lukashenka stated yesterday addressing a seminar of heads of organs of government.

Alyaksandr Kazulin: «This amnesty is called a commercial one» 1

15:17, — Politics

During the meeting with his family Alyaksandr Kazulin passed his letters with his view of the events in the country. Bring to your notice thoughts of former presidential candidate and present prisoner of the colony “Vitba-3” on the forthcoming amnesty.

Boris Nemtsov: I would never give Lukashenka even a coin!

14:30, — Politics

Commenting on the possibility of granting Belarus a Russian credit of $ 1.5 bln, former Vice Prime Minister of the Russian government Boris Nemtsov told Radio Racyja he considered it immoral to give money to the ruling Belarusian authorities.

Viktar Kalei: «From January 1 hundreds of thousands of people will be without means of support» 2

13:15, — Politics

“The authorities frightened by the organised actions of the entrepreneurs and will use all levers of power the meeting not to be held on December 10,” Viktar Kalei, one of the action organisers, deputy head of the public organisation “For Free Development of Enterprise” said to the Charter’97 press center, commenting the sentence of the Zavadski District Court in Minsk.

Arnold Vaatz: «Belarusian authorities possess a ball»

12:53, — Politics

Deputy head of Christian Democratic Fraction of the Bundestag Arnold Vaatz declared that the EU shouldn’t change its strategy on Belarusian issue until all political prisoners are released in the country.

Uladzimer Labkovich: «Register is likely to be used by secret service»

12:21, — Politics

“Data on a citizen, which will be included into the register, deal with personal life of an individual, which is inadmissible in a country where basic human values and rights prevail,” human right activist Uladzimer Labkovich said to the Charter’97 press center, commenting adoption the draft law “On population register” in the first reading by the “house of representatives.”

Entrepreneurs have resolved to protest 5

11:50, — Politics

The court of Zavadski district of Minsk has sentenced entrepreneurs Ales Talstyka and Ruslan Lutsenka to 7 and 10 days of arrest respectively. The entrepreneurs have been convicted for dissemination of leaflets with information on the rally which is to take place on October 10 on Kastrychnitskaya (October) Square in Minsk.

USA accused Russia and Belarus of attempts to weaken OSCE ODIHR 1

10:38, — Politics

U.S. Undersecretary of State R. Nicholas Burns accused Russia of the intention to weaken the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE, at a press-conference held in Madrid on Wednesday, AP reports.

Landing in Venezuela 2

9:27, — Politics

A National Belarusian Exhibition is to be held in Venezuela in the near future. A governmental delegation and executives of several enterprises arrive in Karakas on Monday, December 3. Some of them are to be Hugo Chavez’s guests only for three days; others will stay in Venezuela for more than two weeks.

Green-red flag torn down from prosecutor’s office 5

9:09, — Politics

An official flag on the building of Polatsk prosecutor’s office was torn down, wetted with petrol and cut. After that the parts of flag were fixed on the prosecutor’s office’s door.

Authorities Fear Meeting of Entrepreneurs on Kastrychnitskaya Square 1

8:51, — Politics

Today entrepreneurs Ales Talstyka and Ruslan Lutsenka are to stand trial in the court of Zavodski district of Minsk.

Censorship banned Yanke Kupala portrait 2

8:43, — Politics

A portrait of Belarusian poet Yanka Kupala painted by Minsk artist Andrei Smalyak was excluded from the exhibition dedicated to the 125th anniversary of Kupala and Kolas which opened in Minsk Palace of Arts on November 26.

Van der Linden calls upon authorities of Belarus to abolish capital punishment

8:35, — Politics

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rene van der Linden has called upon the authorities of Belarus to vacate death sentences to Syarhei Marozau, Ihar Danchenka and Valery Harbaty, who were sentenced to execution by the Supreme Court in 2006, the statement by the PACE head reads.