18:48 Naftan to be sold to Lukoil?

An operational conference was held on the Navapolatsk oil processing enterprise Naftan. CEO Vechaslau Yakushau said Naftan would soon be sold to Russian oil company Lukoil.

14:11 CPJ: “We call upon Charhinets to drop the case”

The New York based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply worried about a defamation lawsuit by a Belarusian senior government official Mikalay Charhinets (Cherginets) against the independent weekly Novy Chas in the capital, Minsk. A ruling against the paper would bankrupt Novy Chas and force it to shut down, according to local CPJ sources. It has been stated in the statement of the CPJ on December 17.

The Belarusian Popular Front party has stated that it advocates “coming of serious investments and modern technologies, but against new secret plans of Molotov- Ribbentrop, when Belarus in thrown into Russia’s sphere of influence without open tenders, without fair competition”.

13:53 6 categories restricted to travel abroad

The databank about citizens of Belarus who are temporarily restricted to travel abroad includes 6 categories of persons.

13:09 Every little helps...Kozik publish newspaper

Students in Brest are made to subscribe to the newspaper of the official trade unions “Belaruski Chas” and buy tickets to concert of Kaldun, though the name of the singer wasn’t pointed.

11:26 Belarusian ruler doesn’t want to be «union» premier

Sergei Markov, Russian political analyst and the United Russia deputy in the State Duma, said Russia’s president Vladimir Putin suggested his Belarusian colleague a position of a vice president in case of declaration of the so called “union state” of Belarus and Russia. But Alyaksandr Lukashenka refused, the Russian political analyst noted.

10:55 Human rights activists require to stop tortures in prisons

Human rights activist Raman Kislyak addressed a complaint to court on detention conditions in temporary holding facility of the Leninski District Internal Affairs Department of Brest.

10:19 Artur Finkevich has trial soon

Former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich addressed ambassadors of the foreign states on 17 December and asked them to support one of the organisation Young Front leaders Artur Finkevich.

9:52 “Targeted social assistance” is worse than mockery

“Targeted social assistance” could make 1,000 Br (40 cents), but it could be received only by those whose income is less than 185,000 Br a month.

The youth organised a protest action against repeal of benefits on Nyamiga Street. Its participants were students of Minsk universities, about 100 people. They carried posters “Marry to ticket collector” and “Buy bus ticket and go on Belarusian diet.”

9:31 David Kramer: «Sanctions against Belarusian regime are consistent with commitments»

The United States denies Belarus’ accusation of violation the agreement on security assurances signed by Minsk and Washington in 1994. As David Kramer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, said: “We consider our actions to be wholly consistent with our political commitments and our obligations.”

9:15 Books for Klimau not accepted in the colony

The member of he United Civil Party Alena Zaleskaya has received back books she had sent to the political prisoner Andrei Klimau. She sent him by mail a novel “White Army” by Mikhail Bulgakov and a collection of articles about Holocaust. “The parcel wasn’t even unpacked in the colony. When the books were returned to me in the post-office, they said books were not allowed,” Alena Zaleskaya informed the United Civil party web site ucpb.org.

9:07 Flash-mob: Students sing “Song about hares”

Since December 17 students had to pull in their belts or to become professional “free-riders”, or “hares”. Reduced-fare tickets for students have been cancelled. On the day before students from hostels No. 3 and 10 of the Belarusian State University staged a flash-mob “Tour of Pride”. They traveled by bus No. 47 (Belarusian State University – Railway station) with reduced-fare ticket for the last time.

8:25 No place for dictatorship in Council of Europe

“Belarus appealed to join the Council of Europe. But consideration of the appeal was stopped, because Belarus didn’t fulfil democratic standards, standards of human rights and supremacy of law, and we can’t renew the consideration of the Belarus’ appeal today,” Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis said to Radio Svaboda.