18:55 Zmiter Dashkevich at large

Zmiter Dashkevich has been from the Shklou colony today. According to Zmiter, the news about his release came as a surprise for him. Allegedly, an order came out that a term of punishment (1.5 year) was reduced to 1 year, thus Zmiter served 4 months more than he was due, nn.by reports. It should be reminded that Zmiter Dashkevich was sentenced to 1.5 year of prison for participation in the unregistered organisation in November, 2006 (he was in a remand jail since September, 2006).

17:10 Belarusian Political Prisoner Nominated for Sakharov Prize

Deputies of the European Parliament are set to nominate Alyaksandr Kazulin to the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought – 2008.

17:05 What terms does Russia give credits to Lukashenka on?

Belarus is interested in getting Russian loan of USD 2 billion. It was said by Andrei Khzrkavets, first deputy minister of finances of Belarus.

15:35 One more entrepreneur got arrest

Uladzimir Nyepomnyashcy, entrepreneur from Gomel, was detained at the rally of entrepreneurs on 21 January and spent the night in the special prison facility on Akrestin Street. But nothing was known about him yesterday.

14:42 Belarus border guards foil parrot smuggler

Border guards in Belarus said on Wednesday they had foiled an attempt to smuggle 277 parrots into the ex-Soviet state -- aboard a bicycle.

14:26 BEST base stations closing

Base station of the cell operator BEST, situated in one of the Grodna districts, was deactivated by a lessor.

13:19 Why hasn’t been Zdvizhkou sentenced to death by hanging?

Iranian court almost at the same time as Belarusian one has passed a sentence in the case of insulting the Prophet Muhammad. It is worth mentioning that the punishment was identical, 3 years of imprisonment.

13:14 Lukashenka still hopes for a cheap gas

The official Minsk continues talks on Russian gas for Belarus. On January 22 a Belarusian delegation headed by Economy Minister of Belarus Mikalay Zajchanka. “Earlier the sides agreed upon the price for Russian gas for Belarus for the year 2008. Now the Belarusian side plans to fix the price for the years 2009 and 2010,” told a source in bodies of state administration to ITAR-TASS agency.

12:26 State Control Committee against Belarusian customs

Customs service of Belarus should cure the revealed breaches and repay to the budget the money, spent in contravention of the law not for the necessary purposes. Inspections revealed more than BYR 5 billion (about USD 2,5 million) of budgetary funds hadn’t been spent on designed purposes and were used in contravention of the law.

11:02 Putin deploys a new weapon against hostile foreign press - his judo master

He has been accused of bullying the neighbours, turning off Europe`s gas supply and - as one outraged diplomat appalled by Russia`s heavy-handed treatment of the British Council put it - "punching a librarian".

11:00 Peer into Open doubles final

ISRAELI champion Shahar Peer and her doubles partner Victoria Azarenka of Belarus are into the final of the Australian Open after making an amazing recovery to defeat the Chinese duo of Zi Yan and Jie Zheng on Wednesday afternoon.

10:55 Parking violation could become too coslty

Minsk traffic policemen have reached an agreement with a mysterious commercial firm which is to be involved in cars evacuation from places of illegal parking at prices 15 times higher than prices of “police” evacuators. Drivers would have to reacquire their cars not from a car pound, but from this firm.

10:48 Independent trade unions require Prosecutor General to answer

Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP) lodged Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus Pyotr Miklashevich a complaint against failure of the prosecutor’s office on Leninsky District of Minsk to act.

10:08 Lukashenka’s native village to be erased from map of Belarus

Village Ryzhkovichy is to become a part of Shklou town. Ryzhkovichy won renown as a place where Alyaksandr Lukashenka had lived. The Magilou Area Committee took such a decision. About 500 people populate Ryzhkovichy today. Among them is Galina Radzivonauna, Lukashenka’s wife.

9:52 Up-to-date hotel and business centre to replace Belarus Hotel

A hotel and business centre will be constructed to replace the Belarus Hotel. The presentation of the project in Minsk Town Hall was attended by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

9:45 Young people divested of their right for education

A Young Front member Katsyaryna Salauyova has been expelled from Polatsk University.

9:34 Oppositionists not allowed going abroad

The name of another citizen of Belarus officially blacklisted from going abroad on political reasons has become known. He is a Young Front member Yaraslau Hryshchenya, the head of Baranavichy branch of the Young Front.

9:25 Sinikka Hurskainen heading PACE Sub-Committee on Belarus

A new head of the PACE sub-committee on Belarus was chosen. Sinikka Hurskainen, Finnish member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe followed Estonian MP Andres Herkel as head of the Sub-Committee. Meanwhile the discussion of the Belarusian situation at the session of the Political Affairs Committee of the PACE has finished in Strasbourg.

9:15 Viktar Kryval: Lukashenka ashamed to look into eyes of entrepreneurs

“Entrepreneurs have to resort to political means to solve economic problems,” Viktar Kryval, activist of the campaign “For Free Development of Business,” said commenting statements of Alyaksandr Lukashenka.