News on 24.01.2008

24.01.2008

Stanislau Shushkevich: Arrest of Dashkevich is shame on authorities

18:08, — Politics

Stanislau Shushkevich, former chairman of the Belarusian parliament, learnt from journalists the news about early release of the Young Front leader Zmiter Dashkevich.

Criminal Case Initiated against Vaukavysk Hacker

17:41, — Hi-tech

A criminal case has been brought against a 32-year-old resident of Vaukavysk, Hrodna region on charges of hacking a local web site.

Council of Europe urges Belarusian authorities to release all political prisoners

16:48, — Politics

Participants of Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) of the Council of Europe expresses its deep concern with the situation of human rights in Belarus.

Autukhovich released while Lyavonau waiting for 3

16:20, — Politics

A measure of restraint to Yury Lyavonau, entrepreneur and political prisoner, may be changed. As Lyavonau’s former colleague Uladzimir Asipenka said to the Charter’97 press center, the Baranavichy colony received a letter from the Department of Punishment at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, suggesting that colony administration should consider an issue on Yury Lyavonau’s release on parole.

European Belarus campaign to collect votes for Belarus’s integration to EU (Video) 24

15:18, — Politics

A beginning of the European Belarus national civil campaign was announced in Minsk on 24 January. According to the initiators of the campaign, its objective is independence security and successful development of the country, what is possible only by integration of Belarus to the EU. As Andrei Sannikov, international coordinator of Charter’97, emphasised on the press conference in Minsk, “integration to the EU is not only an effective course for today’s Belarus, but also a vital necessity.”

Criminal case has been initiated against participant of market vendors rally (Photo) 16

14:55, — Politics

A criminal action has been initiated against an activist Andrei Kim, one of the participants of the protest rally of small businessmen on January 21. The young man has been charged with “violence or a threat of violence against policemen” (Article 364 of the Criminal Code). Under this Article the young man faces up to 6 years of imprisonment.

Embassy Statement on January 21 Protest, Sentence against Journalist

14:31, — Politics

U.S. diplomats, together with diplomats from other embassies, observed the demonstrations held January 21 on October Square and Independence Square in Minsk. Actions taken against the peaceful demonstrators -- including arrests and forceful dispersal -- represent restrictions of fundamental human rights.

Zmiter Dashkevich: I’ll work actively from today 4

13:45, — Politics

A former political prisoner tells in the interview to Euroradio about what helped him in prison, about the details of his release and his plans.

Special Effects for American Films to be Created in Belarusian High Technologies Park 10

10:58, — Hi-tech

In the near future concrete proposals on foundation of an enterprise for creating computer special effects for Hollywood films in the Belarusian park of High Technologies. BELTA has been informed about that by the director of the administration of the Park of High Technologies Valery Tsapkala.

Requirements to stop persecution of students for dissent in Gomel

10:57, — Politics

Representatives of the united democratic forces of the Gomel Area sent an open letter to Alyaksandr Ragachou, dean of F. Skaryna Gomel State University with a requirement to annul an order of expelling student Zmiter Zhaleznichenka on 23 January.

Small business activists call on EU

10:33, — Politics

Small business activists have urged the European Union to give legal assessment to Belarus' conditions for the operation of sole entrepreneurs.

Illegal home networks to be closed down in Minsk this summer 19

10:31, — Hi-tech

Minsk computer users are concerned seriously. They had similar fears earlier, after public statements of the Ministry of Communication and other establishments. But there were only isolated cases of closing down the networks. On a conservative estimate there are more than a thousand of illegal home networks in Minsk. The biggest of them connect from 2 to 6 thousands computers.

Gazprom denies reports that Belarusian delegation is holding gas price negotiations in Moscow 1

10:27, — Economics

Gazprom has denied media reports that a Belarusian delegation is holding negotiations in Moscow about the price of Russian natural gas for Belarus in 2009 and 2010.

Ales Byalatski: “Europe’s firm stance has influenced Dashkevich’s release”

9:24, — Politics

“It’s not easy to understand why it has happened. One could only suppose that Europe’s firm stance on political prisoners of Belarus has had influence. Maybe it’s a new attempt of the regime to coax the West and alleviate tension of the situation,” comments a well-known human rights activist Ales Byalatski a yesterday’s unexpected release of one of the leaders of the Young Front, a political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich.

Zmitser Dashkevich at large (Photo)

9:21, — Politics

On January 23 one of the Belarsuian political prisoners, Yiung Front leader Zmitser Dashkevich was suddenly released.

There are more than 50 political prisoners in Belarus 1

8:54, — Politics

Starting from January 9, more than 50 activists of small businessmen and democratic movements of the country were flung into prison in Akrestsin Street.

Council of Europe urges Belarusian authorities to release all political prisoners

8:39, — Politics

Participants of Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) of the Council of Europe expresses its deep concern with the situation of human rights in Belarus.

PACE: Lukashenka Doesn’t Want to Have Anything to Do with Us 3

8:36, — Politics

The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Lluís Maria de Puig has stated that the PACE is ready to take steps to meet Belarusian regime. According to him, isolation of Belarus is impeding, both for the PACE and for the country. “However, it is Lukashenka who does not want to have anything to do with us now”, Lluís Maria de Puig added.