News on 28.01.2008
28.01.2008
Lyavon Volski: “Bans cultivate opposition”
19:07, — Culture
Lyavon Volski is one of the most charismatic and significant personalities in Belarusian culture. It is impossible to imagine the Belarusian rock and modern Belarusian music in general without band created by him, Mroya, N.R.M. and Krambambulya.
Repression undermines dialogue with Belarus
16:55, By David Marples, The JAMESTOWN FOUNDATION — Politics
On January 22 Andrea Rigoni, a special rapporteur on Belarus for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), declared that PACE should recommence a dialogue with the Belarusian regime of President Alexander Lukashenka. Her comment denotes the latest stage in a continuing debate as to both the possibility of reforming the Lukashenka administration as well as bringing Belarus into the European orbit as a result of current political difficulties between this country and Russia. The EU has combined a partial dialogue with demands for democratization, but little seems to be changing within Belarus.
Parliamentary election in Belarus scheduled for late September
16:40, — Politics
Term of office of the both houses of the Belarusian “parliament” – the “council of the republic” and the “house of representatives” expires this year. The election is to be held not later than on 12 October. But taking into consideration that the Constitution allows the opportunity of two tours of election, the most probable time for election is late September. Thus, the election campaign can start in late June this year.
Reconstruction in Nyasvizh: no more Radzivil’s Palace (Photo)
15:29, — Culture
Radzivil’s Palace looks as if it had suffered from bomb attack.
Can you be friends with Moscow and Ukraine, too?
14:28, — Society
Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland’s Foreign Minister, is paying a visit in Ukraine, but is he able to convince the hosts that improving relations with Moscow doesn’t mean forgetting Kiev? – wonders RZECZPOSPOLITA.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit Belarus
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14:14, Itar-Tass — Politics
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will attend a joint meeting of foreign ministers of Russia and Belarus on January 29-30.
Bus with small businessmen crashed in Russia
14:09, — Events
As informed by one of the persons affected, an entrepreneur from Barysau, the accident took place on Friday at about 1 p.m. near the town of Vyazma Smolensk region. He bus with 25 businessmen who returned from Cherkizovsky market in Moscow, appeared in a ditch and turned over.
Militiamen stood trials on assault
13:51, — Crime
The Court of Brest Area considered two cassation appeals of former militiamen in January. The both appeals were found unreasonable. Verdicts of the district courts were upheld. Vital Vandich, deputy head of the Malaryta Internal Affairs Department, was sentenced to 3 years and 3 months in prison, and Vadzim Varanets, detective officer of the criminal militia of the Pinsk Internal Affairs Department, got 3 years in colony. Former militiamen were thrown to prison for excess of power.
Officials refused to accept votes of citizens against nuclear plant
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13:50, — Society
Mikhail Anikeyeu, head of the Gorki district executive committee, refused to take votes of 500 district inhabitants against the nuclear power plant construction from activists of the anti-nuclear group.
Memorial to lost benefits
13:26, — Society
A memorial to the lost benefits, cancelled on 17 December, 2007, appeared in the pedestrian underpass near the Kamarouski Market on 27 January. The memorial was timed to the 40th day of the deprival of benefits.
Ales Makaeu: In prison we were singing “Mighty God”
12:25, — Politics
A member of the coordinating council of small businessmen Ales Makaeu has been discharged from prison in Aktrestsun Street. He was on hunger strike of protest for 15 days.
Feared to Sell Vasil Bykau Books in Belarus
6
12:21, — Culture
A presentation of a collection of Vasil Bykau works in Russian and Belarusian is to become a central event of the opening day of the Russian exposition at Minsk International Book Exhibition.
Border traffic jam does million damage on Belarusian economy (Photo, map)
10
11:27, — Society
Situation on the Belarusian-Polish border, blocked due to polish customs workers strike, is becoming explosive. Two attempts of illegal border crossing were noted: two Belarusian citizens tried to cross the border outside the border checkpoint. The strike damages Belarus at tens of millions dollars.
Demonstration of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners to be held in US
10:37, — Politics
The Belarusian Youth Movement in the US organises a demonstration in defence of Belarusian political prisoners on 10 February.
Ales Marachkin cut out from a gang company of artists (Photo)
10:05, — Culture
It seems that together with the black list of banned musicians, a list of banned artists exists in Belarus. Any mentioning of people belonging to the artistic association “Pahonya” is avoided at the official level.
