17:35 Detentions for distribution of independent press go on

Zmitser Kavalhin and Katsyaryna Shakal, activists of the United Civil Party (UCP), are detained for distribution of independent newspaper “Novy Chas”.

17:07 Session of “union” Council of Ministers delayed until 2009

A session of the Council of Ministers of Russia-Belarus “union state”, scheduled for the third decade of December in Moscow, has been delayed until next year.

15:54 “For Freedom” movement registered

Today Justice Ministry of Belarus has given an official registration certificate for “For Freedom” movement to its applicants.

14:01 Teachers compelled to subscribe for pro-regime newspapers. For a sum of more than $100

The head officials of the local education authority in Pinsk circulated to all schools of its district an instruction about obligatory subscription for newspapers and magazines for the first half year 2009.

13:46 Ukrainian hryvnia slump. Devaluation of Belarusian ruble unavoidable

The Ukrainian national currency continues going down against the dollar, the euro, and the Russian ruble. Experts suppose Belarus, where the situation is far worse, will inevitably face the Ukrainian scenario.

12:36 Borodin: Belarus to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia soon

Belarus will soon recognize independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Pavel Borodin, state secretary of the “union state”, thinks.

12:33 Polish priests debarred from work in Belarus

Authorisation for religious activities in Belarus for the year 2009 haven’t been extended for three Polish Roman Catholic priests in Hrodna diocese.

12:25 All informational materials confiscated during detention of BPF party activist

On December 16 an activist of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Yauhen Soshka who planned to hand out the special edition of the bulletin of the regional party organization was detained in Brest.

12:03 Lukashenka shook hand of last entrepreneur (Photo)

Activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” held a street action “Glad to see you, Sasha” in Brest on December 14.

11:44 Solidarity Day in regions: street actions in Slutsk, Salihorsk, Shklou (Photo)

Portraits of disappeared Belarusian oppositionists were distributed in Salihorsk and Shklou on December 16, and activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” hung out a poster “16. Solidarity” in the center of Slutsk.

11:19 Russian Security Council believes American missile shield threatening Russia-Belarus “union”

Aleksei Anisimov, advisor in the Russian Security Council, said possible deployment of US missile defense system in Europe, actions of NATO bloc and the US were a direct threat to security of Russia and Belarus.

11:15 Svyatlana Zavadskaya's complaint dismissed under overturned official flag (Photo)

In the end of the last week judge of Maskouski district of Minsk Volha Husakova dismissed the complaint of the widow of forcibly abducted cameraman of the ORT channel Dzmitry Zavadsky.

10:03 Picket on anniversary of disappearance of Hanchar and Krasouski banned in Brest

On December 16, the court of the Leninski district of Brest dismissed a complaint of a group of democratic forces activists against a ban of the city executive committee to hold a picket dedicated to the anniversary of disappearance of Viktar Hanchar and Anatol Krasouski.

10:01 Arrests for national flag in front of regional executive committee

Yesterday, on the Day of Solidarity, Vitsebsk activists of the civil campaign “European Belarus” flew white-red-white flags in front of the building of the regional executive committee.

9:31 US mass media: Iran buying Russian arms via Belarus

US government officials say Moscow is selling Tehran the sophisticated SA-20 strategic-range air defense system through Belarus.

9:12 Rally of Solidarity thwarted in Polatsk

Yesterday for about half an hour policemen were not allowing anybody to come to the square where the rally was planned.