News on 22.02.2008

22.02.2008

Gazprom: Gas prices for Belarus may be changed

19:01, — Economics

In response to statements of the Belarusian prime minister, Gazprom said it leaves open the possibility of changing gas prices for Belarus during the year.

Alyaksandr Zdzvizhkou: “I hope for best for me and for my country” 6

16:54, — Politics

Journalist Alyaksandr Zdzvizhkou, sentenced for reprinting Danish caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed, gave the Charter’97 press center one of his first interviews at large.

Entrepreneurs: If you don’t want to negotiate, we’ll take to streets 6

16:25, — Politics

Baranavichy city executive committee (Brest Region) denied individual entrepreneurs holding a general meeting with the authorities’ representatives on 28 February.

European Parliament’s Resolution: Freedom to political prisoners, freedom of speech, fair election

14:54, — Politics

The European Parliament at its plenary session by unanimous vote adopted a resolution on the situation Belarus. The Belarusian authorities are urged to release political prisoners, grant freedom of speech and hold free election. The document expresses solidarity with the united democratic opposition of Belarus and “all Belarusian citizens who strive for an independent, open and democratic Belarus based on the rule of law”.

Political Prisoner Alyaksandr Zdzvizhkou Released (Photo) 23

14:21, — Politics

Today Alyaksandr Zdzvizhkou, a political prisoner, has been released under the Supreme Court decision.

Everything Becomes Possible 18

14:17, — Politics

Today a political prisoner Alyaksandr Zdzvizhkou has been released. The journalist has become the sixth prisoner of conscience released over the last month. Doors of oppositionists’ prisons have opened thanks to principled actions of the US and the EU, as well as the campaign of solidarity by the democratic forces. In December 2007 the US imposed sanctions against the largest Belarusian monopolist “Belneftekhim”, while the EU for more than a year stuck to its coordinated policy known as 12 recommendations of the EU.

Secret meetings of minister Martynau in Germany 7

12:26, — Politics

As it has become known, the official Minsk gave an unofficial sign to Berlin and Brussels. According to representatives of the German political elite, the recent meeting of foreign minister of Belarus Syarhei Martynau with representatives of the German Foreign Office can be regarded “as a sign of Belarus’s readiness to have a dialog with the European Union.”

Provocation against head of the Union of Poles (photo) 12

10:19, — Politics

A provocation against Anzhalika Borys, head of the unrecognised by the authorities Union of Poles in Belarus, took place in Hrodna.

Elisabeth Schroedter: “No concessions”

9:59, — Politics

“Belarusian authorities will have no concessions, unless violating of human rights is stopped in the country. It’s not enough for Lukashenka to release some political prisoners, bargaining with us,” MEP Elisabeth Schroedter said in the interview to Deutsche Welle about the resolution on Belarus adopted on 21 February.