News on 17.03.2008

17.03.2008

Action “For freedom of Tibet” held near China’s Embassy in Minsk (Photo, video)

18:05, — Politics

The action of solidarity with Tibetan people took place in Minsk at 4.30pm today. Activists of the campaign “European Belarus” organised it near the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

Belarusians call on authorities to release political prisoners (Photo) 9

17:39, — Politics

Actions requiring to release political prisoners were held in Minsk and other Belarusians cities on Solidarity Day 16 March. People took to streets with portraits of prisoners of conscience, spread leaflets, hung out banners, demanding the authorities to release immediately and unconditionally Alyaksandr Kazulin, Andrei Kim and Syarhei Parsyukevich, arrested on politically motivated grounds.

Belarus insists on run-down of US Embassy personnel 9

16:39, — Politics

The Belarusian side strongly recommended the US Embassy in Belarus to reduce its diplomatic staff.

From accused to accusers 3

15:51, — Politics

14 democratic activists targeted in the criminal case, initiated after their participation in the entrepreneurs’ action on 10 January, prepared a collective address to Prosecutor General Ryhor Vasilevich.

Fireworks on Day of Belarusian Solidarity (Video) 3

13:09, — Politics

Fireworks in honour of Belarusian prisoners of conscience finished the Day of Solidarity on March 16. It started at 10.30 p.m. in front of the walls of the remand prison No. 1 in Valadarski Street in Minsk. 16 volleys of fire lit the night sky over the castle which had been turned onto the remand prison.

Photo-report from action of solidarity near Belarus’ embassy in Moscow 4

12:55, — Politics

Living in Moscow Belarusians and activists of the Russian youth movements held an action of solidarity with victims of political repressions in Belarus on 16 March.

Case against “Sovetskaya Belorussia” dismissed 1

11:44, — Politics

A judge of the court of Savetski district of Minsk Alyaksei Tamanau has disallowed a claim of the deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front against the newspaper “Sovetskaya Belorussia”.

US Department of State shows Lukashenka to be Anti-Semite

11:39, — Politics

Anti-Semitism, including government-promoted hatred toward Jews and prejudice couched as criticism of Israel, has risen globally over the last decade, the State Department said in its report to Congress.

US Determined about Belarus 10

11:32, — Politics

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs David Kramer has taken part in the 2008 Brussels Forum in Brussels, Belgium. Events in Belarus were a subject of consultations of David Kramer and the US Ambassador to Belarus Karen Stewart with the leadership of the EU and countries members of the EU. As long as the countries are represented by the highest officials at the Brussels Forum, it was a unique chance to discuss the situation that had shaped in Belarus.

Mass demonstration under national flags in center of Minsk (Photo) 20

10:05, — Politics

On Saturday columns of people with national Belarusian white-red-white flags marched along the central streets of Minsk.

People in Warsaw require to release Kazulin (Photo)

9:22, — Politics

A picket near Belarus’ Embassy in Warsaw on occasion of Solidarity Day took place on 16 March. Participants of the picket carried national Belarusian flags and portraits of political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin.

Gazprom to increase gas prices 16

8:42, — Economics

Average price for Russian gas can seriously grow for Europe and the CIS countries.