News on 19.03.2008

19.03.2008

Belarus FMs underline expansion of mutual ties

18:43, IRNA — Politics

Iran and Belarus foreign ministers by exchanging messages felicitated the 15th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Russian embassy in Minsk confirms arrest of US lawyer's secretary

18:32, — Politics

The Russian embassy in Belarus confirmed to BelaPAN on Wednesday that a Russian national, Vladlena Funk, was arrested in Minsk last week.

Alyaksandr Kazulin rejected commutation 17

16:56, — Politics

Political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin was rejected the commutation the second time, Interfax learnt from Vitba-3 penal colony, where he is serving the term of punishment.

Investments from offshore go to Belarus 7

16:38, — Economics

One of the tendencies that have become noticeable over the last years in attracting foreign investment to Belarusian economy is growth of investments from offshore areas.

“Narodnaya Volya” and “Tovarishch” released after detention 5

16:28, — Politics

A car with newspapers “Narodnaya Volya” and “Tovarishch” was set free from Dubrouna district militia department at 2.30pm. It is moving now on the highway Moscow-Brest.

US Embassy Suspended Issuing Visas 53

15:00, — Politics

Examining applications for receiving US visas in Belarus has been temporarily suspended. Some interviews for getting visas have been postponed. The US Government is in the process of reviewing the request made by the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 17 that the U.S. Embassy in Minsk reduce its staffing, the web-page of the Embassy informs, and “therefore, visa processing has been temporarily suspended while our resources are engaged addressing other priorities.”

Film Freedom Day shot ahead of 25 March (Video) 7

13:50, — Culture

Uladzimir Arlou, Yury Khashchavatski and Aleh Dashkevich shot film Freedom Day ahead of 90th anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic.

Lawyer Zeltser Detained In Minsk 1

11:51, Heidi Brown, "Forbes" — Politics

Emanuel Zeltser, a Russian-born U.S. citizen who sued the Bank of New York during the height of its Russian money-laundering scandal in the 1990s, was detained last week in Minsk, his brother told Forbes.

Amnesty International: “Actions would speak louder than words” 10

11:24, — Politics

First reactions to the fact famous PR-manager Lord Timothy Bell was going to burnish the image of Belarus and its ruler have appeared in Great Britain.

472 Belarusian officials can be forbidden entry Poland 40

10:38, — Politics

The Polish non-governmental organisation Freedom and Democracy Foundation released a report on results of research of political repressions in Belarus.

Viktar Ivashkevich: “There’s no prohibition on Freedom Day rally”

10:06, — Politics

The organising committee for celebration of Freedom Day has decided that people will gather on March 25 at 6 p.m. on Yakub Kolas Square.

Arrest of US Lawyer Related to “Berezovsky’s Case?” 1

8:50, — Politics

An arrest of a well-known US lawyer, a specialist on money laundering and organized crime Emanuel Zeltser, could be related to Berezovsky’s case”, believes a US citizen, a court interpreter Valery Schukin, whose client was Zeltser.

Hunger Strike for Kazulin’s Release Could Become Massive 6

8:49, — Politics

On March 18 Volha Kazulina, a daughter of a political prisoner, a deputy chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic party Ihar Rynkevich, the leader of the Social Democratic Youth Ales Straltsou and a businessman Mikalay Autukhovich have addressed Belarusian and international community with an appeal to start “a relay hunger strike for release of Alyaksandr Kazulin and dismiss criminal persecution against democratic activists of Belarus”.

The annual concert «Solidarity with Belarus» 3

8:36, — Politics

The annual concert "Solidarity with Belarus" will take place in Warsaw on 30th of March. The Belarus bands and artistes as well as the musicians from Poland will participate in the concert, playing the new arrangements of well known compositions in both Polish and Belorussian languages.

US Ambassador: “Goal of US and EU is to release Alyaksandr Kazulin” 3

8:29, — Politics

The United States of America and the European Union have a common goal – respecting of human rights in Belarus and fulfilling of democratic standards. Head of US diplomatic mission in Minsk Karen Stewart said it 18 March in the interview to Radio Svaboda, commenting on results of the meetings with the EU leadership in Brussels. “We share a more concrete aim- release of Alyaksandr Kazulin,” the diplomat noted.