News on 20.08.2008

20.08.2008

Zeltser’s judgement to be appealed against in Supreme Court 1

16:13, — Politics

US citizen Emanuel Zeltser’s lawyer Zmitser Harachka has sent a cassation appeal to the Supreme Court against a judgement of the Minsk city court to his client.

Belarusian authorities say they ready to develop relations with Iran 2

16:08, — Politics

Belarus and Iran have good prospects of developments of their relations, chairman of the “council of republic” of the “national assembly” of Belarus Henadz Navitski said at the meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Belarus Abdolhamid Fekri in Minsk.

US Embassy welcomes release of all political prisoners in Belarus 4

15:49, — Politics

The US Embassy views release of Syarhei Parsyukevich and Andrei Kim an important event, the press-service of the US diplomatic mission has stated. It is expected that a special statement will be made by the US State Department.

Andrei Sannikov: “US sanctions have made Belarusian authorities release political prisoners” 10

15:17, — Politics

It were the economic sanctions imposed by the US against Lukashenka’s regime have made the Belarusian authorities release political prisoners, believes one of the leaders of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Andrei Sannikov.

Political prisoner Syarhei Parsyukevich released (Photo, video) 24

14:56, — Politics

As the Chater’97 press-centre has been informed, political prisoner Syarhei Parsyukevich has been released from Minsk colony No.1.

Zyanon Paznyak: “Situation is very dangerous” 44

14:30, — Politics

The results of the meeting of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Dmitry Medvedev in Sochi have been commented by the leader of the Conservative Christian party Belarusian Popular Front Zyanon Paznyak:

Political prisoner Andrei Kim released 30

13:55, — Politics

As the Charter’97 press-centre has been informed, political prisoner Andrei Kim has been released from Babrujsk colony today. Like Alyaksandr Kazulin and Syarhei Parsyukevich, Kim was released by A. Lukashenka’s decree.

Yarmoshyna is upset her “elections” boycotted

13:27, — Politics

The chairperson of the Central Elections Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna is concerned over the low competition for a deputy seat, 3.3 persons for seat.

Alyaksandr Kazulin: “If election is not free, people should protest” (Photo, video) 38

13:11, — Politics

The oncoming “parliamentary election” will be neither free nor democratic, and real opposition won’t enter the “parliament”. If the election results are rigged, the Belarusians should protest because their votes haven’t been counted. Former political prisoner and former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin said it at a press conference in Minsk today.

BPF Party candidates registration under threat 3

12:35, — Politics

A head of the department of public organisations at the Directorate for Public Organisations of the Ministry of Justice brought a letter to the office of the Belarusian Popular Front Party on 19 August saying to file original documents of nomination an MP candidate or certified copies of them to the Ministry of Justice on 20 August.

US lawyer Zeltser can die in prison 3

8:10, — Politics

Representatives of the US Embassy in Belarus have visited the US citizen Emanuel Zeltser in the remand prison of the KGB.

Lukashenka decided to stay in Sochi to wait for Putin 16

8:03, — Politics

Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Dmitry Medvedev had a face-to-face meeting in Sochi yesterday. Russian gas price, which is a main question for Belarus now, it wasn’t mentioned after the meeting. According to Russian media, Lukashenka is going to stay in Sochi till Saturday.