17:23 Berlusconi had to defend his meeting with Lukashenka

Italian Prime Minister didn’t want to draw too much attention to a visit of one of the last Europe’s dictators, but nevertheless found himself in an embarrassing situation, Italian Corriere della Sera writes.

17:14 Belarusian authorities banned holding Europe’s Day

Minsk city executive committee denied a permission to hold pickets for collection of signatures in favour of Belarus’ joining the European Union. The officials explained their denial by a non-existent legal norm.

16:42 Iran and Belarus to give new definition to a term “human rights”

Head of the judicial system of Iran called on Belarus to give a new definition to terms human rights, freedom of speech, racism, discrimination, and terrorism.

15:45 Prosecutor’s office refuses to initiate criminal case for oppositionists’ abductions

Minsk prosecutor’s office has denied a request of the deputy chairperson of the “Young Front” Nasta Palazhanka and an activist of the organisation Dzyanis Karnou who demanded to find persons who had abducted them and beaten them up.

14:02 Vatican does not comment on initiatives of the Belarusian ruler

The Vatican has not officially responded to the words of Alyaksandr Lukashenka about a possibility of the first meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and the head if the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill in Belarus.

12:39 World press: Europe is playing a risky game with Lukashenka (Updated)

“There is a threat that Lukashenka will come to a conclusion that nothing more should be changed in Belarus, when he would be received in European capitals again,” the Polish daily “Rzeczpospolita” writes.

12:30 Maxime Verhagen: “We shouldn’t pretend that everything’s fine in Belarus”

Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Verhagen expects that the Belarusian dictator won’t come to the EU summit to Prague on May 7.

12:17 European Belarus activist got arrest for action against nuclear power plant constructing

A “European Belarus” activist was sentenced to arrest for an action against constructing a nuclear power plant.

12:15 ONT TV channel distorted quotes of Western mass media about Lukashenka’s meeting with Pope

Reviewing foreign mass media, representatives of the Belarusian ONT TV Channel have made serious mistakes in translation.

10:00 Is Lukashenka meeting with developers of Iran’s nuclear program?

Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, one of the most influential political figures in Iran, was going to visit Minsk on April 28.

9:30 Political prisoner Mikalay Autukhovich continues hunger strike in jail for 2 week

Vaukavysk entrepreneur went on hunger strike in Minsk remand prison on April 16.

9:02 Belarusian customs officers confiscated Polish diplomats’ mail

On April 24, a car of officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affaires of Poland was detained at Bruzhi border-crossing point.