Former country`s KGB chief Vladimir Matskevich has been recently appointed Belarus ambassador in Yugoslavia. He was dismissed from his post back in November 2000 following a series of scandals, provoked by the investigations into the disappearance cases. Up until recently rumors were spreading by both Russian and Belarusian press about his desire to participate in the run for the presidency - either as nominee or aide of one of the candidates. Apparently, these calculations turned out to be false - a person, who possesses secret data on abduction cases, prefers to keep his mouth shut.
WHO WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MISSING ONES?
special issue of "Nasha Svaboda"

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March 19, 2001
One of the crummiest countries to have emerged out of the dissolution of the Soviet Union is Belarus.

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Anton Telezhnikov will leave the dismal and dark detention center Okrestina this afternoon. On March 6 the jury ruled a 15-day arrest for his picketing the presidential Administration along with some of his mates. The youths took to the street, carrying portraits of the missing opposition members.

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International Committee for Journalists Rights Protection considers the kidnapping of ORT cameraman Dmitry Zavadsky as one of the crucial facts, characterizing the situation around the freedom of speech in Belarus, the human rights NGO officials said during the presentation of their annual report "Crackdown on the freedom of speech-2000".

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Minsk law-enforcers confiscated from the BPF activists a few thousand flyers, prepared for the Freedom Day. Vehicles, in the trunks of which the leaflets were found, were towed to the Central and Pervomaisky police stations, whereat the drivers faced police protocols.

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Belarus government paid too little attention to the incident that happened recently at the Vitebsk collector station, causing tons of faeces drain into the West Dvina river waters. Moreover, they sought to hide away the fact and never informed the Latvians. Consequently, there was held a Helsinki meeting, at which they particularly discussed the problem of Daugava river contamination by the Belarus enterprises.

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Following the growth of communications fares Belarus experienced one more - this time on international phone calls by 5,3-6%. The previous price-increase occurred less than a month ago.

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