Strasbourg hosts another session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Among its delegates are UCP chair Anatoly Lebedko and his deputy Yaroslav Romanchuk. On the opening day of the session representatives of the political opposition of Belarus informed the rest of participants about the political climate in Belarus during the already commenced presidential race. Renowned Swiss politician Ernest Mulleman, reporter for Russia and a great supporter of the Belarusian dictator in the past, shared his impressions over his four last meetings with Lukashenko: “The man is a European Fidel Kastro. He’s not just a dictator, he’s a bad dictator. Lukashenko’s word doesn’t cost a cent or a franc. He swore to me that he would open Malevich’s museum in Belarus. He never did that but instead wastes fortunes on ice palaces.”

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In his June 21 address to the OSCE Chairman-in-office Geoana ambassador Johnson raised the issues of human rights violations in the former Republic of Yugoslavia, disputed territory of Chechnya and Belarus. Following comes the excerpt of his speech, dealing with Belarus:

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Sunday footage of the Belarusian television was a mockery over Alexander Lukashenko. In news report from Brest, televised at 3p.m., they broadcast his speech, which started with the words “I die but don’t surrender”.

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Editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Belarussky Chas” – regular periodical of the Federation of trade unions of Belarus – Alexander Starikevich was summoned on June 25 to the KGB investigation department as witness on the criminal lawsuit of a colleague of his, Belarusian Helsinki Committee member Sergei Anisko, who had previously been employed at the KGB analytical department.

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The Central commission of the Republic of Belarus for elections and referenda accomplished on June 20 the formation of the electoral commissions. According to CEC they set up 168 territorial units, comprising 2179 persons. Only the members of the following parties were included: Agricultural Party, Belarusian Patriotic Party, Communist Part of Belarus, Liberal Democrats, Party of Belarusian Communists, the Republican Party of labor and justice, along with 14 public foundations (Belarusian patriotic youth union, Belarusian union of youth, veteran and trade union organizations).

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The main assets of the “Horizon” company are obsolete. Most radio elements are assembled by hands. The shortage of turnover assets is also acute. But worse than that is the policy of the state, which spoils all company’s efforts. Last year the plant, manufacturing TV sets was hit by rocketing taxation. The introduction of a single US dollar rate also had a negative impact on the company’s performance. Official rate soared by 2,5 times over this short period of time. However, with “Hoziron” purchasing over 70% of materials from abroad, it gets clear why the production cost increased so much.

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