“Journalist, human rights defender, member of the BHC monitoring council Valery Schukin is arrested and convicted for his professional activities, although all his actions Valkery Schukin always bases on law and observance of human rights. He is an example of lawfulness and unbiased struggle for it in a country, where law violations are becoming norm of the day. The accusation statement, passed by court, is a breach of the universal principle of the freedom of press. Now that the 60-year old human rights defender is transferred to the Zhodino pre-trial detention, notorious for its repressive detention conditions, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee appeals to those, on whom the human rights defender’s destiny depends, pleading with them to stick to the rule of law and liberate Valery Schukin,” – reads BHC address of July 5, which followed Schukin’s transfer to Zhodino prison.

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Former Lukashenko’s closest aide Ivan Titenkov applied for political asylum in Germany, BDG reports. The paper alleges that Titenkov came to Germany from Italy, where he arrived from Russia. Some time ago he went into hiding on vast Russian territory, knowing too much about presidential funds and means of money-laundering by state officials in Belarus. According to Charter’97 information, the Saturday issue of “Dyen” newspaper will come up with a big and informative interview with Ivan Titenkov. At present, the data, supplied by BDG, is subject to verification.

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Leninsky district court of Minsk nullified the verdict on the administrative case of Sergei Laptev, 45-year old unemployed Minsk resident who threw a tomato at president Lukashenko during July 3 relay. Today judge Dmitry Zhdanok ruled 7 days of arrest for the man. While in courtroom the suspect confirmed the political motives for his act, claiming that he “restored ancient custom of throwing vegetables at bad performers”. Police immediately convoyed him to Okrestina jail. However, a few hours later it appeared that Sergei Laptev was set free. The law-enforcers informed Laptev that Alexander Lukashenko personally pardoned him.

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“Can there be a worthwhile improvement of living conditions under the present-day country’s leadership and their policy?” – NISEPI pollsters asked the residents of the country.

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The Leninsky district court of Minsk sentenced 45-year old Minsk resident Sergei Laptev, who dared throw a tomato at the president during the July 3 relay, to 7 days of administrative arrest, the verdict being ruled by judge Dmitry Zhdanok. In court Laptev confirmed the political motives of his act – he “resumed the ancient tradition to throw tomatoes at bad actors”.

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Natalya Masherova – “deputy” and daughter of the late Soviet Belarus head Petr Masherov – changed her mind and revoked her decision to nominate for the president. Masherova filed in a request to the Central Electoral Committee, pleading with them to annul her group’s registration. The reasons for her withdrawal from the race aren’t mentioned. The CEC plans to pass its final decision on the matter soon.

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A day before the flight to Paris, where the hearings on Belarus membership with OSCE PA will be held, the delegation of the “house of representatives” was drastically changed – “five” MPs were denied diplomatic passports. Belarus will be represented in Paris by two little-known deputies. Head of the Supreme Soviet delegation Anatoly Lebedko assumes that the official Minsk already put up with the idea that the “house of representatives” won’t be recognized in Paris and Belarusian seats will thus be vacant.

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Second week of the signature collection in support of the candidates is over. Due to the difference in the number and activism of initiative groups the contenders have different chances of reaching the required level of 100,000 signatures, needed for registering as nominees for the supreme state post.

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One of the aides of the former leader of Bosnian Serbs Karadjich, who wished to remain anonymous, told certain media sources that former leader of Bosnian Serbs is ready to stand before the Hague Tribunal in capacity of a witness against the former president of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic. In response, Karadjich hopes to get a milder sentence himself.

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