The address to friends and countrymen by Liudmila Karpenka, wife of Henadz Karpenka, was sent from Germany to Belarusian mass media. Henadz Karpenka, former vice speaker of the Supreme Soviet, has died three years ago under mysterious circumstances. In her letter Liudmila Karpenka writes: “It has happened so that I live in Germany now. I never thought that it could happen. I love my motherland, my people. But starting from 1994 a disaster came to our country. Belarus was headed by a man who does not think of people, but of his well being, about his limitless power. Lukashenka had chosen political terror to remain in power, managing money of the state, of the people...”

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On March 3 in the evening by a Minsk department store “Volgograd” (South West urban district) a conflict between local dwellers and police took place. About 6 p.m. in the evening a police patrol, consisting of three policemen and a dog, approached three men aged about 50-60 years who looked rather respectable. The policemen offered to follow them to the police station. The men refused, as they could not understand the reason for that. Then the policemen employed special means, first rubber truncheons, then tear gas. One of the citizens was handcuffed. However а crowd of about 150 or 200 people that had gathered there, attacked the police officers defending the men.

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Belarusian local heads change for Mercedeses. To provide all heads of regions wit new cars, presiodential administration has bought 174 Mercedeses recently. And besides 119 cars UAZ were bought for driving “to the fields”. There are 118 regions in Belarus. So every head of the region will get at least one car Mercedes and one UAZ.

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Belarus is going to join the project of creation transport corridor “North-South” and is interested in intensification of cooperation with Iran in the sphere of transportation. As the reporter of the “Novosti” agency informs, it was stated by the transport minister of Belarus Viktar Baradui at the meeting with the ambassador of Iran in Minsk Mohammad Musi Khashemi Golpaiegani.

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“If just a single cent, I am not speaking of a dollar, would be spent for other purposes, or you would not be able to account for some financial question – you are in jail”. This statement was made by Lukashenka on April 4 at consultations regarding construction of a roofed football ground in Minsk. The threat was addressed to the chairman of the Minsk city executive committee Mikhail Paulau, minister of sports and tourism Yauhen Vorsin, and “all present who participate in construction”. “You should remember that. I am tired to control my officeholders in everything they do. I say it to you publicly”, - Lukashenka said.

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Despite of all external distinctions, Belarusian leader Lukashenka and the leader of the Libyan revolution Muammar Quaddafi are alike like brothers. They have made this discovery two years ago, when in November 2000 Lukashenka visited Africa for two days, as the official sources stressed, on invitation of the Libyan side.

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At the Central Court of Minsk the last participants of celebration of the Freedom Day faced trial. All detainees were punished – nobody was acquitted. Judges Natalia Vajtsekhovich and Tatsiana Pavliuchuk eight days were considering cases of 33 people. As a result four people – the Young Front leader PaalSevyarynets, Vyachaslau Siuchyk, Zmitser Dashkevich and Viktar Kaveshnikau – were arrested. Tsimafei Dranchuk, according to the court’s ruling, is sentenced to 10 days of imprisonment. 16 more people were fined 20 minimal salaries, one of them – Andrei Achapousky, was fined 1.5 mln BYB. Others were reprimanded. Some of them can are threatened by dismissal by their employers.

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The board of the Homel regional court has sentenced the former deputy director of the Svetlahorsk enterprise “Khimvalakno” Valery Nadzezhdzin to six years of hard labour colony with confiscation of property. The accused was found guilty in bribery and a theft. The court was convinced that Nadzezhdzin had illegally received USD 92 thousands and more than DM 100 thousand.

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The head of the Hrodna branch of the Belarusian Popular Front Syarhei Malchyk has been on hunger strike for a week already. He was confined for his part in Freedom Day celebration. Malchyk has announced hunger strike in jail, after he was sentenced to 10 days of arrest.

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In Minsk at the meeting of Lithuanian businessmen with Belarusian entrepreneurs has expressed their protest to the measures of Belarusian customs officers. It was caused by the fact that the State Customs Committee of Belarus has obliged to escort Lithuanian autocarriers who transport goods at the Belarusian territory.

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