Belarus ` authoritarian government denounced a U.S. human rights report as politically motivated, but the U.S. Embassy in Belarus said the government`s complaint only proves the charges in the document.

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This year’s harvesting has almost come to an end, corn gathering being the only exception. Judging by the official statistics, we will not depend on the food supplies from other countries. However, the governors flopped the plan – none of the regions fulfilled the president’s claims.

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Action in support of the convicted journalists of the Grodno newspaper “Pahonia” Nikolai Markevich and Pavel Mozheiko took place on August 9 in Moscow opposite the building of the Belarusian embassy. The action’s organizers were the Russian ecological organization “Rainbow Keepers” and the Moscow club of radical artists. At midday in front of the Belarusian embassy there appeared a cage. Inside the cage there were a few people with T-shirts, reading “Press”, who were holding in hands photo and video cameras. Around the cage there was strolling a mustached man in a national Belarusian garment, wearing Lukashenko’s mask. He was singing “Oh, how nice the world is”. In his hand the man held a lash, which he used against those in the cage, forcing them to eat “Pahonia” newspapers. The “journalists” manifested their indignation, but, receiving lashes on their backs, had to submit.

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The year 2003 will become crucial in the formation of the “union state” of Russia and Belarus, “Interfax” was told on Friday by the chairman of the Russian State Duma Gennady Seleznev. “If by the year 2003 we fail to determine the future of the Union, one should not rule out the possibility that the Belarusian-Russian state idea may collapse,” – said he.

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Alexander Lukashenko is set to travel to Russia. The man is expected to pay a working visit to Moscow on August 14. The visit will be carried out upon Vladimir Putin’s personal invitation, RIA Novosti was told in the press-service of the Russian leader.

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Conflict with the proprietors of the Russian company “Zapad-Transnefteproduct” in Mozyr hasn’t been solved yet, said representative of the AK “Transnefteproduct” (Moscow), who preferred to remain anonymous. According to him, the oil company’s accounts on the transportation of petroleum goods haven’t been frozen yet. The business operates and taxes are being regularly levied into the budget. Expectedly, at the looming meeting the presidents of Russia and Belarus Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko will add some clarity to the re-partition of property.

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