Alexander Lukashenko engaged in the on-line phone communications with the readers of “Sovetskaya Belorussiya” and “Komsomolskaya Pravda”. Radio Svaboda correspondent Valery Kalinovsky tried to pose his question to Lukashenko, for usually the non-state correspondents have no access to the incumbent, being denied accreditation at the press briefings with him. So, he tried to ask Alexander Lukashenko whether he is ready to provide asylum to the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who faced US take-it-or-leave-it resolution.

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ZUBR movement’s activists, residing in Poland, gathered over fifty signatures under the text of petition, in which they demand immediate and unconditional release of Gryanova, Sannikov, Bondarenko and Malakhov, sentenced to 15 days of arrest. The statement reads that the politicians were arrested under trumped-up charges against law. It also reminds that lawless acts of the Belarusian regime are thoroughly observed in Europe. The petition was passed over to the Belarusian embassy in Warsaw.

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Gomel special services keep exerting tremendous pressure on ZUBR activists. The pressure especially mounted ahead of the People’s March. On February 10 the unknown seized and interrogated Denis Chikalev. Young muscular guys twisted his arms behind his back and threw into their vehicle. According to the victim, they drove him to some building where agents in civilian inquired from him about his part in ZUBR. When he refused to reply, they drove him back to the place of detention and threw out from the car.

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ZUBR activist from Borisov Anatoly Askerko received yesterday a summons to appear in the Borisov town police station for the protocol-filing. The man is accused of organizing on March 12 the People’s March in his hometown. The meeting was held in the downtown, attracting two hundred businessmen and ZUBR activists. After the protocol was filed, they set him free. However, police warned him that within the next few days he would get court subpoena.

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“Narodnaya Volya” readers already know about the regime’s retaliation to the People’s March “For Better Life!”. Four of its organizers – Dmitry Bondarenko, Ludmila Gryaznova, Leonid Malakhov and Andrei Sannikov – were sent behind bars for 15 days. They sleep on bare planks, without beddings, having no usual right for strolls and correspondence, as well as for watching TV and listening to radio. In fact, they are placed into a lock-up cell. Now they are immured in a cell with no sunlight and feeble electric light.

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Dear Ludmila Nikolaevna,

The Council of the Smorgon town’s UCP organization expresses genuine solidarity and support for you at this difficult period of life. Such people have always been a stronghold, hope and pride of our nation. Your actions and faithfulness to the democratic changes, dedication to your country, as well as ability to cope with any hardships and sacrifice for the good of the common victory, being among the leaders of true intelligentsia and patriots of Belarus, cause the deep respect of your party organization of Smorgon.

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Dear Mr.President,

I’m writing to you from Belarus – a country, which has little respect for human rights, while those, who stand on guard of human rights are persecuted by police and the so-called “law-enforcement bodies”. However, we have no objective judiciary, nor procuracy which would stand on guard of the law.

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Investigation into a criminal lawsuit of the MTP former director Leonov is finished and sent to the Supreme Court, BELTA correspondent was told by the press-center of the state procuracy. Leonov is indicted for large-scale embezzlement of 16,3mln dollars, 462,2thsd dollars’ bribery and illicit entrepreneurial activities. Ex-director is charged with power abuse, tax-evasion and inflicting damage on the state.

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Priest of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church traveled to USA in early February. Not so long ago he was employed by some gas station. “He has more than plenty grounds for granting him a political refuge. He was arrested and spent 15 days in a confinement center. They got him arrested more than once. Right before icons police handcuffed him,” – says Alexander Antonuk, chairman of the Grodno regional affiliate of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee.

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