According to the Minister of information Mikhail Podgainy, the schedule of the future exhibition “Media in Belarus” includes round table on “Legislation problems in media”, during which they will listen to all proposals concerning the law on media.

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The heads of the regional committees of the International Federation of metal-workers of CIS and Baltic states at their April 29-30 session in Moscow condemned the Belarusian authorities’ treatment of the two leading industrial trade unions, which are members of IMF.

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On May 2 Alexander Lukashenko appointed Dmitry Zhouk director general of the “Belarusian telegraph agency” BELTA, BelaPAN was told in the presidential press-service, which Dmitry Zhouk was the head of prior to his new appointment. BELTA director general’s post remained vacant for over a month. From December 6, 2002 until March 25, 2003 the agency was chaired by the former head of one of the departments of the presidential security service Oleg Proleskovsky.

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Minsk regional court left in force the verdict of the Pukhovichi court, under which Kletsk combiners Bondarev and Pilnevich were found guilty of falsification of last year’s harvesting results. That means that Pilnevich can get arrested at any moment and be sent to jail for three years.

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US president George Bush appointed George Krol the new US ambassador in Belarus, reports AP with a reference to the White House officials. Mr.Krol used to be US charge d’affaires in Russia. He also occupied various posts in the US embassies in Minsk and Kiev. Before he takes over his post, his candidacy must be approved by the Senate.

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The company’s administration denied the branch of the Free trade union of Belarus at “Orshateploseti” to receive legal address over alleged organization’s violation of the company’s statute. This stripped the trade union of its right to get registered with the town authorities, which is required for legal operation. Orsha town prosecutor Hmaruk, whom the trade unionists addressed over the matter, recognized the measures of the company’s director as legitimate. Praca.by reports that the legal address’ provision is an economic agreement, which means that procuracy has no right to force the director to sign it.

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On April 30 the employer dismissed from job for his part in the local elections representative of the “Vesna” human rights center in Novopolotsk Zmitser Soloviev.

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On Friday the ex-Minister of foreign affairs of Belarus Mikhail Khvostov received news that he may fly to Washington, where he will work as Belarus’ ambassador in USA. It took the new appointee more than a month to get entry visa to USA. Apparently, he will show up in the States in early May.

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