Editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Rabochy” has been serving his enforced labor term since December 2002 in Baranovichi colony for alleged slandering the incumbent. Previously, the colony’s administration let Ivashkevich visit his elderly sick parents over the weekend, but now the police authorities stripped him of that opportunity.
Chairman of the United Civil Party Anatoly Lebedko and his deputy Yaroslav Romanchuk were exposed to a personal search when crossing the Lithuanian-Belarusian border on May 23. The two politicians were on their way home from Vilnius, where they met with representatives of the Lithuanian Sojm. The search was carried out by the officers of the Belarusian customs and lasted for almost one hour. They also checked up the vehicle, on which the UCP leaders rode, examined their personal stuff and even the content of their pockets. UCP press-service reports that they seized for examination the draft projects of amendments in the electoral legislation, along with the pleas, due to be submitted to the Constitutional court.
On May 23 Gomel hosted first hearing on the shutdown of the Gomel regional public association “Civil initiatives”. A lawsuit to court was filed by the regional justice department, which blamed the “CI” upon the results of the examination, over systematic violation of law, such as wrong implementation of activities, improper use of free foreign aid and also infringement on the organization’s statute, reports BelaPAN.
Soon in Belarus only the actual head of state will have the right to be referred to as “president”. The government issued a ruling, under which the word “president” must be removed from the list of the organization’s directors. Now the presidents of banks, firms and associations will be renamed into the chiefs, managers, directors, heads and chairmen. The state officials refer to the special instructions, received by them from the presidential administration. By August 1 they got to prepare all the necessary legislative amendments for that.
Three members of the special OSCE PA working group for Belarus will pay visit to Minsk and Gomel on May 25-28. The mission will be headed by Uta Tsapf, the head of the special working group, AFN was told in the OSCE office in Minsk.
OSCE PA delegation’s visit to Minsk provokes little interest among the Belarusian political parties. “Rosbalt” correspondent was told in the United Civil Party’s press-service that the leaders of the Belarusian opposition parties worked out a common strategy concerning the upcoming visit. In particular, said the BPF chairman Vintsuk Vyachorka, “the Belarusian opposition will tell Uta Tsapf about their common demand to the European structures, including OSCE, “to cease unilateral steps towards Minsk and wait for at least one feedback on Minsk’s part”. UCP leader Anatoly Lebedko also deems that the “step-by-step strategy, proclaimed by the international community, remains but on paper”.
The European Commission’s officials denounced the statement of the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berluskoni on the possible Russia’s accession to the European Union. The European Commission, representing EU interests in general, is convinced that Russia doesn’t relate to the list of countries, eligible for joining EU. Same opinion is shared on Belarus and Israel, which Berluskoni made mention of in his interview.
On May 26-June 2 Iran will host the Days of Belarus. This were confirmed in course of the Belarusian Minister of culture’s meeting with the Iranian plenipotentiary ambassador in Belarus. The Days of culture will attract around 50 Belarusian artists and craftsmen. The days’ agenda also includes concerts of the presidential orchestra and the Belarusian movies “In August 1944” by Mikhail Ptashuk and “Small fighter” by Margarita Kasymova. During the Ministry’s delegation’s visit to Teheran, the sides will also discuss the possible preparation of draft agreement on bilateral cooperation between Belarus and Iran.
A decade ago it was impossible to imagine that Belarus will one day border on NATO. But now the situation is totally different. Poland, Lithuania and Latvia are about to join the alliance, which means that the military bases of the “potential foe” will be located in the close vicinity of the Belarusian borders. No doubt, this produces a chilling effect on the Belarusian leadership, which is aspiring to merge with Russia and curses USA and their allies, confronting them with their own army.
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