The regional association of the National TV Company denied famous Gomel journalist, member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Alexander Shkut a right to produce the Sunday program “Good evening” (Dobry Vechar).

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The Ministry of justice issued a written reprimand to the Chief Council of the “Union of Poles in Belarus”. The Poles were notified of the possible liquidation of their public organization. The Justice Ministry’s letter mentions the alleged violation of laws “On tongues” and “On public organizations”. For instance, they say that the Union is carrying out some of its paperwork in the Polish language and that some unregistered structures are operating within its framework”.

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US Secretary of State Colin Powell accepted on August 22 an oath of allegiance by the newly appointed American ambassador in Belarus George Krol. The ceremony was held on August 13 in the Assembly Hall of the US Department of State. The event was visited by the former three US ambassadors to Belarus: David Suorts, Kenneth Yalovits and Michael Kozak, along with Mr.Krol’s parents, two of his brothers and numerous friends. Belarusian ambassador in USA Mikhail Khvostov couldn’t attend the ceremony, saying that he’s too busy.

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There should be no referenda on the third presidential terms in Europe – this thought was common to all participants of the Russian-Belarusian meeting of politicians and experts, who assembled in Moscow upon the initiative of the Council for exterior and defense policy. It is for the very first time that such a large delegation of Belarusian oppositionists arrived in Moscow.

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Back in July this year, during the “Slav Bazaar” festival, deputy Information Minister Lilia Ananich, having noticed the journal “Arche” in a Vitebsk bookstore, rebuked the local authorities for letting them spread this magazine. Although the journal has a concomitant license, the officials, she said, must be aware of the danger it poses and therefore not let the publishers sell their product. In no time after that Minsk-based “Akadem-kniga” bookstore refused to sell it for no good reason.

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Scholar of a world’s renown, former rector of the Gomel Medical University, professor Yuri Bandazhevsky has served his third year behind bars. Despite the proclaimed amnesty, the Committee for punishments of the Interior Ministry doesn’t say whether they will amnesty the imprisoned professor, sentenced to 8 years of jail for alleged bribery.

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