106 students of the National Humanities Lyceum of Jakub Kolas, which was liquidated by the authorities, from December 22 to January 3 will study in Vilnius Lyceum, as Uladzimer Kolas, headmaster of the Lyceum, informed the Charter’97.

---

On December 19 in Zhodzina (Minsk Oblast) the trial of the case of local organization of the Belarusian Popular Front Alyaksei Lapitski started. Local tax office charges him with violation of tax law.

---

It was said by the judge of the Mahilyow Oblast economical court Valiantsina Staravoitava on December 19, who considered a claim of Krychaw businessman Uladzimer Kudrawtsaw to the local authorities.

---

At the new session of the Belarusian Popular Front taken on Decmber20 by Minsk, the chairman of the party was elected Vintsuk Vyachorka. Another candidate for the position of the chairman was Ales Astrowski from Hrodna. 149 delegates voted for Vyachorka, 66 were against. Astrowski gathered 55 pros and 160 against him.

---

Preparations for parliamentary elections-2004 are starting in Belarus, the cairwoman of the Central Election Committee Lydzia Yarmoshyna said to Interfax agency. “Proposals about the electoral districts’ limits and commissions relating preparation to the elections were given to all regional executive committees and regional soviets (councils). In February presentation of the proposals is to take place”, -- Yarmoshyna said.

---

Since January 1 a new rule will be acting in the Belarusian State University, put forward d by the new rector Vasil Strazhaw. It was forbidden to use cribs before, but in such cases students were not punished seriously. But since this midyear things are to change. The decree declares that the student caught with a crib is to be expelled.

---