Representatives of opposition forces of Ukraine and Belarus are negotiating on cooperation and may sign a corresponding agreement. Ukraine may face the same political situation as Belarus if democratic forces lose the presidential elections, MP Olexandr Turchynov (Yulia Tymoshenko`s bloc) said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday. He described the situation of the Belarusian opposition as tough, and said the situation couldn`t be solved within the Constitution of Belarus. The opposition force in that country need moral and political help, he said. He said the wording of the agreement had not been drawn up, however, it might be signed next week. He did not specify which country, Ukraine or Belarus, would host the signing ceremony. Irina Heraschenko, press secretary of Our Ukraine bloc leader Viktor Yuschenko, said the bloc had signed such a cooperation agreement with political forces in Poland, Lithuania, Georgia, and Russia. She confirmed that political consultations with the Belarusian opposition were taking place.

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Situation with democracy is one of the most serious obstacles in the way of relations improvemtn between the US and Belarus, told US Ambassador in Belarus George Krol at a press conference in Mahilyou on May 27. He reminded that the US government and Embassy have many times expressed their concern over the situation with human rights in Belarus. He said that one of the aims of American diplomatic mission in Minsk is monitoring of the events in the country. “We also express our opinion to the government of Belarus in the cases when we think that Belarus is not following its undertakings as a country-member of the OSCE”.

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Zubr activists have carried out an action in support of ex-minister, the 12th and 13th Supreme Soviets deputy, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Belarus Mikhail Marynich, who was arrested on April 26 by the KGB. A banner with words “Free Marynich!” was placed on the railway bridge in he Maskouskaya Street. Six-meter banner stayed above a busy street for half an hour, attracting attention of drivers and passengers of public transport. Nobody was detained.

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The Prosecutor’s office of Malaryta region refused Uladzimir Malej, deputy of Malaryta regional council to bring a criminal action against the head of information department of Malaryta regional executive committee Syarhei Strok, who said publicly that the Belarusian Popular Front collaborated with the Nazi during the Great Patriotic War (WW II), though the Belarusian Popular Front was created in 1988, 43 years after the war ended.

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Zubr activists Katsyaryna Klimko and Maxim Gromau, charged with criminal indictment, were released yesterday evening. The young people were freed at about 20.00 after the first interrogation. 17-year old Katsyaryna Klimko and Maxim Gromau have spent about a day and a half in prison. As we have informed, they were detained on May 25 for writing a slogan “Free Marynich!” Maxim Gromau was beaten during detention.

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The administrative commission of Leninski district of Hrodna on 26 May levied a fine of one base value [about 8 dollars] on the editor-in-chief of the independent daily Den, Mikalay Markevich, and confiscated the newspapers` latest issue.

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The Minsk-based printing house Svetach is to cancel its contract with the private daily Mestnaya Gazeta from Vawkavysk [Hrodna Region] on 28 May. A notification letter to this effect has already been received by the newspaper. The printer cites the newspaper`s failure to timely pay for the services rendered as the reason for this move.

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