Dear friends! On 14 of July, approximately at 1 p.m. (Minsk time) web-site www.charter97.org suffered from strong DOS-attack. Functioning of the web-site was paralyzed for several hours. We are sure that it was a dirty attempt of Belarusian special services to hinder functioning of www.charter97.org -- the most authoritative and popular independent web-site of political news from Belarus. Probably that the attack is a part of campaign against protest action of Belarusian opposition planned for 21 of July. Charter web-site informs about preparations to the action dedicated to the end of 10 year term of Lukashenka’s ruling. Dear readers, we apologize for temporary inconvenience and assure you that we will continue our work evin in the most difficult conditions. Stay with us. For your and our freedom!

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Several materials about "Zubr" movement have been recently published in French media. Magazine "Epoc", TV channel "Arte" told France about struggle of Belarusian patriots. Last week interview with press-secretary of "Zubr" movement Aliaksandr Atroshchankau was published in French web-site http://www.inurop.com/:

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Honoured artist of Belarus Zinaida Bandarenka has intension to take part in action 21 of July. dedicated to the end of 10 year term of Lukashenka’s ruling. “For ten years already Belarusian people are fed with promises. Living standard remains very low. Inflation in Belarus is the highest among ex-Soviet countries. But media are persuading us again and again that we live better. People start awaking. Ten years is a long term. There must be changes in our country. I call everyone to support initiative of “Republic” group – this courageous men who rocked situation in Belarus. As many people as possible must come to the action on 21 of July. This will be our step to consolidation that we need so much today. We will obtain independence, democracy and better life for us and for our country as soon as we unite,” -- said Zinaida Bandarenka in interview to Charter press-center.

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Famous Belarusan writer Uladzimer Arlou upheld action 21 of July dedicated to the end of 10 year term of Lukashenka’s ruling. “I share views of outstanding historian and philosopher Arnold Toinby. He imagined movement of civilization as unceasing dialog with God or with high power that sends us its challenges. If the challenges remain not responded again and again nation leaves from historical scene. We have to acknowledge that Belarus and Belarusians are in dangerous area. Too many challenges remained not responded properly. But I believe that Belarus has its creative minority that according to Toinby plays decisive role in history. The minority is not united enough now but we have it. And we must be together on 21 of July to realize this,” – said writer in interview to Charter press-center.

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At about 5.45 p.m. Pavel Dzemidziuk, Mikhail Ilyin, Pavel Khivuk and Ales Vashchulka were detained near the “Belarus” cinema in Brest for handing out the “Zubr” and the “Osvobozhdeniye” newspapers together with the book “Belarus: Undisclosed Crimes of Modern History”. The action lasted only for quarter of an hour. Then somebody called for the police. While waiting for the patrol car, the teenagers phoned to “Viasna” and said they were detained. The head of Brest branch of HRC “Viasna” Uladzimir Vialichkin and mother of the minor Ilyin arrived to the place of the detention together at the same time with the police car.

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On 12 July Hrodna Regional Civil Court satisfied the suit of the public association “Will for Development” against the decision of Slonim Town Tax Inspection to exact from the organization 15 million rubles tax from the means, received within the limits of the TACIS technical aid program. Judge Aleh Kadach set aside the decision of the tax inspection and obliged it to compensate the court expenses. To his decision he attached the verdict on analogous case of the public association “Belarusian Helsinki Committee”.

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Authorities in Minsk imposed a foreign travel ban on Lyudmila Gryaznova, deputy chair of the United Civic Party (UCP), for her failure to pay a $2,000 fine.

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Belarusian rock groups seeking to perform at the Basowiszcza festival in Poland later this month have to rely on their demo recordings because there will be no auditions because of a lack of time. The Polish organizers of the event were too late to launch preparations, coordinator Aleksandr Pomidorov, who will guest at the festival billed as Pomidor/off, told BelaPAN.

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