Well-known opposition politician ex-chairman of parliament group “Republic” transfered back to investigation prison on Valadarsky street in Minsk after three weeks in prison hospital. Wife of Siarhey Skrabets informed Radio “Liberty” about it.
In this open letter, V?clav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic, and other important public figures bring attention to the situation in Belarus, where Alexander Lukashenka rules with an iron fist.
Today the First channel of Russian TV called names of those who will be awarded “Dmitry Zavadsky prize” this year. This people are correspondent of Russian REN-TV in Minsk Yelena Slav, cameraman Vladimir Kostin, journalist of Radio “Liberty” Lubou Lunyova, editor of newspaper “Glos nad Nemanam” Andzhey Pisalnik and journalist of “BDG” Sergey Satsuk. Ceremony of award will be carried out in Minsk during Day solidarity of Journalists events organized by BAJ.
Press-center of Charter’97 received text of order made by head of Lukashanka administration Victor Sheiman on September, 7 “About awarding several officials of state administration”. Sheiman offers award several state officials for “quality of actions to improve stabilization in sphere of international relations”. Among the awarded are several hig-ranked officials of KGB, prosecution office and administration bodies. In the list of officials are depute chairman of Hrodna region executive committee Mariya Birukova, chairman of Hrodna regional department of KGB Ihar Sergeenka, chairman of ideological department of Hrodna region executive committee Uladzimir Omelko, vice-chairman of of Hrodna regional department of KGB Uladzimir Shinkevich. There is no doubt that the officials were awarded for dismissal of legal administration of Union of Belarusian Poles and for pressure on democratic part of this public organization.
Ex-chairman of Belarusian KGB Leanid Yerin now works as assistant of head of Russian railways Vladimir Yakunin. According to Radio Liberty the information was confirmed in Russian railways.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Oxfam International call on a small number of “spoiler” countries to stop holding the UN World Summit hostage over crucial measures on human rights, security, genocide and poverty reduction. These governments have thrown negotiations on the final outcome text into crisis just days away from the biggest meeting of world leaders in history, September 14-16 in New York.
A September 6 statement issued by the Polish foreign ministry in connection with a controversial convention of the Union of Belarusian Poles (UBP) drew harsh reaction from Minsk. In its statement, the Polish foreign office said that a UBP convention, which was held in Volkovysk on August 27 and resulted in the election of new leaders regarded as loyal to the Belarusian government, had been organized with support from Belarusian secret services. According to the statement, the convention was held in violation of the organization`s charter, Belarusian laws, a Belarusian-Polish cooperation accord, and European standards of policies with regard to ethnic minorities.
Unit leaders and officers of Belarus` Committee for State Security (KGB) received tactical and special training at the 5th Detached Special-Purpose Brigade in Maryina Gorka, Minsk region.
Belarus` delegation will attend a round of high-level consultations on reforming the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to be held in Vienna on September 12 and 13.
Aleksandr Lukashenko, by his September 8 edict, approved a draft supplement to the memorandum of understanding between Belarus and NATO on logistical support in the process of cooperation, according to the Belarusian leader`s press office.
“The authorities realized that their actions are caunterproductive. And the Congress will take place in spite of attempts to break this event. Probably they desided that it would be better to control it in Belarus than in Ukraine or Russia where their options are quite limited. However it is our small victory”, -- said chairman of United civil Party Anatoly Lebedko commenting statement of chairmen of insk executive committee Mihail Pavlov. Yesterday Pavlov stated that that Aliaksandr Lukashenka supported the positio of Minsk executive committee about assistance in organizing Congress of democratic forces in Belarusian capital.
Depute Chairman of Union of Belarusian Poles Yuzaf Pazhetsky was interrogated by prosecution office of Shchuchin district (Hrodna region). The interrogation lasted for hour and a half. Chairman of Shchuchin department of UBP Viktar Bohdan wrote an appeal to prosecution and accused Yuzaf Pazhetsky of threatening him with death.
A leader of Belarus`s ethnic-Polish community urged the European Union yesterday to put pressure on Belarus to stop violating the rights of ethnic Poles, reports AP. SPB chairwoman Andzhelika Borys, head of the Union of Poles, told a European Parliament committee that Belarusian authorities are cracking down on independent Polish organizations, leaving the country`s small ethnic-Polish community few cultural outlets.
The European Parliament`s Belarus delegation has called on Brussels to start over with efforts to set up independent radio broadcasting into the eastern European country. The European Commission last month issued a tender for a ˆ2 million contract to create a fully-staffed unit dedicated to raising awareness of democracy in Belarus.
European Parliament must be in avant-guard of those who support democracy in Belarus, -- says statement of EP delegation on connections with Belarus that was has been adopted on the 8th of September. “Steps of the Lukashenka regime towards Polish minority and towards public organization “Union of Belarusian Poles” demonstrate the repressive character of the regime”.
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