Belarus sets a high value on its participation in the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM), told Belarusian Prime Minister Syarhei Sidorski (Sergei Sidorski) said answering to the questions of reporters. “Our president undoubtedly will take part in the summit of the Non-Alignment Movement in Havana in September this year. He is invited,” S. Sidorski said.

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On Friday at 8 a.m. the first train with S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems has arrived in Minsk from Russia, Belarusian defense minister Leonid Maltsev said.

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Today students of the Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU) detained on October Square during protests of March 19-25, were summoned to rector’s office. They had a conversation with a KGB officer Dzmitry Svistun, www.studenty.by informs.

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Today five young activists wearing scarves and flags of the EU and strolling in the center of Minsk have been detained, a human rights activist Krystsina Shatsikava told to the web source www.charter97.org.

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At the moment when Vladimir Putin is getting ready for G-8 summit in St. Petersburg, the Russian State Duma passes a statement in support of the dictatorial regime in Belarus.

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Alyaksandr Lukashenka is satisfied with cooperation of military agencies of Belarus and Russia. “I am always pleased to meet with Russian Defense Minister. It is connected with the fact that the work of military agencies of the two states is done on a very high level,” Lukashenka said at the meeting with vice Prime Minister of Russian government, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov. “Russia do not have better friends in Russia that people with shoulder-straps, and the cooperation of military agencies is the most effective one,” the dictator added.

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The term of arrest for the arrested members of the organization “Partnerstva” Mikola Astrejka, Tsimafei Dranchuk, Enira Branitskaya, Alyaksandr Shalajka and Dzyanis Nibijka has been extended for two months, the Radio Svaboda informs.

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On 20 April the chair of the United Civil Party Anatol Liabedzka found out that the previous day Minsk Tsentralny borough administrative commission found him guilty of violation of part 3 of article 172 of the Code of Administrative Violations, distribution of information without data-line and decided to fine him 155 000 rubles and confiscate the circulation of the newspaper «Glotok vozdukha» and the pre-electoral flyers of the candidate to the presidential position Aliaksandr Milinkevich.

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On 20 April the visit of the German Commissioner on Human Rights Gunter Nooke ended. According to the press-service of the German diplomatic mission in Minsk, during the meetings with representatives of political parties, NGOs and mass media Mr Nooke familiarized with the political situation and the situation of human rights in Belarus after the presidential election. He confirmed that the German authorities and public circles are attentively watching the development of the events in Belarus. G.Nooke also asked for the official permission to meet with Aliaksandr Kazulin, who is kept in jail at the moment, but received refusal. During his meeting with Kazulin’s wife Iryna Kazulina Mr Nooke reminded that the government of Germany urged the Belarusian authorities to immediately release her husband and would continue doing everything possible for his release from jail.

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The first part of our monitoring of criminal cases is accessible at: http://www.spring96.org/en/news/3230/ The situation has changed quite a lot since the time that part was put on the web. Some of the cases were finished and the accused were tried and received different punishments. Here are only the cases that are still in progress. This part also includes all the new criminal cases that were brought in connection with the election.

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In Minsk book shop “Pravoslavnaya Kniga” (“Orthodox Book”) clients are offered video films and other printed materials of anti-Semitic contents. On April 15 a picket against migrants from Central Asia and Middle East was held. It was sanctioned by Minsk authorities. The Prosecutor’s office, in its turn, does not take measures to prevent spreading of propaganda aimed at inciting interethnic dissent. Representatives of Jewish organizations of Belarus predict in that consequences dangerous for the society.

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The Latvian embassy in Minsk on Thursday hosted a testimonial dinner to celebrate the early release of prominent Belarusian opposition figure Mikhail Marinich. The ambassadors of the United States and European Union members countries, as well as Mr. Marinich, who served as Belarus` Riga-based ambassador to Latvia, Estonia, and Finland between 1999 and 2001, attended the party.

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More than 7,000 signatures have been collected in support of jailed politician Aleksandr Kozulin since his supporters started daily demonstrations in Minsk this past Saturday, Konstantin Moroz, an organizer of the demonstrations, told BelaPAN on Thursday.

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The authorities in Gomel have missed the deadline in replying to an application filed by a group of activists who seek permission to stage a pro-opposition demonstration in the city in southern Belarus on April 25 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident.

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