The court of Maskouski district of Minsk has sentenced a pastor of the New Life church Vyachaslau Hancharenka to a fine. It was reported on Friday, August 4 by a written notification received by a church office. He was sentenced to a fine of 30 basic units (BYR 1 million) for holding a church service on June 4.

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A well-known journalist and human rights activist Valery Schukin has addressed Belarusian Justice Minister Viktar Halavanau with a complaint concerning gross violation of law by judge of Maskouski district of Minsk Alyaksei Rybakou. That judge had delivered a verdict to the former candidate for presidency Alyaksandr Kazulin.

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On August 9 five participants of the hunger strike in Brest finished hunger strike as a sign of solidarity with Lubou Razanovich. A day before she was taken to the Central hospital in a moderately grave condition. The protesters who have finished the hunger strike are a driver of the hospitalized businesswoman and his wife, one of the owners of taxi shuttles and two vendors of the city market, Lubou Razanovich told to the BelaPAN.

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The protest against local authorities’ denial to register the primary organization of the radio electronic industry trade union (REP) was held on August 8 in Mahilyou. In the resolution adopted at the meeting, trade union’s activists urged city authorities to start a constructive dialogue, the Solidarity newspaper informs. In case the problem of the primary organization’s registration would not be settled, representatives of the REP trade union are set to apply to the EU to put Mahilyou mayor Viktar Shorikau on the black list of officials for whom entry to the EU countries is banned.

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On August 9 a renowned active member of Belarusian emigration, a doctor of history, a political analyst, writer and essay writer Jan Zaprudnik turns 80. The organizational committee and press center of the Charter’97 congratulates Jan Zaprudnik on the date and wish him happiness, health, inspiration and further creative work for the good of native Belarus.

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On August 11-14, 2006 representatives of the public association “Belarusian Republican Union of Lawyers” are to take part in the First Law Week of China and the CIS countries in the town of Urumqi. The Belarusian delegation is to be represented by the Chairman of the Supreme economic Court Viktar Kamenkou, his deputy Alyaksei Yahorau, a prosecutor general Pyotr Miklashevich, Justice Minister Viktar Halavanau, experts of the state agencies and expert lawyers.

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Issues of developing a trade and economic cooperation between Belarus and Iran are to be discussed during the visit to Minsk of the Iranian delegation of the Iranian Ministry of Industries and Mines headed by Ali-Reza Tahmasbi. “Today talks with the members of Iranian delegation are to be held in the Industry Ministry. During them it is planned in particular to discuss the issues of cooperation in the field of motor-vehicle construction,” Interfax agency was informed by the Industry Ministry of Belarus.

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The diplomatic row between Latvia and Belarus continues. It has started on July 27 in Minsk when Latvian diplomat Reimo Smits was charged distributing pornography. The Foreign Ministry of Belarus sent its Latvian colleagues a note with explanations. However on August 8 Latvian Foreign Minster Srtis Pabriks stated that he is not going to meet with the new Belarusian Ambassador in Latvia Alyaksandr Herasimenka even after receiving a note from Minsk.

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On August 8 the court of Byaroza district of Brest region sentenced the chairman of Brest regional branch of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Yury Hubarevich to 10 days of administrative arrest for using unregistered symbols, the BelaPAN was informed by Raman Kislyak, a human rights activist who attended the trial. As said by him, the incident that caused drawing up the administrative report, took place during a walking tour of democratic youth “Crusade of good will-2006” (August 3-6). A white-red-white flag was put up between tents. Young people were sailing a boat with the same flag.

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