“Belarus’ poor human rights situation continued to deteriorate further in the course of 2005. The country’s record fell short with respect to democracy, the rule of law, and a number of basic rights, including freedom of expression, association and media, and the right for peaceful assembly,” reads the report “Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2006 (Events of 2005)”, published in Russian on September 11 by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights.

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Today at the joint session of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Committee on Development and Subcommittee on Human Rights nominees for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought - 2006 were presented officially. The leader of the Belarusian opposition Alyaksandr Milinkevich is among the 10 candidates, Radio Svaboda informs.

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Vol. 11, No. 13
August 31 – September 7, 2006
Edited by Maria Kabalina
International League for Human Rights

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The only regional radio program in Belarusian language, “I love our country”, has been closed in Baranavichy local radio. On return from summer holidays its authors found out that it is necessary to pay for broadcasting of the program. Not only 30 minutes on air should be paid, but the time needed for recording. It makes more than 130,000 BYR monthly.

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Salihorsk miners are to be denied the right to take tree per cent money loans from their enterprise for building dwellings. This decree was issued in the Belneftechim concern. This document also proposes to solve the housing problem of workers through bank credits which interest rates are four times as high.

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The Supreme Court of Belarus refused to consider a complaint of a group of citizens who demanded to reverse the results of the presidential elections in 2006, according to which Alyaksandr Lukashenka had been allegedly re-elected as the head of state. “We have received an answer from the Supreme Court. It contained the refusal to consider the complaint. It is stated in the answer that the complaint against the ruling of the Central Elections Commission is not within jurisdiction of the Supreme Court,” told on Tuesday one of the authors of the complaint, the head of the initiative group of the former candidate for presidency in Belarus Alyaksandr Milinkevich, Alyaksandr Bukhvostau.

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Yesterday evening activists of the youth democratic movement laid red and white flowers to the building of the US Embassy. Candles in the shape of large number 11 and two towers of the World Trade Center were put near the flowers.

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Today morning, a history teacher Ales Chyhir was detained in Babrujsk in his apartment. The detention was made by a lieutenant colonel Hlushko, captain Malisheuski and senior lieutenant Malakhau.

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