The hunger strike of believers representatives of a Hrodna-based Roman Catholic community of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn (of Vostraja Brama), Mother of Compassion, continues for the 5th day. At the moment the rector of the parish Father Alyaksandr Shemet and 16 parishioners are taking part in the protest. They demand a written permission from Hrodna city authorities for construction of a new church. The hunger strike is carried out in the building of a chapel.

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On December 5 a working group of experts of the EU by a majority of votes has passed a decision to suspend benefits under the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for Belarus. The BelaPAN has been informed about that by the press-service of the EU. “It means that the standing members of the EU are to formally endorse this decision. It is to take place before Christmas, most likely before December 20,” the press-service worker said.

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The former candidate for presidency in Belarus, a political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin continues his hunger strike in the colony “Vitsba-3” for the 47th day. Today people in Belarus and abroad follow the reports about him with concern. His state of health cause serious concern of doctors, as he has lost 40 kg over the hunger strike already. However, the politician does not stop the hunger strike of protest. He insists on his major demand, to bring up the situation with human rights violations in Belarus at the session of the UN Security Council. The situation is commented by the widow of the businessman and public activist Anatol Krasouski, abducted in Belarus, the leader of the civil initiative “We Remember” Iryna Krasouskaya.

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Today the leader of the united democratic forces Alyaksandr Milinkevich initiated nomination of Alyaksandr Kazulin for a prestigious prize of Martin Ennals, the first Secretary General of Amnesty International. The Martin Ennals Award is one of the main prizes in the field of human rights. Persons who are “symbols of struggle for human rights in the countries where human rights and democracy defence are dangerous activities” become its laureates.

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Foreign Minister of Belarus Syarhei Martynau states that the use of sanctions in the relations of the countries of the OSCE is unacceptable. As Interfax was told by the press-service of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus on Tuesday, this statement had been made in Brussels (Belgium), where the 14th session of the Council of foreign ministers of the OSCE countries was held.

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Ukraine is concerned over the problem of democracy development in Belarus, told Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich. Answering questions after his speech in the Strategic and International Research Center in Washington on Monday, he noted that he discussed the issue of democracy in Belarus with Belarusian Prime Minister Syarhei Sidorski during the session of the CIS countries’ heads of governments in Minsk, Interfax-Ukraine informs.

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A guard of the joint stock company “Polatsk-Shklovalakno” has carried out a search in the belongings of the primary organization of the Free Trade Union of Belarus’ chairman Viktar Stukau. The guard searched a closet of the trade union activist, checked his identity card and sent him to the checkpoint, www.praca-by.info informs. Thus the guard tried to provoke the trade union activist to perform illegal actions.

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Young activists of Barysau have commemorated the anniversary of Slutsk uprising. A few dozens of activists of he campaign “For Freedom” gathered near the memorial place “Batteries” with national white-red-white flags. People recalled the landmark event in Belarusian history. Well-known politicians delivered speeches on the occasion.

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Addressing the 14th meeting of foreign ministers of the OSCE countries held on December 4-5 in Brussels, Czech Foreign Minister Alexandr Vondra blasted the actions of the Belarusian authorities in the sphere of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the Czech News newspaper informs. “The only totalitarian regime in Europe of the 21st century invalidates everything we have managed to achieve by our joint efforts after the iron curtain’s fall,” Alexandr Vondra said. “Efforts of the EU, the US and other countries for Belarus’ democratization are without any result”.

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The leader of the Union of Poles in Belarus Andzelika Borys and a UPB activist Andrzej Lisouski are to come for an interrogation to the KGB (State Security Committee) branch of Hrodna region tomorrow. The Charter’97 press-center has been informed about that by the activist of the Union of Poles in Belarus Andrzej Poczobutt.

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On December 4 in the evening the European Commission presented an “amended variant” of the policy of the EU relations with the neighbouring countries, mentioning Belarus as well. The policy of the neighbourhood works well, but the EU can do more in the cause of promoting peace, stability and economic welfare of our neighbours. The best vehicle to achieve that is to support political and economic reforms,” the EU Commissioner for Foreign Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.

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