The events in Moscow when , actually on the New Year eve the bilateral agreements resulting in the more than double price raise for gas deliveries from Russia to Belarus were signed in Gazprom have been the prime news for the mass media worldwide for already a fortnight. Among those who have paid special attention to the actions are not only European ,Russian and Belarusian news channels. The American press has also closely followed the situation.
On Monday Economy Minister of Germany, a country presiding in the EU, Michael Glos, urged Belarus and Russia to respect their commitments in oil deliveries. In his statement he confirmed the fact oil deliveries from Belarus had been halted, and expressed concern over this situation.
“There are no changes in the problem of Belarusian sugar into Russia,” BelaPAN news agency was informed by Belarusian state food industry concern. As we have informed, last week the concern head Ihar Danchanka told at a press conference that since December 29 supplies of Belarusian sugar through the warehouse of the limited liability company “Sakhar” of the Russian union of sugar manufacturers has been suspended. He noted that losses only through idle time make about $2 million.
Tomorrow a trial in the criminal case opened against young activists Vadzim Lohinau and Alyaksei Kryvintsou is to take place in Hrodna. As informed by the human rights center Viasna, a criminal action under Article 341 of the Criminal Code was initiated in September for making oppositional graffiti.
Talks with Belarus are to start after cancellation of illegal customs transit Russian oil, said state secretary, deputy minister of Trade and Economic Development Andrei Sharonov to Ekho Moskvy radio station.
Belarus takes off Russian oil intended for Western Europe from trunk pipeline Druzhba illegally, Transneft head Semyon Vainshtok said on Monday. “Since January 6 the Belarusian side unilaterally, without any notice started to take off oil from Druzhba pipeline, which is intended only for transporting oil for Western Europe customers,” he said to journalists.
KGB officers are intimidating a student of management department of the Belarusian State Economic University, Yana Karpovich. She is a member of an initiative group for nomination of an opposition activist Aleh Korban as a candidate for deputy of Minks city council. The Charter’97 press center has received a complaint against KGB officers’ actions from the human rights center Viasna. The student has sent the complaint to the prosecutor general of Belarus.
On 5 January Andrei Iuruts, a third-year student of jurisprudence department was expelled from Baranavichy State University. Last year he was expelled from the university before the election, but was rehabilitated at his place of study thanks to assistance of OSCE observers. This expulsion was evidently prepared long ago, but the university administration could not find a suitable reason.
Cuts in Russian oil shipments to the European Union through a pipeline in Belarus pose "no immediate risk" to energy supplies in the EU, the bloc`s energy commissioner said Monday.
The election authorities in Mozyr have cancelled the registration of opposition activist Vladimir Telepun as a candidate for the Gomel Regional Soviet, accusing him of distributing leaflets that "incite social discord."
Belarusian opposition leader Aleksandr Milinkevich on Sunday held a meeting with voters in Mozyr despite a ban on it. The meeting was meant to be a campaign rally for opposition activist, Vladimir Telepun, but the man had his registration as a candidate in the coming local elections unexpectedly annulled two days before for the distribution of material "inciting social discord."
The local media warned that Mr. Telepun`s campaign rally had been cancelled because of his withdrawing from the race.
Oil deliveries to Poland and Germany via Russian oil trunk pipeline Druzhba (“Friendship”) have been disrupted last night. However the reasons for disruption are unknown, Reuters informs with reference to Polish operators.
On January 6 the leader of the united democratic forces, a former candidate for presidency in Belarus Alyaksandr Milinkevich started journeys over the country as an agent of democratic candidates for deputes of local soviets. Meetings with voters in Rechytsa, Homel and Dobrush were planned on that day. However the car of the democratic leader was stopped three times over the day by police and traffic police. On January 7 the same situation repeated, Milinkevich’s car was stopped three times.
Belarus is ready to cancel duties for oil transit through the territory of the country, in case Russia would agree to lift customs duties for exported to Belarus. “The Belarusian side is ready for a constructive dialogue on settling problems of oil deliveries to Belarus, including lifting imposed compensatory measures in case the reasons that have fostered them would be abolished,” Belarusian government comments as quoted by Interfax.
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