The election to local deputy soviets that took place in Belarus on 14 January didn’t become an important political event in the country’s life. First of all, it was determined by the wish of the authorities to depoliticize the Belarusian society, which is implied by the date (14 January is the day of Old New Year, as celebrated by Orthodox Christians before adoption of Gregorian calendar). The election campaign was held while Belarusians were preparing to celebration Catholic and Orthodox Christmas and New Year. Secondly, on New Year eve the public attention was focused on the gas conflict between Russian and Belarus. Complete obliteration of the election by state press and electronic media, absence of political debates and discussions of the candidates’ election programs also manifest the reluctance of the authorities to engage ordinary citizens in the election process.

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More than a half of Russian citizens believe that in case a revolution would start in Minsk, it would be better for Russia to keep out. According to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center, the number of supporters of non-interference into such events in Belarus has grown by 12% over two years (previously 40% of respondents supported such actions). Besides, as compared with 2005, the share of people who think Alyaksandr Lukashenka should be supported in this case, has dropped from 24% to 12%. The number of people, who think Russian government should help political forces of Belarus to find understanding in a case of an uprising, has decreased as well (from 23% to 18%). Only 5% believe that Russian authorities should support forces in opposition to Lukashenka.

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The hearing of the “Vitebsk Kuryer M” non-governmental newspaper appeal on the decision of the Vitebsk region Economic Court is assigned on February 12, at 15 o’clock. The case will be heard in the Economic court premises on the address: Vitebsk, Praudy Str. 22, room #409.

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Oleg Korban’s relatives informed the Radio Svaboda that the young man had been detained at the KGB prison. Location of the Malady Front member Zmitser Fedaruk is unknown. His co-members do not exclude that he has also been imprisoned at the same place. But they do not lose hope and keep on duty at the Savetsky district court of Minsk.

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The Supreme Court of Belarus terminated the case against the Party of Communists Belarusian, the Radio Svaboda reports. Such decision was made after the official representative of the ministry of justice Alyaksandr Khariton announced that the new circumstances had appeared in the case and the ministry was going to expand the claim.

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Belarus will increase tariffs for transit of Russian oil through its domestic pipeline network by more than 30% on average starting February 15, the country`s economics ministry said Monday. According to new tariff regulations, Belarusian pipeline operator Gomeltransneft Druzhba will increase tariffs by 35%, to $3.50 per metric ton of oil along the Unecha-Adamova Zastava route, and by 31.6%, to $1.50 for transit along the Unecha-Brody route.

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Belarusian policymakers and experts do not actually believe in the possibility of improvement of the relationship between the official Belarus and the West after Lukashenka’s interview to the German newspaper “Die Welt” but, nevertheless, they consider that the chance of the Belarusian foreign policy vectors’ bias mustn’t be missed.

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Concerning the public statements of the press-secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus A. Popov on the problems of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) with renting the office premises, ВHC informs that by the day when the administrative service of the President of Belarus decided on termination of the lease for the BHC office, the Committee was free of debts. Furthermore, when the payment papers were checked by the tenant and the presidential administrative service together, it turned out that BHC, on the contrary, paid in advance.

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At any time in the past 12 years it would have been not merely an implausible turn of events, but a sensational one. Alyaksandr Lukashenka of Belarus has denounced Russia, and praised the West.

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Examination of the claim on suspending activates of the Party of Communists of Belarus (PCB) is to start in the Supreme Court of Belarus on February 5. The suit on suspending activities of the PCB had been initiated by justice ministry.

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In the end of the last week Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s press-service informed about steps of the head of the state on de-bureaucratization of his own administration. In line with the decree of the head of the state reduced the number of workers in his administration. He dismissed five persons. However, to make this news more precise, the presidential administration has been reduced by five workers, while 2 more persons have been employed by the Security Council of Belarus. Two employees of the presidential administration were transferred to the Security Council for assisting Viktar Lukashenka, “Ezhednevnik” informs today.

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Justice Ministry issued written warning for three political parties, the Party of Communists of Belarus (PCB), Belarusian Social Democratic party (Hramada) and the Belarusian party of women “Nadzeja”.

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Riot policemen detained about 30 members of the youth organization the Young Front yesterday. It occurred when a session of the central committee of the organization was taking place in a private apartment in Tsnyanskaya Street. On the same day searches were held in apartments of the Young Front activists.

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