Minsk Executive Committee refused the picket attracting the public attention to the problems connected with implementation of the right of conscience in Belarus. This was reported to the BelaPAN by one of the applicants for the action, cochairman of the organizing committee on foundation of the “Belarusian Christian Democracy” party Alyaksei Shein.
“Currently we are establishing pragmatic relations with the Council of Europe on the aspects of mutual interest, both at the parliamentary level and at the level of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The dialogue of the Council of Europe with Belarus is to be established on a well-balanced basis with consideration of the opinions and viewpoints of our country authorities”, ministry for foreign affairs spokesman Andrei Papou replied to the journalists attempt of determining the perspectives for development of relations between Belarus and the Council of Europe.
There is no need so far to establish "European information centers on human rights and democracy" at Belarusian schools of higher learning, Education Minister Alyaksandr Radzkow told reporters in Minsk on Wednesday.
In the evening of April 16th, Zhlobin branch of unregistered organization Young Front held an action dedicated to Zmitser Dashkevich and other political prisoners in Belarus.
The Vitebsk inter-garrison prosecutor’s office brought a criminal lawsuit against a junior sergeant of the 103rd mobile brigade. A 20 year-old guy gave such a severe beating to his army- mate of the same age that the doctors had to extract the injured guy’s spleen. The injured will not return to the army.
16 April people came out to the central square of Saligorsk again carrying portraits of the political prisoners and disappeared Belarusians. Notwithstanding the repressions and pressure on of the authorities , notwithstanding the fact that the last two actions in Saligorsk had been dispersed by the Minsk special regiment around 50 people came out into the square.
The president of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) stressed that "European unity will also remain incomplete for as long as Belarus remains outside our common European home".
Alyaksandr Lukashenka on Monday expressed certainty that Belarus and India had "bright prospects" for cooperation. "I`m sure that our fruitful cooperation with India will always be a subject of pride," official information sources quoted him as saying at a reception given by Indian President Abdul Kalam in New Delhi.
On April 16 the Day of Belarusian Solidarity is traditionally marked in Belarus and worldwide. In Minsk public activists organized rallies in solidarity with families of the abducted, with political prisoners, and Belarusians repressed by the regime for their participation in oppositional activities. Streamers with demands to release political prisoners, and portraits of the abducted and candles near them are seen in Minsk streets and in regions on this day.
In April 16, 2007 Belarusian and Russian citizens staged a protest action in the center of Moscow. The rally was dedicated to the Day of Solidarity with political prisoners and the repressed of Belarus. Participants join in a moment of silence. They remembered abducted politicians and expressed their protest against continuing acts of violence against civil society in Belarus in general.
Youth activist Syargei Guminsky was tried by the Orsha district court 17 April despite of the official day off. Judge Syargei Bandarou admitted him guilty of minor disorderly conduct. In compliance with the court’s decision the youth activist is to spend 12 days at the temporary isolation ward.
16 April the traditional action of solidarity with the Belarusian people was held in Prague. 25 people came out to the Krizhavi ( Cross) Square. They were distributing leaflets about the situation in Belarus.
The picket of solidarity with the families of the disappeared Belarusian policymakers and political prisoners was held at the Belarusian Embassy in Warsaw16 April. Around a dozen of Belarusians living in Warsaw came to the Embassy of Belarus with white-red-white flags, portraits of the disappeared policymakers and those who were in prisons for political reasons.
16 April a regular action of solidarity with the families of the disappeared Belarusian policymakers and political prisoners was held in Kiev. A dozen and half people lighted candles and installed portraits of the disappeared and imprisoned Belarusians at the Belarusian embassy.
On April 16-17 a Mahilyou branch of the “Young Front” held a rally in support of a political prisoner, a leader of the “Young Front” Zmitser Dashkevich. Hundreds of portraits of the political prisoner have appeared in the central streets of the city.
On April 16 at 8 p.m. young people gathered near the former buildings of Bernardine monastery and St. Josef’s church. They have chosen that place for holding a monthly action of solidarity, as the city authorities are going to start reconstruction of a Catholic sanctuary, which is a unique monument of history and culture. Every evening Catholics gather near the building of the church and they pray for its returning to the church.
On April 17 in the evening hearings on situation in Belarus in the format of a sub-committee on Belarusian affairs in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe took place in Strasbourg. The head of the Parliamentary Assembly Rene van der Linden, a special Rapporteur on Belarus Andrea Rigoni and other deputies have taken part in the discussion. Members of the subcommittee have come to a conclusion that the best signal for a start of a dialogue would be concrete steps of the Belarusian regime. At least, Rene van der Linden has named this first step as the most desired for the European community.
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