News on 20.06.2008

20.06.2008

Belarus’ foreign debt nears critical line 14

17:23, — Economics

Belarus’ joint external debt as of April 1, 2008 was $13 bn 630 mln, and it has grown by 8% over the first quarter of this year (by $1.007 bn).

Ministry of Justice doesn’t understand aims of Christian democrats

16:28, — Politics

The organising committee on creation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD) has received a letter from the Ministry of Justice saying this public association was denied registration.

“Parliamentary” election campaign to start 24 June

15:37, — Politics

Interfax has learnt it from the president’s press service after the meeting between Alyaksandr Lukashenka and head of the Central election Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna.

Protest rallies against extortions in prisons 4

14:46, — Politics

Today Ales Kasach went to Kastrychnitskaya Square with a poster with the aim to attract attention of the regime to arbitrariness of Shklou colony’s staff, but policemen expelled him away from the square immediately.

Svyatlana Zavadskaya: “Authorities fear issue of forced disappearances” 9

14:09, — Politics

The Maskouski district court of Minsk dismissed a complaint of Svyatlana Zavadskaya against unjust acts of Mikhail Titsyankou, deputy head of the Minsk city executive committee, who banned holding a picket on 7 May, at the anniversary of disappearance of former minister of internal affaires of Belarus Yury Zakharanka.

Aleh Vouchak: Minister would be dismissed for “human shield” in other country

13:21, — society

Human rights activist Aleh Vouchak thinks high-rank officials, responsible for a decision to form a “human shield” should be involved in the case.

Large numbers of Belarusians go abroad for work 50

12:15, — Economics

Soon there will be no representatives of the working class left in Belarus, who are so necessary to realization of ambitious plans of the government to increase the GDP. The reason is banal: it’s the outflow of workers to the neighbouring countries where wages are higher.

Banks ready to close down their websites 7

11:58, — Freedom of speech

The Draft Law on Media threatens the activity of bank websites.

Military redeployment

11:34, — society

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has signed a decree under which a number of military units change their stations.

Flag from Miron to anniversary of Vasil Bykau

10:48, — Politics

A national white-red-white flag was hung out in honour of Vasil Bykau’s anniversary above Vitsebsk-Polatsk road near Kirauski town on 19 June.

Yarmoshyna: “Electoral campaign will be held in traditional way”

10:39, — Politics

A draft decree on appointing the date for “parliamentary” elections was introduced to Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Head of the Central Election Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna said it. According to her, “the coming electoral campaign will be held in a traditional way, no special novelties are expected.”

Mikhail Kavalyou: «Hushed creeping Russian privatisation is to be carried out in Belarus very quickly” 15

10:13, — Economics

How Russian ruble’s strength would affect the economy of Belarus, and how the country could avoid economic takeover? According to the dean of the economy faculty of the Belarusian State University Mikhail Kavalyou, there is one way out, to stimulate influx of Western, Arabic, Chinese capitals to the country at any cost.

Did Minsk city executive committee unlawfully ruin monument of international value? 4

8:53, — society

Monument of XIX century architecture – a residential building in Classicism style with eclectic elements in Revalutyonnaya Street, 17 in Minsk, was ruined without a permission of the Ministry of Culture.