18:52 Homel: activist of united democratic forces Ales Sivakou is dismissed from job

In Homel the democratic activist Ales Sivakou, the head of the initiative group of Kanstantsin Zhukouski, is fired from Homelkhlebpram enterprise. According to the activist, the marketing director of the enterprise told him to write an application for dismissal on his own free will, because otherwise he would be dismissed under an article of the Labor Code and the information would be put in his service record.

18:51 Procuracy ignores complaint about violations of electoral laws

On 21 July civil activist Pavel Nazdra addressed Homel oblast procuracy with a complaint about violations of the electoral laws. According to Article 49 of the Electoral Code such complaints must be considered within ten-day term. Now Mr. Nazdra complains against inaction of the oblast procuracy to the general procuracy and the Central electoral commission.

18:51 Barysau: none of Salash’s adherents get to precinct commissions

Siarhei Salash is a member of the Belarusian Popular Front Party who intends to run at Barysau village constituency #63. Eleven persons who sympathize to him tried to the precinct commissions of that constituency.

18:50 Vaukavysk: observer given no information

Vaukavysk constituency electoral commission #48 refused to show the lists of personnel of the formed precinct commissions to observer Viktar Huliak. They said that these lists would be printed in the local newspaper which would be issued on Saturday.

17:34 Putin felt in no mood to talk to Sidorski about gas costs and credits

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin received Belarusian Prime Minister Syarhei Sidorski yesterday. A “timid” position of Belarus in relation to South Ossetia conflict has resulted in an offer to Alyaksandr Lukashenka first to find agreement with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev. Economic talks, on loans and Russia gas prices have been postponed till September-October.

14:17 Candidate for deputy Dzmity Nyafyodau: “I withdraw from “elections” and stand for boycott

An independent candidate for deputy Dzmitry Nyafyodau has stated his intention not to take part in the “parliamentary elections” because of growing pressure on members of his initiative group.

14:06 Viktar Ivashkecvich: “UDF and BPF should set up boycott”

On August 30 an extended session of the Belarusian Popular Front is to take place. It is to define further actions of this organisation during the “parliamentary elections”.

13:25 Bus with guests of Be2gether music festival detained at border

At the border with Lithuania Belarusian border guards have detained a bus with young activist who were on their way to the Be2gether music and art festival.

13:20 Skrabets doesn’t want to take part in “pre-election show”

The first deputy chairman of the Central Council of the Belarusian Social Democratic party (Hramada) Syarhei Skrabets who planned to run in the “parliamentary election”, changed his mind.

13:00 Independent candidate for deputy Alyaksandr Rubchenya: “I do not want to participate in regime’s games”

A private entrepreneur Alyaksandr Rubchenya withdraws from the “elections” and urges pro-democracy activists not to participate in the elections farce.

12:48 Yarmoshyna grieving there are little opposition in precinct election commissions

Today the chairperson of the central Elections Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna has commented mass denials to include opposition nominees to precinct election commissions.

12:16 Hungarian ambassador: EU does not pursue double standards policy regarding Belarus

he European Union does not pursue a double standards policy regarding Belarus, Hungarian Ambassador Ferenc Kontra told reporters in Minsk on Friday, BelaPAN said.

12:11 Viktar Ivashkevich: “Nobody is going to count votes”

According to the last information, only 6 persons have become members of precinct election commissions out of 335 nominated members of the Belarusian Popular Front.

11:45 Businessman fined for speaking Belarusian

A businessman from Zhdanovichy market Ales Taustyka has been fined 140,000 rubles for… speaking Belarusian.

11:35 Dwellers of many cities of Belarus actively support boycott of “elections” (Photo)

Rallies urging citizens to boycott the upcoming elections are actively held in Vitsebsk, Polatsk, Navapolatsk and Lepel.

11:32 Outrages of Russian military in Georgia (Video)

In violation of agreements, Russian military continue to stay in Gori, Poti and Zugdidi. The military are aggressive towards the civilians.

11:07 Staring Down the Russians

The end of the Cold War was supposed to usher in a new age in which the major powers would no longer dictate to their neighbors how to run their affairs. That is why Russia's invasion of Georgia is so tragic and so potentially ominous.

10:14 Russian Ambassador threatens in Belarus again

Russian Ambassador to Belarus Alexander Surikov does not exclude that the Belarusian side is to take part in discussion on the issue of Russia’s actions in response to deploying elements of anti-missile system in Poland.

8:15 War in Caucasus made Poland deploy US missile defense quicker

Poland and the United States struck a deal Thursday that will strengthen military ties and put an American missile interceptor base in Poland.