Alyaksandr Lukashenka has updated Russian president about the situation in Belarus before the presidential elections, RIA Novosti informs. “I would like to talk about the situation before the presidential elections. You know, what is going on around our country, that’s why I would like to inform you about that,” Lukashenka said.
Chairman of election headquarters of candidate on President from democratic forces Siarhey Kaliakin expressed support to Day of solidarity on December 16. “I will certainly light candle at 8 pm on December 16. This is very important. I hope that more and more people will join the action every month. Such joint actions give us feeling of unity and power,” - said Siarhey Kaliakin.
In 2006 Alyaksandr Lukashenka plans to visit Iran. At the moment preparation for that visit is underway, told the chairman of the upper house of the illegitimate Belarusian parliament Henadz Navitski on Thursday. Today he met the head of the Iranian parliamentary delegation Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, ITAR-TASS informs.
The Charter’97 press center has received the information that an extraordinary session of the “chamber of representatives” would be held tomorrow in Minsk. According to the available information, at the session the date of presidential elections could be announced. It could be related to the today’s visit of Alyaksandr Lukashenka to Russia, where he is to secure Putin’s backing at the upcoming elections. It is worth mentioning that tomorrow’s session of the “chamber” is unscheduled.
Political prisoner, the leader of the All-Nation Strike Committee of Vendors Valery Levaneuski was not allowed to attend funerals of his father. As said by him, the administration of Ivatsevichy corrective labour colony stated that Valery Levaneuski is a “malicious violator of prison regime”. By this the administration probably means the fight for the rights of prisoners by Valery Levaneuski, and hunger strikes of protest that had been announced by the political prisoner against violations of his rights.
Strasbourg, 14.12.2005 - The Romanian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe expresses its deep concern with respect to the situation of human rights in Belarus. The recent decision of the Belarusian National Assembly to pass a bill amending the penal code will further undermine the rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of association and freedom of expression of individuals, non-governmental organisations and political parties in Belarus.
As the Charter’97 has found out, an entrepreneur from Vaukavysk Mikola Autukhovich was transferred from Hrodna remand prison to a prison hospital in Minsk because of a serious decline in health.
Today in Minsk the National human rights award-2005 is to be granted in Minsk. This award was established by the Charter’97 civil initiative in 1998. The prize has been awarded to the prominent public and cultural figures, politicians, and journalists. Its laureates in the category “For personal courage in human rights protection” are the leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Hramada), coordinator of the European Coalition, a political prisoner Mikola Statkevich, one of the leaders of the “Young Front”, political prisoner Paval Sevyarynets, and activist of the opposition who headed the parliamentary group “Respublika”, political prisoner Syarhei Skrabets, a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the 13th convocation, a political prisoner Andrei Klimau, an entrepreneur, prisoner Mikalay Autukhovich. In the category “For Standing Up For Rights and Freedoms of People”, the Union of Poles in Belarus and Yakub Kolas National Humanities Lyceum are to be awarded.
On 12 December there started the travel of Aliaksandr Milinkevich, the opposition’s candidate to the presidential position, across Brest region. The police and the secret services watched the delegation.
Anti-revolution amendments to Belarusian criminal legislation will certainly compel Alyaksandr Milinkevich`s team to make some adjustments in their election strategy. Opponents of the present regime will be limited in what they say and do. This sword of Damocles will make the opposition to subject their behavior and words to self-censorship. This cannot but affect Milinkevich`s campaign efficiency. Meanwhile, a number of political analysts believe that the single pro-democracy contender does not have a victorious strategy any way, let alone sufficient potential.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis has denied an accusation that a group of Belarusian youths were trained to fire guns at a NATO military facility in Lithuania.
A well-known Polish TV journalist who was detained by Belarusian authorities at an airport in the country`s capital Tuesday has returned to Warsaw. Agnieszka Romaszewska of television station TVP, who holds official accreditation as a permanent correspondent with the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, was detained at Minsk-2 airport. The journalist stayed in the neutral area of the Minsk-2 airport before her return to Poland. On December 10, Romaszewska had attempted to enter Belarus by car, but was refused entry.
Administration of a dormitory of one of Minsk universities demands students who live in the dormitory to provide written acknowledgements that they would not switch off the light in their windows and burn candles on the Day of Solidarity on December 16. It is written in the letter received by the organizers of the action. Its author is a student of one of the universities in Minsk. On the 16th day of every month in Belarus the Day of Solidarity with political prisoners, disappeared oppositionists, their families, and independent journalists, with all who fight for freedom and democracy in Belarus is held. The text of the letter follows:
The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the deportation from Belarus of Polish television journalist Agnieszka Romaszewska. She was deported on Wednesday from Minsk airport. She was detained at the airport on Tuesday when she flew into the country. Romaszewska had been working for the past six months in Belarus as the correspondent of Polish public broadcaster Telewizja Polska, according to local and international press reports.
Political analysts are actively discussing the possibility of the upcoming presidential election to be held earlier than expected: in early or mid-spring instead of summer as originally thought. Is it better for the Belarusian authorities to press forward with an earlier election? Would the opposition be ready for it?
Iran`s Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, wrapping up his 3-day visit to Russia departed for Minsk, capital of Belarus, said IRNA. A parliamentary delegation as well as a number of foreign ministry officials are accompanying the majlis speaker in his visit to Belarus. Haddad-Adel met with Tatarestan president in Kazan on Wednesday and discussed mutual ties with him. Iranian delegation left Kazan on Wednesday evening for Belarus capital, Minsk.
The trade turnover between Belarus and Poland may reach $1.8 billion in 2005, Economic Councilor of the Embassy of Belarus to Poland Alexander Averyanov informed. The volume of trade in goods is expected to make $1.35 billion in 2005, the rest will be added by the trade in services. Belarus-Poland trade turnover has practically tripled over the past three years.
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