The European Union has made a mistake by introducing sanctions against Belarus, said Moscow`s ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizhov. He said that in the run-up to the Russian-EU summit opening in Sochi on May 25, and the G-8 summit scheduled for July 15-17 in St. Petersburg.

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At the meeting with the chairman of the so-called “chamber of representatives” Uladzimir Kanaplyou a deputy Secretary General of the Arab Socialist Baath Party Abulla al-Ahmar has expressed satisfaction with the dynamics of Syrian-Belarusian relations, not only on the level of governments, but on the level of contacts between the parliaments of the tow countries.

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Even when witnesses lie in the court, they cannot be brought to justice. That was the essence of the answer from the prosecutor’s office received by Uladzimir Katsora, an opposition activist, to his appeal. Uladzimir Katsora was the head of Homel regional headquarters of presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich’s campaign.

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Police high officials refuse to bring up a criminal action relating to cruel beating-up of a Young Front activist Kanstantsin Usyanok by riot policemen. The young activist was detained on March 23 during the disband of a tent camp on October Square in Minsk. During the detention riot policemen were beating up the activist.

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“Defend “Nasha Niva!” That was an appeal of participants of a flash mob held on May 21 in Brest, who wanted to support the last completely Belarusian independent newspaper. About 60 activists lined up along the central avenue of the city and were reading the newspaper “Nasha Niva”. A part of the people had letters attached to their backs. They turned their backs to the road, and a phrase “Defend Nasha Niva” could be seen to drivers.

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On May 23 a human rights organization Amnesty International organizes a press conference of recent Belarusian political prisoners, leaders of the entrepreneurs’ movement Valery Levaneuski and Alyaksandr Vasilyeu.

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On May 20 in the framework of the “Museum Nights” an opening of the exhibition of well-known Belarusian artists Vladimir Voichenko and Sergei Tsesler took place. About a hundred of visitors lined up to buy tickets in front of the National Arts Museum. Monotony was broken by two authors of a performance “Don’t let in Fedorov! – You are welcome!”, a poet Evgeniy Bolshakov and an artist Alexei Fedorov.

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The last week of May is announced International Week of Abducted Persons by the UNESCO. Four well-known persons went missing in Belarus in 1999-2000. Former Interior Minister, police general Yury Zakharanka was abducted on May 7, 1999. First vice-speaker of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus of the 13th convocation, a chairman of the Central Elections Committee Viktar Hanchar and his friend, an businessman and public figure Anatol Krasouski were abducted on September 16, 1999. Journalist Dzimtry Zavadsky went missing on July 7, 2000.

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Activists of the primary organization of the Free Trade Union of Belarus (FTUB) at the Babrujsk factory of tractor details and equipment are ready to stick out defending their organization, said a trade union leader Mikhail Kavalkou to the internet-source www.praca-by.info . “The situation at the factory is war-like,” Mikhail says. “Pressure on our members is exerted at all directions. Production foremen offered workers to join the official trade union ASM, and in exchange for that they are offered extension of a contract, higher wages and a higher skill-category”.

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Youth activists from Lida Syarzhuk Chajka, Vital Kalbyka and Yauhen Lapko were interrogated by the prosecutor’s office in the case brought up against the leaders of the Young Front. The investigators were interested in their connection to the organization the Young Front, contacts with its founders and leaders Paval Sevyarynets and Zmitser Dashkevich.

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A visit of the leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka and the deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front party Alyaksei Yanukevich to Washington has finished. Belarusian politicians have taken part in the session of the standing committee of the International Democratic Union, which was lasting for three days. A resolution on Belarus was adopted there. It contains the demand to release political prisoners and a statement that the presidential elections in Belarus were not legitimate. Anatol Lyabedzka and Alyaksei Yanukevich have also meetings with representatives of the US Department of State, the Council of National Security and The Congress of the United States.

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Uladzimir Pleshchanka, the chairman of Vitsebsk regional council of the Conservative Christian Party Belarusian Popular Front has died. He died an unexpected death near the house of his parents in the village of Varony, Vitsebsk region. He lived there for several recent years. He had a little personal auxiliary plot, which was the main means of subsistence, as courts from time to time sentenced him to pay many millions fines, and he had to pay from his little pension for disability.

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