16:53 Hairdressers on the brink of strike

Workers of the joint stock company “Voskhod”, which is uniting the chain of hairdressing salons with state share, haven’t still received salary for November. It was also promised they would receive money for December in February, 2008.

16:18 Officials Predict Crisis

Representatives of Belarusian government understand the threat of Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s economical policy. It has been stated by the head of Mises analytical center Yaraslau Ramachuk, who has the text of this report.

16:05 Young People Picketed Internal Affairs Ministry and KGB

Activists of the civil campaign “Jeans for Freedom” were picketing Penal Jurisdiction department. Young people were standing with portraits of the political prisoner Artur Finkevich. Picketers were chanting: “Free Artur Finkevich!” In a few minutes policemen ran up to them. They tore portraits and seized 5 young activists. Picketers heard policemen calling in a paddy wagon and a patrol car.

14:50 New ordeal for political prisoner

Political prisoner Artur Finkevich had a meeting with his mother in the Magilou remand jail. It has become known that leader of the Young Front will be transferred to the cell where 30 prisoners are kept, though it is designed for 18 people.

13:21 Money needed even for going on strike?

Tax inspection in Brest is sending instructions to the markets to prevent mass absence of individual entrepreneurs from work. The entrepreneurs protest against discriminating decree№ 760.

13:10 Christmas greetings from Miron

Monday evening overnight a white red white flag was hoisted in Tserashkova Street in Vitsebsk. A legendary Miron congratulates his fellow countrymen again. The flag was placed at a rather high place to a high voltage wire.

12:52 “Flawed” Relations

The Russian side hasn’t received an new official loan request. It has been reported by a journalists by a source in the government of the Russian Federation in the run-up to the session of the Council of Ministers of the “union state”. As said by him, trade relations between countries have a rather “flawed” nature.

12:49 Regime reminded about political prisoners every day (Photo)

Portraits of the youngest political prisoner of Belarus with a slogan “Freedom to Finkevich!” and information about illegal criminal prosecution of the Young Front member continue to emerge in Minsk every day.

12:47 Christmas letters to Belarusian political prisoners (Photo)

Activists of the youth organisation “Initiative” gathered and sent more than 1500 Christmas letters to Belarusian political prisoners.

11:45 Viktar Ivashkevich: «The same was when Soviet Union was breaking up»

Viktar Ivashkevich, deputy head of the BPF Party was released from the special prison facility on Akrestin Street on the Day of Christ’s Birth, 25 December. The politician was arrested on the day when the meeting of entrepreneurs was held, and was sentenced to 15 days of arrest on false accusation. After his release Viktar Ivashekevich said in the interview to the Charter’97 press center that his arrest wouldn’t influence the intent of the opposition to have dialog with the authorities.

10:14 Fireworks on Christmas (Photo)

Midnight Masses were held in catholic churches of Belarus on 24 December. Christmas firework was organised at midnight in the capital for the first time.