CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
March 14, 2002
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml
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MARCH 19  ON-LINE CONFERENCE WITH A PROTEST MARCH ORGANIZER, FILMMAKER YURI
KHASCHEVATSKY
One month prior to the Protest March CANT LIVE LIKE THAT!, due to take place
in Minsk on April 19, the Charter97 press-center will run on its web-site a
press-conference with one of the Protest March organizers Yuri Khaschevatsky.
The famous filmmaker, author of the movies Krylov was here, Everythings alright,
Russian happiness, Oasis, Ordinary president, Gods of sickle and hammer,
academic of the Eurasian TV academy, laureate of the cinema prize of the Berlin
festival, of the Russian Union of writers award and winner of the grand-prix
of the universal cinema festival Human Rights Watch in New York. The conference
will take place on Tuesday March 19 at 4p.m.-8p.m. Minsk time. Languages  Belarusian,
Russian, English.
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IRAQI OFFICIAL DELEGATION VISITS MINSK
March 14-19 Minsk will see the forth session of the joint Belarusian-Iraqi commission
for trade and economic cooperation. The Iraqi delegation will be headed by deputy
Prime Minister, the Minister of finance of Iraq Hikmat Al-Azavi. In course of
their meeting they will meet with the Belarus leadership, members of the government,
deputy presidential administration head Leonid Kozik, the Foreign Minister Mikhail
Khvostov. The Iraqi delegation will also visit some of the Belarusian companies
and organizations.
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IHNATOVICH SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT. WHERE IS ZAVADSKY?
The Minsk regional court pronounced the verdict in the trial of the former officer
of the special forces squad Valery Ihnatovich, who was charged with several grave
crimes including abduction of the ORT cameraman Dzmitser Zavadsky. The accused
Valery Ihnatovich, Maim Malik and Alyaxei Huz, who according to numerous confirmations
were members of the so-called death squads, founded by Alyaxandar Lukashenka,
are sentenced to the life imprisonment. Another accused Syarhei Savushkin was
sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment in hard labor colony. Dzmitser Zavadsky
was not found however.
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AKVABEL MARKET ADMINISTRATOR DETAINED
Police detained upon bribery suspicion the administrator of the Minsk Akvabel
market. The woman is suspected of having received since August last year until
present moment over 3mln rubles in bribes. The administrator was released upon
the submission of written pledge not to leave the country.
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CONTRACT WITH BALTIKA PUT OFF AGAIN
Signing of the investment accord between the Belarusian government and the Russian
brewery Baltika was postponed till May. Such an agreement was reached during
the negotiations between the Baltikas vice-president Adam Tlekhurai and the
Belarusian vice-president Alexander Popkov. As you remember, late last year Baltika
invested into the reconstruction of Krynitsa $10,5mln. However, in mid-December
2001 the works under the projects were halted as far as the Belarusian government
didnt pass a decision on the additional emission of shares of the Krynitsa
plant, due to be taken over by Baltika. After that the St.Petersburg company
declared that it would sue the Belarusian authorities and dismantle its equipment
at Krynitsa.
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RUSSIANSRE COMING TO BELTRANSGAS
In the near future they plan to set up a joint Belarusian-Russian company, which
would deal with the gas supplies. This issue was discussed during a visit to
Minsk by the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov. The Minister of economy
Vladimir Shimov told the journalists that the company would be supplying, transporting
and catering for the gas transit. Shimov added that the joint venture would be
formed on the basis of Beltransgas.
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US AMBASSADOR MINIKES TELLS OSCE PC: CIVIL SOCIETY UNDER ATTACK IN BELARUS
United States Ambassador at the OSCE Permanent Council Stephan M. Minikes addressed
the OSCE PC in Vienna over the recent detention in Belarus of an OSCE official
vehicle with 10 political and NGO leaders en route to the conference in Lithuania.
Following read the full text of his speech:
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TRIAL OVER MUSTACHED MASKS RESUMES
Today there will resume the session of the Shklov district court against five
members of the resistance movement ZUBR, who are charged with defaming Alexander
Lukashenko. Mikhail Kiselev, Maksim Potupchik, Alexander Pavlovich, Denis Senokosov
and Dmitry Shalashkov are indicted for holding a pre-election skit on August
14 in the collective farm Gorodets, whose director once was Lukashenko. The
young people put on masks with pasted mustache and called in at the near-by store
in order to agitate for the incumbent and promise them to raise salaries to $100,
reduce prices and incarcerate all thieves.
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EXPELLING FROM POLYTECHNICS FOR LUKASHENKAS MASKS
The direction of the Mahilyou polytechnic school where Alyaxandar Paulovich,
one of the accused of Lukashenkas insult, is studying, decided to punish the
Zubr even before the trial ended. The pedagogical council was held on March 12,
2002 in Mahilyou polytechnic school. The proposal to exclude active participants
of the pre-election campaign Alyaxandar Paulovich and Alyaxandar Kalita was on
the agenda. Their expelling was proposed by the principal of the polytechnics,
Alyaxandar Shapitsa, his assistant Bansiukova, a teacher Jana Aleschanka, and
the director of educational work Valery Lyaukou. Almost all participants of the
board supported the proposal, excluding six people who had refrained from voting.
The final decision on expelling them will be taken by a commission on juvenile
delinquency.
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KUROPATY DEFENDER FINED
Member of the BPF Conservative Christian Party Vladimir Plotnikov was condemned
by the Minsk district court for defending the Kuropaty memorial site. Judge Dmitry
Gritsel fined him 150 minimal wages for having participated in November 9 Kuropaty
action. Vladimir Plotnikov was indicted for disobeying police and violating administrative
law. This was the last court action over the protester, detained in Kuropaty.
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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
March 14, 2002
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml