CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
January, 20, 2003
http://charter97.org/20040121_eng.htm
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!!! WWW.CHARTER97.ORG/20040121_eng.htm

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Families of Missing Politicians Prepared Request to KGB

The relatives of the missing Belarusian oppositionists had to address to KGB
because the investigation carried out by the prosecutor's office was ineffective.
Five years passed since Yuri Zakharanka, Viktar Hanchar, Anatoliy Krasowsky had
disappeared and four years since Zmitser Zavadsky is missing. 

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Belarusian Arms Delivery Discussed in Peru Again

In Peru a legal process starts relating the case of former chief of special service
Vladimiro Montesinos. Vladimiro Montesinos was detained in Venezuela on July
24, 2001, a year after he left his country. In 2000 representatives of Swiss
Prosecutor's office stated that they arrested several accounts where the money
illegally received by Montesinos for buying Russian weapons concentrated. Belarusian
companies were among the suppliers as well.

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Czech Prime Minister Met Belarusian Oppositionists

Vladimir Spidla, Czech Prime Minister met deputies of Belarusian opposition faction
"Respublika", Radio Praga informs. Belarusian politicians were invited to Prague
by the Council on International Affairs. "We discussed situation in Belarus",
said Vladimir Spidla said without giving details. Belarusian MPs also addressed
the chairman of the lower chamber of Czech parliament Lubomir Zaoralek with a
request to send as observers Czech deputies in Belarus during parliamentary elections
this year. 

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Intimidation Of Journalist Unpunished

Iryna Makovetskaya, journalist of the "Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta", was rejected
a claim to bring an action on the fact of threats on the telephone on January
11, as said by Valery Stryhalyow, chief of the second police department of Railway
district of Homiel. IN the end of last week police identified the anonymous person.
It was a 25-year-old employee of TV and Radio Company of Homiel Vyachaslaw Bulkin.
However, law-enforcing agencies found nothing wrong in his actions.

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Jewish Leader Detained by Police Again

On January 21 police detained the President of World Association of Belarusan
Jewry (WABJ) Jakov Gutman by the Administration of President Lukashenka. He was
detained in nine minutes after the beginning of a second picket against state
anti-Semitism. This time the WABJ president wrote appeal to the highest officials
on his back. Gutman was taken to police department of Lenin district of Minsk.


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Prosecutor's Office Is ahead of Schedule Went Over the Quota with Bribe-Takers

On January 20 Prosecutor General Viktar Sheiman gave a report to Alyaksandar
Lukashenka about the situation with law and order and results of the fight against
corruption in 2003 carried out in 2003, president's press service informs. The
prosecutor General reported to the president that the prosecutor's office and
other law-enforcing agencies had stirred up the fight against corruption and
bribe-taking and abuse of office. In 2003 law-enforcers discovered by 20% more
facts of bribery than in 2002. Against 597 people criminal proceedings were instituted
for this crimes, AFN informs.

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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
December, 20, 2003
http://charter97.org/20040121_eng.htm