CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
January, 26, 2003
http://charter97.org/eng/news/
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THE WASHINGTON POST: "THE SECOND WAVE OF EUROPEAN REVOLUTION"
16:20 26/01/2004

"Push for Democracy Has Authoritarians Unnerved" is the headline of the article
published in the influential American newspaper The Washington Post. As the edition
reports Georgian President-elect Mikheil Saakashvilis allies in the Georgian
youth group Kmara have worked with their counterparts in the Belarusan youth
group Zubr. "Both were trained by activists from Serbia who helped topple Yugoslav
leader Slobodan Milosevic in 2000," writes The Washington Post and quotes the
coordinator of the Belarusian resistance movement ZUBR Vladimir Kobets: "Theres
a second European democratic revolution underway in countries like Belarus and
Ukraine." We offer the full version of the article:
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/01/26/wp

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ZUBR ACTIVIST BEATEN UP
16:15 26/01/2004

The under age ZUBR activist Julia Bandarenka was beaten up when the police was
dispersing the action "Time to Response". The action was held near the public
prosecutor's office in Minsk on January 23 and was devoted to the politicians'
missing in Belarus. "At the action a lieutenant colonel came up to me asked me
to follow him, then grabbed and pulled me to the car. I got a heavy blow on my
face. I recovered in the car. My lips were bleeding" said Julia Bandarenka to
the Charter press center.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/01/26/piket

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POLICE DISPERSED ANTI-FASCISTS ROCK CONCERT
16:23 26/01/2004

On January 24 the police and OMON dispersed the rock concert planned at Minsk
club "New Club". 50 people were detained. Hrodna bands KalJan and PET NIHIL widely
known by their anti-fascists beliefs were to perform there, as pahonia.promedia.by
reports. 

http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/01/26/nc

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ZUBR ACTIVIST DETAINED IN SMALEVICHY
16:30 26/01/2004

A ZUBR activist Alexander Silitsky was detained in Smalevichy on January 25.
A 18-year-old "zubr" was detained by a policeman in civil clothes. Even though
the edition had the publishing information, the policeman confiscated 30 issues
of the newspaper, which Alexander Silitsky did not manage to spread. The activist
was let go without a protocol, as the movement's press service reports. 
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/01/26/smol

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SEVEN OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS DETAINED IN BELARUS
16:28 26/01/2004

Seven participants of an unsanctioned picket organized by the unregistered opposition
youth organization Zubr to remember missing politicians were detained on 23 January
near the building of the prosecutors office. 
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/01/26/seven

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A PARTICIPANT OF THE ACTION "TIME TO RESPONSE" GOT FINED
16:27 26/01/2004

On January 26 in Minsk Central Court there was a trial held on the participant
of the action "Time to Response". The action took place on January 23. The ZUBR
activist Raman Kazakevich was accused of the violation of Article 167-1 of the
Administrative Code. As predicted, the judge Natallia Vaitsehovich declared the
young man guilty and fined him for 20 basic units. Overall there were 7 ZUBR
activists detained. Three cases will be considered by the administrative commitees.
Three more young people were released after explanations. 
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/01/26/zubr

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SERGEY KOVALEV: "SUSPICIONS GOT STRONGER"
16:24 26/01/2004

The famous Russian human rights' activist Sergey Kovalev, the head of the PACE
committee on the political disappearances in Belarus, considers the Belarusian
authorities involved in Yury Zakharanka's, Viktar Hanchar's, Anatoly Krasousky's
and Dzmitry Zavadsky's disappearances. He said that in his interview to Radio
Freedom during his visit to Belarus, where on January 23-24 an international
human rights forum was held. By his words, the Belarusian authorities refused
to receive him as the head of the PACE committee. The human rights' activist
also reported that he made a list of questions to the representatives of the
Belarusian authorities concerning the cases. According to his words, the PACE
reporter Christos Pourgourides followed these questions during his visit to Minsk
in Fall 2003. 
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/01/26/kovalev

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GAS SUPPLIES TO BELARUS EXTENDED TO JAN. 29
16:12 26/01/2004

Belarus' natural gas pipeline network Beltransgaz has signed additional contracts
with Russia's Itera and Transnafta for January 2004, which will provide Belarusian
consumers with necessary gas supplies until January 29, 2004. According to Itera,
restrictions on gas supplies to Belarus, which were imposed on January 24, were
lifted. The problem with gas deliveries for January 2004 has been settled, but
it is necessary to sign new contracts for gas supplies to Belarus after January
29. Itera and Transnafta have already delivered about 1.05bn cubic meters of
natural gas to Belarusian consumers this month, according to contracts signed
earlier. Belarus needs about 2bn cubic meters of natural gas in January 2004.

http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/01/26/otsrochka

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PUTIN SUGGESTS SELLING RUSSIAN GAS TO BELARUS ON CREDIT
16:10 26/01/2004, Prime-Tass

The Russian government should consider a loan to Belarus to pay for Russian gas
supplies, Russian President Vladimir Putin told key ministers during his regular
Monday meeting with them. "If needed, consider with your Belarusian colleagues
an issue of a loan to Belarus for the amount needed by the country so that individual
consumers and enterprises do not have any problems," he said.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/01/26/zvonok

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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
December, 26, 2003
http://charter97.org/eng/news/