CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
February, 17, 2003
http://charter97.org/eng/news/
---------------------------------------------------------

RUSSIA TO TURN OFF GAS FOR BELARUS
15:44 17/02/2004, photo by ByMedia.net

At the yesterday's meeting of the Chairman of Gazprom Aleksey Miller and general
director of the Beltransgaz company Pyotr Pyotukh the agreement was not reached,
RIA Novosti informs. As a source in the Russian company informed, "talks over
gas deliveries havent moved forward an inch. No agreement were reached". A source
of the "Izvestia" in Gazprom said that during negotiations Pyotukh repeated a
recent statement by Alyaksandar Lukashenka that Belarus is not going to sell
Beltransgaz at its balance cost, and does not want to buy gas at a price $50
per 1,000 cubic meters, demanding delivery at a subsidized price.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/02/17/gas

---------------------------------------------------------

EX-HEAD OF BELARUSIAN TV AND RADIO COMPANY JAILED
11:44 17/02/2004, photo by ByMedia.net

Criminal case of Yahor Rybakow, former chairman of the national TV and Radio
Company, who was dismissed last Friday by the decree of Lukashenka, is investigated
by the prosecutor's office of Belarus. While the investigation is carried out,
the law-enforcing agencies do dot comment on what grounds Yahor Rybakow was detained.
But according to unofficial sources, the addresses of the employees of the company
could urge investigators to look into financial activities of the chairman of
the company. As Radio Svaboda informs, the investigator of the Department on
corruption started interrogation of the former chairman of the company yesterday
morning. Most probably Rybakow will be accused of abuse of office and financial
machinations. 
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/02/17/tv

---------------------------------------------------------

TOTAL BREAKUP
18:19 17/02/2004, Pravda, Russia

If one will attempt to prove the saying "Politics is a continuation of economics
and economics is the basis of politics", then current relations between Russian
and Ukraine can serve as the best proof of such expression.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/02/17/total

---------------------------------------------------------

OPPOSITION HAILS US-PROPOSED BELARUS DEMOCRACY ACT
15:35 17/02/2004

The US Congress will "in any case" support the Belarus Democracy Act [introduced
by the US governments Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe], the
leaders of the Five-Plus Popular Coalition [Belarusian opposition election alliance
including the United Civic Party, the BPF-Revival Party, the Belarusian Labour
Party, the Party of Communists of Belarus and the Belarusian Social Democratic
Hramada] believe. They said this at a meeting with journalists in Minsk on 16
February, speaking about the results of their working visit to Washington.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/02/17/act

---------------------------------------------------------

HOMIEL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE WARNS REPORTER
13:22 17/02/2004, Belarusian Association of Journalists'  press service

On February 13 correspondent of the "Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta" in Homiel
region Iryna Makavetskaya was summoned to the regional prosecutor's office. The
head of the department of general supervision over lawful service of legal Alyaksandr
Eliseew read a text of official warning issued by prosecutor general of the region
Aleh Palavinka. 
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/02/17/gomel

---------------------------------------------------------

KGB'S SILENCE
12:25 17/02/2004, "Belarusian Helsinki Committee"

Belarusian KGB evades the answer on the statement about institution of prosecution
against V. Sheiman, Y. Sivakow, D. Pawlichenka, U. Navumaw, N. Vasilchenka, who
are suspected in perpetration of grave crimes. 
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/02/17/kgb

---------------------------------------------------------

BELARUS CHIEF SEEKS TIGHTER CONTROL
12:15 17/02/2004, The Associated Press

MINSK, Belarus (AP)--Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday ordered
the Justice Ministry to strengthen control over political parties, community
organizations and unions, a move that may further stifle dissent in this ex-Soviet
republic.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/02/17/ministry

---------------------------------------------------------

SENTENCE ON "NARODNAYA VOLYA" TO BE PRONOUNCED TOMORROW
11:52 17/02/2004

Tomorrow in the city court of Minsk the sentence in the suit of 'Alliance Media
limited' against the democratic newspaper "Narodnaya Volya" is to be pronounced.
It was said by the judge Valentsina Zenkevich on the results of the sitting of
the court that took place on February 16. The reason for the suit of the 'Alliance
Media limited' (a founder of the weekly "Obozrevatel") against the newspaper
was the article published by the "Narodnaya Volya" on September 3, 2003 "Syarhey
Atroschankaw's "Obozrevatel" Treats Leanid Levin Like a Gangster". 
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2004/02/17/nv

---------------------------------------------------------
CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
February, 17, 2003
http://charter97.org/eng/news/