CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
February, 5, 2007
http://charter97.org/eng/news/
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BELARUS TO START BUILDING ITS FIRST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN 2008
17:27 05/02/2007
Belarus plans to start building its first nuclear power plant in 2008. Belarus's National Academy of Sciences said Monday the NPP's first unit will be commissioned in 2013-2014, and the second unit by 2015. Their total power will be 1,000 megawatts.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/atom
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BELARUSIANS ARE TO CELEBRATE FREEDOM DAY ON KALINOUSKI SQUARE
17:17 05/02/2007
The democratic forces of Belarus have filed an application to Minsk city executive committee to hold a protest rally on Kalinouski Square (October Square) at twelve noon a rally in commemoration the 89th anniversary of the Belarusian People's Republic's proclamation. It has been stated today in Minsk at a press-conference of leaders of political parties and public associations forming the steering committee on celebration of Freedom Day. The democratic forces have also sent a letter to Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
In their address they asked him personally to allow holding the protest rally on March 25 in the center of Minsk and to take part in the festivity. "We are sure that this action would further promote an image of Belarus as a really independent and sovereign state, which is ready for substantive steps for democratization, inter alia named in the address of the European Commission of November 17, 2006. One of such steps should become cessation of prosecution for public and political activism, realization of the
right for freedom of peaceful marches and meetings," the address states," the address states.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/day
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MASS ARRESTS OF YOUNG FRONT ACTIVISTS IN MINSK
10:29 05/02/2007
Riot policemen detained about 30 members of the youth organization the Young Front yesterday. It occurred when a session of the central committee of the organization was taking place in a private apartment in Tsnyanskaya Street. On the same day searches were held in apartments of the Young Front activists.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/mf
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REVIEW CHRONICLE OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN BELARUS IN JANUARY 2007
18:28 05/02/2007, The Human Rights Center "Viasna"
The election to local deputy soviets that took place in Belarus on 14 January didn't become an important political event in the country's life. First of all, it was determined by the wish of the authorities to depoliticize the Belarusian society, which is implied by the date (14 January is the day of Old New Year, as celebrated by Orthodox Christians before adoption of Gregorian calendar). The election campaign was held while Belarusians were preparing to celebration Catholic and Orthodox Christmas and New Year.
Secondly, on New Year eve the public attention was focused on the gas conflict between Russian and Belarus. Complete obliteration of the election by state press and electronic media, absence of political debates and discussions of the candidates' election programs also manifest the reluctance of the authorities to engage ordinary citizens in the election process.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/human
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ALL-RUSSIAN PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH CENTER: IN CASE OF REVOLUTION IN MINSK, RUSSIA SHOULDN'T INTERFERE
18:25 05/02/2007
More than a half of Russian citizens believe that in case a revolution would start in Minsk, it would be better for Russia to keep out. According to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center, the number of supporters of non-interference into such events in Belarus has grown by 12% over two years (previously 40% of respondents supported such actions). Besides, as compared with 2005, the share of people who think Alyaksandr Lukashenka should be supported in this case, has dropped from 24% to 12%.
The number of people, who think Russian government should help political forces of Belarus to find understanding in a case of an uprising, has decreased as well (from 23% to 18%). Only 5% believe that Russian authorities should support forces in opposition to Lukashenka.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/minsk
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HEARING OF VITEBSK KURYER M NEWSPAPER APPEAL ASSIGNED ON FEBRUARY 12
18:00 05/02/2007
The hearing of the "Vitebsk Kuryer M" non-governmental newspaper appeal on the decision of the Vitebsk region Economic Court is assigned on February 12, at 15 o'clock. The case will be heard in the Economic court premises on the address: Vitebsk, Praudy Str. 22, room #409.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/vk
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OLEG KORBAN HAS BEEN DETAINED BY THE KGB
17:55 05/02/2007
Oleg Korban's relatives informed the Radio Svaboda that the young man had been detained at the KGB prison. Location of the Malady Front member Zmitser Fedaruk is unknown. His co-members do not exclude that he has also been imprisoned at the same place. But they do not lose hope and keep on duty at the Savetsky district court of Minsk.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/oleg
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THE SUPREME COURT TERMINATED THE CASE AGAINST THE PCB
17:55 05/02/2007
The Supreme Court of Belarus terminated the case against the Party of Communists Belarusian, the Radio Svaboda reports. Such decision was made after the official representative of the ministry of justice Alyaksandr Khariton announced that the new circumstances had appeared in the case and the ministry was going to expand the claim.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/pkb
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BELARUS HITS RUSSIA WITH 35% HIKE IN OIL TRANSIT FEES
17:28 05/02/2007, RIA Novosti
Belarus will increase tariffs for transit of Russian oil through its domestic pipeline network by more than 30% on average starting February 15, the country's economics ministry said Monday.
According to new tariff regulations, Belarusian pipeline operator Gomeltransneft Druzhba will increase tariffs by 35%, to $3.50 per metric ton of oil along the Unecha-Adamova Zastava route, and by 31.6%, to $1.50 for transit along the Unecha-Brody route.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/tarif
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IS KADDAFI'S VARIANT POSSSIBLE?
16:57 05/02/2007
Belarusian policymakers and experts do not actually believe in the possibility of improvement of the relationship between the official Belarus and the West after Lukashenka's interview to the German newspaper "Die Welt" but, nevertheless, they consider that the chance of the Belarusian foreign policy vectors' bias mustn't be missed.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/variant
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ON THE COMMENTS OF THE MFA PRESS-SECRETARY REGARDING THE LEASE OF THE BHC OFFICE
16:38 05/02/2007
Concerning the public statements of the press-secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus A. Popov on the problems of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) with renting the office premises, HC informs that by the day when the administrative service of the President of Belarus decided on termination of the lease for the BHC office, the Committee was free of debts. Furthermore, when the payment papers were checked by the tenant and the presidential administrative service together, it turned out that
BHC, on the contrary, paid in advance.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/bhc
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WHAT IS MR LUKASHENKA'S PRICE TO QUIT BELARUS?
15:26 05/02/2007, Economist
At any time in the past 12 years it would have been not merely an implausible turn of events, but a sensational one. Alyaksandr Lukashenka of Belarus has denounced Russia, and praised the West.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/zapad
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SUPREME COURT CAN CLOSE PARTY OF COMMUNISTS OF BELARUS
14:11 05/02/2007
Examination of the claim on suspending activates of the Party of Communists of Belarus (PCB) is to start in the Supreme Court of Belarus on February 5. The suit on suspending activities of the PCB had been initiated by justice ministry.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/kommunist
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LUKASHENKA ENDUES HIS SON WITH VAST POWER IN SECURITY COUNCIL
13:48 05/02/2007
In the end of the last week Alyaksandr Lukashenka's press-service informed about steps of the head of the state on de-bureaucratization of his own administration. In line with the decree of the head of the state reduced the number of workers in his administration. He dismissed five persons. However, to make this news more precise, the presidential administration has been reduced by five workers, while 2 more persons have been employed by the Security Council of Belarus. Two employees of the presidential administration
were transferred to the Security Council for assisting Viktar Lukashenka, "Ezhednevnik" informs today.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/sovbez
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JUSTICE MINISTRY ISSUED WARNING FOR THREE OPPOSITIONAL PARTIES
11:28 05/02/2007
Justice Ministry issued written warning for three political parties, the Party of Communists of Belarus (PCB), Belarusian Social Democratic party (Hramada) and the Belarusian party of women "Nadzeja".
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/05/party
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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
February, 5, 2007
http://charter97.org/eng/news/