The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE February, 12, 2007 http://charter97.org/eng/news/ --------------------------------------------------------- LUKASHENKA: BELARUSIANS DO NOT WANT TO UNITE WITH RUSSIA 16:35 12/02/2007 Only 30% of Belarusian citizens support the idea of the union with Russia, Alyaksandr Lukashenka has announced today, Echo Moskvy radio station informs. The reason for this loss of interest to the "union state" lies exclusively in the policy of the Russian authorities, who "have put a noose around Belarus' neck". As said by Lukashenka, he doesn't know what to do with that. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/12/lukashenko --------------------------------------------------------- SEMYON VAINSHTOK: JANUARY EVENTS HAVE CONFIRMED CORRECTNESS OF OUR LINE 14:22 12/02/2007 Transneft CEO Semyon Vainshtok has summed up the results of the oil row between Russia and Belarus in the beginning of this year. "Events of the beginning of January have convincingly showed correctness of our line aimed at an intensive modernisation of the system, capacity building, diversification of hydrocarbons export flows, decrease of transit flows via neighbouring countries," told Transneft CEO Semyon Vainshtok to Rosbalt agency. The text of the statement is published at the official site of the Russian oil and gas transportation company. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/12/semen --------------------------------------------------------- TWO BELARUSIAN WORKERS DIED OF FIRE IN MOSCOW REGION 12:39 12/02/2007 Two workers from Belarus have perished in a fire in Balashikha (Moscow region), the central administration of the Emergency situations ministry in Moscow region informs. One more person has been hospitalized in a state of shock. The injured is a citizen of Belarus as well. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/12/two --------------------------------------------------------- BELARUSIAN POPULAR FRONT PARTY: "ON MARCH 25 BELARUSIANS TO UNITE AROUND INDEPENDENCE" 10:58 12/02/2007 On February 10 a Sojm (congress) of the Belarusian Popular Front party took place in Minsk. The primary issue of the Sojm was to discuss the rally planned on March 25, the Day of Creation of the Belarusian People's Republic. "We look upon the situation as a new one", told the chairman of the party Vintsuk Vyachorka. "It concerns the economy, the stage of unity of today's ruling elite, and the stance of Belarus in foreign policy. All problems discerned in these spheres are a threat for independence of Belarus on one hand, and on the other hand a chance for pro-independence and democratic forces is given". The Sojm has approved a concept of March 25 as the day on which the democratic forces of Belarus are to demonstrate national unity around the idea of independence. Besides, it is to become a day when todays regime is to get a chance to show readiness to make some steps towards democracy, and it means towards assistance of the European Union. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/12/bnf --------------------------------------------------------- 9 DEATH SENTENCES PASSED IN BELARUS IN 2006 17:13 12/02/2007 In 2006 death sentences were passed upon 9 persons, told the chairman of the Supreme Court Valyantsin Sukala at a press-conference in Minsk. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/12/kazn --------------------------------------------------------- THE WORK ON THE DRAFT LAW ON PRESS HAS PASSED INTO CLOSE REGIME 16:13 12/02/2007 Belarusian officials are recently bringing up the topic of necessity of creating new version of the "Law on Press", and also introduction of the norms, regulating activity of the Internet editions. The Minister Mr. Uladzimir Rusakevich told about plans to introduce changes into the Law, which are going to regulate journalist work in the Internet. And according to the Head of Parliamentary Commission on human rights, national relations and mass media Mr. Yury Kulakouski, the necessity in new statutory act has matured. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/12/zakon --------------------------------------------------------- HOUSING PRICES TO RAPIDLY INCREASE IN MINSK 16:01 12/02/2007 According to the Realt.by center, in January 2007 prices for the Minsk real estate at the secondary market of real estate increased by 10.8%. Within a month an average apartment offer in Minsk rose by USD 131 and amounted to USD1345 / sq. m. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/12/dom --------------------------------------------------------- YOUTH COMMEMORATED KASTUS KALINOUSKY (PHOTO) 16:00 12/02/2007 10 February the Byarestse (Brest) youth made a trip to a small town of Damachava to commemorate rebel Kastus Kalinousky. In Belarus on this date the democratic public celebrates 169th anniversary of Kastus Kalinousky, organizer of the national liberating movement in the Belarusian land in 1863. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/12/photo --------------------------------------------------------- US CITIZENS FACE ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY 15:58 12/02/2007 10 U.S. citizens face an administrative penalty for infringement of rules of stay in Belarus, Radio Svaboda informs. According official reports, they were giving English classes without an official permission of Education Ministry. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/12/admin --------------------------------------------------------- PACE TO TREAT SITUATION IN BELARUS 14:59 12/02/2007 Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is to consider the situation in Belarus at a session in Paris on Tuesday. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/12/pace --------------------------------------------------------- PRICE RAISE IN MINSK 13:54 12/02/2007 The Minsk authorities used the opportunity provided by the state budget and increased the tax on cost of goods and services. As a result, since the last weekend customers appeared in the situation when they couldn't believe the price tag, reports the Radio Svaboda. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/12/cena --------------------------------------------------------- 10 US CITIZENS DETAINED IN MAHILYOU 12:14 12/02/2007 On February 9 policemen detained 10 US citizens in one of Protestants' houses of worship. Policemen wanted to find out why American citizens were holding English studies without an official permission. Administrative reports have been drawn up against them. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/12/10 --------------------------------------------------------- ACTIVISTS DETAINED MINKS RELEASED 11:24 12/02/2007 All activists of the "Belarusian Students Association" (BSA) detained on February 10 were released from a police department on the same day after giving explanations. The BelaPAN has been informed about that by one of the BSA representatives. As said by him, each of the activists had given written explanations. All detainees were fingerprinted and videotaped. However, no reports have been drawn up and no charges presented. The last group of the detainees was released at about 11 p.m. http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2007/02/12/minsk -------------------------------------------------------- CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE February, 12, 2007 http://charter97.org/eng/news/ -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://felist.com/member/unsub?grp=media.charter97&email=e@mail http://felist.com/ mailto:ask@felist.com