Belarus Is Going to Be Sold To Russia For $3.5 Billion? Why Not?

$1.5 billion? $2.0 billion? $3.5 billion? Going once. Going twice. Sold to a gentleman in the front raw - "Time" magazine Person of the Year 2007 - Future Czar of Russia & Belarus, Mr. Putin.

On December 20th, 2007 in Moscow, Belarus and Russia has signed an agreement on granting Belarus a state credit of 1.5 billion dollars. The document has been signed by Belarusian Finance Minister Nikolai Korbut and Russian vice Prime Minister, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin. Also Russia is considering a possibility to lend 2 billion dollars more in the year 2008.

In spite of the Deputy Economy Minister of Belarus Oleg Melnikov's statements (he is in charge of privatization issues) at a press-conference in Minsk that "Russia's decision to grant Belarus a $1.5 billion stabilization loan is not subject to Russians' claims to Belarusian public property and any large-scale, massive sales of property to Russian investors are not expected.",-- there is a strong (100%?) probability that the most profitable Belarusian enterprises will be sold to Russian owners in the near future.

As always everything will be done under the table and totally uninformed Belarusian public would not even notice that the owners have been changed and the whole country of more than 9.5 million people is sold to new Russian oligarchs. Why is that?

Simple. The president of Russia was never elected by the people of Russia, he was appointed by Boris Eltsin (former president). The president of Belarus was elected democratically by the people of Belarus 13 years ago, but he re-elected himself twice in 1999 and 2006 by killing the other opposition candidates (former Interior Minister general Yury Zakharenko and the other candidate for Belarusian presidency Viktor Gonchar, 1999) or putting a new presidential candidate to jail (Aleksandr Kozulin, 2006) and falsifying the results. According to western democratic standards basically both of the presidents are illegitimate and they do not care about their people. Both of them care only about two things: power & money for their clans.

Nobody knows about what both presidents were talking for seven hours behind closed doors till 5:30 am on December 14, 2007 in Minsk during the official visit of the president of Russia to Belarus (Dec. 13-14, 2007). Probably, they were both discussing how to keep power forever? Probably, they were both exchanging ideas how to keep opposition in jail during the presidential elections in Russia 2008? Probably, they were both talking over how to sell Air Defense Systems C-400 all over the world? Or, probably, they were tossing around the idea to make Belarus a nuclear state again?

Anyway, probably, sleeping Belarusians one day will wake up in Russia. Because the country is sold in secret for $3.5 billion already and nobody even knows about it. Good night, Belarus. Happy dreams to you.

Mr. "President" Where's The Money?

(Is Belarus Becoming a New European Zimbabwe?)

In 1994 one of the basic items of an electoral program of Alexandr Lukashenko was "indemnification of the lost monetary contributions of the population at the rate of Rouble-Dollar for 1985" (that is when 1 Soviet Rouble was 1 US dollar). Back in 1998 when Lukashenko already became the President of Belarus, a Special President's Decree has been published according to which all indemnifications should be paid by January, 1st 2008. And here we are, 14 years later Belarusians started to get invitations from Belarusbank to get back their contributions what they have lost back in January1992. Let's say you had 10,000 roubles on your account. For 10,000 Roubles on your bank account in 1989 you could buy a nice two-bedroom apartment in Minsk or a good new car. Today in November 2007 Belarusbank (and Mr. "President" personally) is offering you just $10 in exchange of, basically, $10,000. So, what you can buy in Belarus today for 10 bucks? A cup of coffee? Thank you, thank you, Mr. "President". And, by the way, what kind of mockery is that? What's going on in the Kingdom of Belarus under the rule of the"Great Performer" & Mr. MisManager?

Some post Soviet Republic's experience in this matter prompts: it's possible to return to people their lost contributions. And it's possible to do so that the people could be satisfied, and the state was not ruined. For example, in Lithuania the government returned to people all real estate properties (including land) what they have owned before. Also the government returned bank contributions to people - in the ratio 1:4. For lost 10,000 Soviet Roubles it gave 2,500 dollars back.

Is Belarus becoming a new European Zimbabwe? Sure, it does. Dictatorships are all the same on any planet and any dictator is never the people's servant but their Ruler. Any dictator is not living in a vacuum, he is always surrounded by his close "friends" (or gang members, if you wish). Any dictatorship has a typical mafia structure and is based on fear of getting rejected (or killed) by other members. Any dictator is a dead-walking man. As soon as he's loosing his power he is loosing everything very often including his life. There are no exceptions to the rule.

That's why any dictator is constantly hypocritical to his people. He just must lie in order to survive any longer. He just must throw to jail anyone who is telling him the truth that he is a pathological Lier. Any dictatorship is based on lies. Lies are everywhere - on TV, in the newspapers, on the radio, in the government, in economics, in politics, in the movies, in books, in schools, universities and kindergardens, in supermarkets and grocery-stores. And people must live inside those lies. They must believe that they can also survive with a $250 salary a month and dreaming about $150000 two-bedroom appartment. What people do not understand is that they can not survive without changing the system, without throwing away the dictator and his gang.

Mr. Robert Gabriel Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe has been the head of government since 1980. He likes the power so much that he re-elected himself again and again, not so long ago in 2007. Let's look at his dictatorial achievements more closely.

The Mugabe administration has been criticized around the world for corruption, suppression of political opposition, mishandling of land reform, economic mismanagement, and deteriorating human rights. According to most analysts his administration's policies have led to economic collapse and massive starvation over the course of the last ten years. Zimbabwe has the highest inflation rate in the world predicted to hit 1.5 million % by the end of 2007, and is, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Africa's worst economic performer. With a record 85 % unemployment and ~8000 % inflation rates, Zimbabwe is in its worst economic crisis since Mugabe took power.

What a nice guy! This is what 27 years of power can do to people. Must this nice guy to face an international tribunal for crimes against humanity and his own people just like the other dictators of the 21st century do? Sure they must be punished sooner or later by their own people. There is no escape from universal justice. Never. And it's coming.

People in Belarus Remember Stalin's Terror

(Memorial Rally in Kurapaty, Minsk, October 28, 2007)

The memorial rally and meeting dedicated to Dziady - the day of commemoration the ancestors - took place in Minsk on October 28, 2007. From 1.500 to 2.000 people participated in this rally. The column of demonstrants under the white-red-white national flags went along Nezalezhnasti Avenue and commemorated the memory of the Belarusians repressed in 1920-1930-th in Kurapaty - the place where tens of thousands victims of the Stalin's terror were killed and buried. The memorial rally participants demanded to release the today's political prisoners - Aliaksandr Kazulin, Zmiter Dashkevich, Artur Finkevich, Andrey Klimov and other prisoners of conscience.

Mass execution of the Belarusian intellectuals took place in Minsk on October 29, 1937. About 100 people, among them 22 writers were killed in inner prison of People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs. Events of those bloody days were documentary restored in the book "Only One Night" by the writer-researcher Leonid Moryakov.

The writers shot in that night were, certainly, best and talented people of that time: the favourite pupil of the great belarussian poet Yanka Kupala - Valeriy Moryakov, the founder of literature group "Youth" Mikhas' Charot, poet Ales' Dudar', prose writer Mikhas' Zaretsky, the honored painter of Belarus Anatol' Volniy, critic Makar Shalaj, journalist Pavel Shestakov and many many others.

Destiny of people which were tragically united with this terrible night, very different. Ananiy Dyakov was the Pro-Rector, and then Rector of the Belarussian State University. Together with him was Alexey Kuchinsky who acted as Rector at the moment of arrest Hatskel Dunets was just a factory worker. Ivan Zhivutsky taught the Belarus and Russian languages in Zaslavl. Zakhar Kovalchuk at the moment of arrest was a director of a fish-canning factory. Solomon Kantor - director of BelPromTorg.

The most widespread charges - "a member of the anti-soviet terrorist-espionage organization", "a member of the national-fascist organization", "the figure of the anti-soviet organization". By the way, for you (the reader) to know, all those organizations were not real and existed only on paper.

Practically right after arrests and execution of these people their wives and children have been arrested. With an identical verdict ("a member of family of the traitor of the native land") all of them have sent in Kazakhstan, to the notorious Algeria (the name of the camp) - or Akmolinsk Camp Branch of Wives of Traitors of the Native Land.(The city of Akmolinsk since 1997 refers to as Astana.)

Here are just some numbers from those terrible times:

- 200 - 230 persons were killed on the average in a day by Belarusian KGB during from August 1937 to November 1938.

- About 10 thousand people have been shot in the internal prison of People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs in Minsk, USSR during so called "socialism".

- More than 600 thousands of Belarusians have been subjected to repressions for all time of Stalin cleanings.

- The average court time was 10 - 12 minutes by commissioners of People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs who were sent to Minsk from Moscow.

On 70-th anniversary of the tragedy, public members attended the grave sites of communisns' terror victims in Minsk. Without any doubt the authorities did not permit a meeting-requiem in Kurapaty.

"Certainly, every Belarusian should visit the places in Minsk, where the communism's martyrs are buried. Because we can feel the breath of communism even today. Stalin's Line, veneration of Lenin by the authorities in 2007 (21st century!) show that the struggle in Belarus has not finished", - Pavel Severinets said.

Brothers (or Dictators?!) Are United (Forever?)

(Chaves, Putin & Lukashenko)

On June 30th, 2007 Aleksandr Lukashenko has met with the leader of Venezuela Hugo Chavez who was on his way to Minsk from Russia. As it is stated officially the presidents are to discuss the issues of bilateral cooperation, including trade and economic relations and cooperation in energy sphere and some issues of military and technical cooperation.

As stated by Chavez, he plans to view the "final details" of the contract which would allow Venezuela get "complex air defense systems" with a range of 200-300 km.

On June 28th, 2007 in the evening Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez was received by the Russian president Vladimir Putin in his residence Novo-Ogarevo. The guest was on a first-name basis with his Russian colleague, and even called him a brother.

"Thank you, president, thank you, brother, thank you for your invitation," Chavez addressed Putin. He exchanged impressions on the meeting with the mayor of Moscow, Yuriy Luzhkov. They both opened Bolivar centre in Moscow. "We talked about major trends in history, and that geopolitical ideas should be returned," Chavez said.

During the talks of Hugo Chavez with Lukashenko he complained that external opponents (USA and EU) interfere with the development of Venezuela-Belarus-Russia warm relationships.

"We have a lot of obstacles and opponents, first of all this is an empire which names us dictators", - has declared Hugo Chaves. "We have brought with ourselves our heat and solidarity with Belarus, it is a part of our own advantage".

Hugo Chaves ascertained successes in realization of two-way deals. In this connection he has told: "If we managed to make so much for a year how much it will be possible to make for twenty years which we shall be at authority " On what Lukashenko has declared, addressing to Chaves: "Please, do not frighten Americans".

So, where is  Hugo Chaves now in the year 2013?

Lukashenko and Ahmadinejad Are Twin-Brothers?

(Belarus and Iran Military Ties Are Forever!)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived to Minsk with official two days visit on May 21, 2007. As expected a number of bilateral cooperation topics will be discussed and some trade agreements will be signed.

Belarus expects to conclude contracts for exporting metal products, agricultural equipment, equipment for oil and energy spheres. Deliveries to Iran are extremely important for Belarus, which has negative balance of foreign trade and problems with sales of its products. Also two countries will discuss a project of construction in a free economic zone "Minsk" of a trade and logistics complex Prylesye which cost is about
100 million dollars. In addition, new stages of the Belarusian-Iranian project for assembling Iranian cars Samand are to be developed further. Finally, Teheran is set to help Belarus in solving the most essential problem for today, diversification of oils deliveries.

Besides the talks, International exhibition of arms and military equipment "Milex-2007" has opened in Minsk on Tuesday, May 22, 2007. The exhibition took place in Minsk on May 22-25 in the National exhibition center "Belexpo". 135 exhibitors from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Sweden took part in the event. For sure, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took a chance to visit the exhibition during his two-day stay in Minsk.

Defense Ministers of Sudan, Venezuela, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, are expected to arrive to the exhibition. Visits of the commanding officer of the General Staff of the United Arab Emirates and a deputy commanding officer of the General Staff of Syria are to arrive. Official delegations of about 50 countries worldwide were invited to attend the 4th international exhibition of arms and military equipment MILEX 2007, including regional of South Eastern Asia, Africa and Latin America. According to experts, Ahmadinejad could be interested primarily by air defense facilities. Though Iran announce many times about not expecting air threat from the US.

A deputy director of Russian Federal service on military-industrial cooperation Vladimir Poleschuk has confirmed his participation in the exhibition. Delegations of enterprises from Azerbaijan, China, Russia, Poland and Ukraine and other countries have confirmed participation as well. Besides, the exhibition is to be visited by military attaché accredited in Belarus.

Rally "Chernobyl Way" in Minsk, Belarus (April 26, 2007)

Almost 21 years Passed! So What is Done Right? Almost Nothing!

Almost 21 years have passed since a tragic date for Belarus - 26 April, 1986. The largest anthropogenic catastrophe in the history of humanity has inflicted an irretrievable harm to this country. About 2/3 of the radioactive wastes landed on the territory of Belarus and polluted about 1/5 of it, where 20% of the population lived. Almost all Belarus was covered by the first wave of short-term radio nuclides, a part of which was forcibly brought down on the territory of Belarus to save Moscow and Europe. All it was done under the cover of criminal secrecy and people could not defend themselves from this blow.

In February 1991 the Supreme Soviet adopted the law On Social Defense of Victims of the Catastrophe at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. However, with the suppression of democracy the country's government changed its attitude to the national grief. The main disorganization of all systems of people's defense and rehabilitation took place under the present government.

By decrees of Lukashenko and his pocket government a large part of the law was abolished, thus depriving the innocent victims of any support. The specialized medical institutions were liquidated and a politically motivated bureaucratic control of the humanitarian aid was introduced, resulting in cessation of such aid. The activity of the charity funds for getting humanitarian aid from abroad and rehabilitation of children in Europe, USA and Canada was stopped as well, as the children could see other political systems and life standards.

In May 2006 the Ministry of Health Care ruled to exclude the persons with all diseases called by the consequences of Chernobyl catastrophe from the list of those who are to be sent to health resorts. Thus the liquidators of the catastrophe's consequences and 2nd group disabled were deprived of their legal rights. Similar "care" was demonstrated by the Fund for Rehabilitation and Treatment at health resorts. This list can be continued infinitely.

According to the UN experts, by 2020 in Belarus loss of people dying from Chernobyl and criminal indifference of the Lukashenko's government will reach 1 million persons and by 2050 the population will decrease by 28% or more. The main reasons are not only atomic Chernobyl, but also "political Chernobyl" that results in "social and economical Chernobyl".

Such a policy can be called genocide of the Belarusian nation and sooner or later Belarus government officials will be punished for it...

DAY OF FREEDOM CELEBRATION!

(Minsk, Belarus, March 25th, 2007)

Celebration of the Day of Freedom is to be held in Kalinousky (Kastrichnitskaya) Square in Minsk on March 25th at 12.00 pm. This was announced at the press-conference by members of the organization committee on celebration of the Day of Freedom: leader of the democratic forces of Belarus Aleksandr Milinkevich, chairman of the BNF Party Vintsuk Vyachorka, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Socio-Democratic Party (Gramada) Ales Streltsov and deputy chairman of the United Civil Party Igor Shinkarik. "25 March the Belarusian people are going to support the independence of Belarus and declare the necessity of democratic changes in our country. We support the propositions of the European Union to the authorities and the people and repeat that they are to become reality in case the steps towards democracy are made. Among these steps is the official permission for celebration of the Day of Freedom in the center of the capital. We hope that the authorities will not prevent people from gathering in the square", this is how the declaration of the organization committee runs.

"March 25 we will come to the Kalinousky Square because we ought to be there. I am sure, the Day of Freedom will become the state holiday, and so, we offered the authorities to celebrate it together. The Belarusian authorities have to understand today that in the situation of evident crises in the country we have to look for mutual understanding for preserving the independence of the country. I call everybody to come to the Kalinousky Square. It is going to be an exclusively peaceful action, a celebration of the Day of Freedom", leader of the democratic forces of Belarus Aleksandr Milinkevich declared at the press-conference.

Deputy chairman of the United Civil Party Igor Shinkarik mentioned the general conditions put forward by the European Union for implementation in Belarus as the basis for receiving the European economic assistance. Among those are the release of political prisoners, provision of freedom of speech and meetings.

"It is our common standpoint to come to the Kalinousky Square on March 25. Nowadays the country can get substantial assistance from the European Union but in return the authorities have to make certain and evident steps towards democracy. The Belarusian society ought to get united by such values as freedom and independence. And 25 March is giving such possibility", leader of the BNF party Vintsuk Vyachorka declared.

Demonstrators Detained on March 25, 2007 in Belarus

(List of Detained Human Rights Activists)

On March 25, 2007 on the anniversary of proclamation of the Belarusian People's Republic, more than 40 activists were detained in Belarus. According to human rights activists, detentions have taken place in Minsk, Hrodna, Brest, Vitsebsk, Rahachou, Rechytsa. According to inofficial information, about 20 detainees were taken to the police department of Pershamajski district, some of them were beaten up.

The human rights center Viasna offers lists of detained on March 25:

1. Raman Yurhel, a human rights activist, Hrodna
2. Ales Astrouski, BPF, Hrodna
3. Nikalay Voran, Hrodna
4. Viktar Zhylinski, UCP, Rahachou
5. Uladzimir Tamkovich, UCP, Rahachou
6. Dzmitry Shymanski, a chairman of a city branch of the Belarusian People's party, Brest
7. Valery Putsitsky, BPF, Rechytsa
8. Anton Stasiuk, Brest
9. Svyatlana Khanenka, underage
10. Alena Padvojskaya, underage
11. Syarhei Kavalenka
12. Ana Litvinava
13. Alena Zaleskaya
14. Jan Taldyha
15. Ivan Burykin
16. Jan Dzyarzhautsau
17. Dzmitry Baradulya
18. Uladz Tokarau
19. Dzmitry Kalantaeu
20. Yuliya Kalantaeva
21. Volha Kalantaeva
22. Yuras Styapanau, a journalist of Radio Polonia
23. Dzmitry Karatkevich
24. Syarhei Straltsou
25. Ales Paznyak, Vitsebsk
26. Barys Khamajda, Vitsebsk
27. Uladzimir Rusakevich, Minsk
28. Ryhor Nezhnikau
29. Pavel Batueu, Minsk
30. Raman Patsalueu, Hrodna
31. Maxim Rudkouski, Hrodna
32. Yury Zhydovich, BPF, Hrodna
33. Maryna Najdzits, Minsk
34. Jan Lahvinovich
35. Yury Khadvinski, placed to a police department of Pershamajski district of Minsk
36. Tsikhanovich, placed to a police department of Pershamajski district of Minsk
37. Dzyanis Holakhau, beaten during detention in a police department of Pershamajski district of Minsk
38. Syarhei Halyshka, a police department of Pershamajski district of Minsk
39. Alyaksandr Atroschankau, a police department of Frunzenski district
40. Tatsyana Tsishkevich, a police department of Tsentralny district
41. Yauhen Tarasevich, a police department of Partyzanski district
42. Vitaly Tsikhanovich, a police department of Tsentralny district

As we have informed, more than 60 activists more were detained in Belarus on the eve of Freedom Day. Among them are youth leaders Alyaksei Shydlouski, Alyaksandr Atroschankau, Ales Kalita, Barys Haretski, Zmitser Fedaruk and others. People were charged with petty hooliganism and arrested fro 5-15 days. As always policemen were witnesses in courts. What a nice legal system!

This Sweet Word: Ex-President of Belarus

(In Belarus People Are Marking One Year Anniversary of the Rigged Elections)

3/19/2007, Minsk, Belarus

On March 19, 2006 voters in Belarus went to the polls to vote for a "new" president. The Election Day came following a rigged Referendum in October 2004 which cancelled the Constitution's two-term limit for Belarusian presidents. Four candidates took part in the elections: present pseudo-president Lukashenko, main opposition candidate Aleksandr Milinkevich, United Social Democratic Party leader Aleksandr Kazulin (who is now in prison for 5,5 years), and Belarusian Liberal Democratic Party leader Sergey Gaidukevich.

The trick with the manipulation of election commissions results was very simple: 98% of votes for Lukashenko were received in the "special" early voting scheme which was not controlled and monitored by observers at all, so Lukashenko could collect as many votes as he had wanted to collect even before the day of the elections.

So it was not a surprise to anybody to hear the announcement that Lukashenko won with about 83% of votes with just 6% voting for Milinkevich. When in reality Lukashenko has got only about 42% of votes and Milinkevich - 38%. In normal democratic election campaign it was supposed to be a second round of elections because pseudo-president Lukashenko did not get 50% of votes.

Thousands of protesters throng the main square of the Belarusian capital of Minsk, refusing to recognize a presidential vote that appears all but certain to give "president" Lukashenko a third term. Dozens thousands of Belarusians rallied on Kalinouski Square protesting against rigged presidential election results and stayed on the square till March 25 when they were thrown away by the police in the middle of the night.

That's why on March 19, 2007 a rally on the anniversary of mass protests against the rigged results of the presidential election in Belarus took place on October Square in Minsk. Several dozens of young activists, as well as the leader of the United Civil Party Anatoliy Lebedzko have taken part in the action. The event has been called by its participants "a signal" of the start of spring demonstrations in Minsk. People wanted to lay flowers on the square venerating the deed of thousands of protesters. Participants of the action have called upon Belarusians to come to Kalinouski Square in Minsk on March 25 to celebrate the 89th anniversary of proclamation of the Belarusian People's Republic Freedom Day together.

Participants have managed to stay on the square for about 15 minutes.

Belarus is For Sale?

(Investors Be Cautious!)

2007 New Year oil and gas conflict with Russia could cost Aleksandr Lukashenko more than simply a budget deficit. Belarusian Economy Ministry has prepared a vast program of state enterprises privatization. Belarus is getting ready for considerable foreign loans. So why foreign investors should be cautious?

Belarusian Economy Ministry is going to hold contests on selling large oil refineries and chemical enterprises in 2007, including "Naftan" oil refinery, Mozyr oil refinery "Polimir", "Belshyna", Grodno "Azot", Mogilev "Khimvolokno".

Also a possibility of converting enterprises into joint-stock companies with the further aim of selling to strategic investors largest Belarusian unitary enterprises, like Minsk Automobile Plant, Beltelekom (monopolist on communications and Internet market), Belarusian cement plant,
Grodno tobacco factory "Nyoman" is offered for consideration.

But analysts believe that in reality the development of such a vast privatization program was rather "a panic reaction" of Economy Ministry to the consequences of energy resources prices. Belarus remains a country which is very inhospitable for foreign investments. According to the national law, government can get control over earlier privatized enterprises back any time. That is why any "hard-driving" privatization campaign would be impossible without Belarusian legislation alteration first.

Under Aleksandr Lukashenko, who holds office since 1994, privatization has a pinpoint character in Belarus. All large enterprises are owned by the state. If implemented, the program of Economy Ministry would mean a radical change of economical policy of Belarus in general. Is it possible to invest in the country with no future profit guaranties? Where the main economic policy is: "You invest - But I (Lukashenko) and my pocket government, we'll pocket all your profits!"

As was mentioned once by the former Minister for External Economic Relations Mikhail Marinich: "To attract foreign investors, to make the domestic output competitive and to realize the country's economic potential, radical modernization of industry, new system of management, training of new managers, property rights guarantees are required. These ideas seem revolutionary to the present Belarusian authorities and I doubt that they are able to implement them. The issues of investment in Belarus economy have no perspective if the present power system and legislation remain untouched."

Local Elections in Belarus - Results As Lukashenko Expected

MINSK, Belarus, January 16, 2007

About 7 million voters were eligible to take part in the election of 1,581 local councils in Belarus on January 14, 2007 and only 70% of them took part in the elections. The final results of this "vote" to be summed up on January 18 or 19. However, even now it is clear that opposition representatives haven't been allowed to be elected to local councils. Not even ONE of them! Only Government loyalists are allowed to get elected "democratically".

On January 9-13, 2007 almost 25% of voters have taken part in the early vote. The number of people who had taken part in the early vote is higher than in previous elections, and almost the same as in the presidential vote in 2006. Probably, the unique new Belarusian system of elections is created in stone? Or, probably, it is just the same old dictatorial system what Lenin & Stalin used in the Soviet Union for tens of years? The result is the same and the same people have the same power over and over again playing "election games" and electing the same ONE loyalist out of the same ONE loyalist. Same Sicilian Belarusian mafia is on the top and on the bottom of the society structure. White crows are not allowed to participate. Elections are only for black crows! No surprise there.

Belarus opposition and human rights activists denounced Sunday's vote as rigged, and the United States and the European Union said it failed to meet democratic standards.

As the United States Embassy in Minsk Press Release (January 15, 2007) says: "As in previous elections, the Government of Belarus denied to its citizens their freedom of assembly, association, and expression. Authorities used intimidation and arbitrary application of registration standards to exclude opposition candidates and severely restricted the access of registered candidates to voters and the mass media. We call upon the Belarusian authorities not to harm, threaten or detain persons for their political activities.

The United States congratulates those courageous Belarusians who, despite every obstacle and at great personal risk, struggled to exercise their basic human rights in the course of the local elections. We continue to stand with the people of Belarus and support their aspirations for democracy and freedom."

"There have been no free and fair elections in Belarus over the past decade, and these local elections weren't an exception," the main opposition leader, Alexander Milinkevich, told The Associated Press.

Local Elections in Belarus or Against Opposition Hunting Season?

(January 2007, Belarus)

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) is observing the elections for local soviets that began on Tuesday, January 9th, 2007. Members of the human rights group are expected to monitor the poll at the early voting stage and on the main voting day, January 14th, 2007 both in Minsk and in the provinces. Polling stations are open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day at January 9 -13 early voting stage. The early voting procedure allows any voter to cast a ballot early without explaining why he/she cannot do this on the official polling day.

Meantime opposition members are detained all over Belarus. Here are some of their names and their stories:

A meeting of the leader of the United Democratic Forces Aleksandr Milinkevich with voters was held in Byaroza (Brest region) on Jan. 11th, 2007. After the meeting Aleksandr Milinkevich was detained by policemen. He hadn't been charged with anything. Policemen demanded to write down identification details of people who were travelling with Milinkevich in his car. Policemen justified their request by an order from their commanders.

Later Milinkevich's car without any explanations was stopped by traffic policemen when he was driving into Brest. After Milinkevich asked for explanation, policemen said that he was arrested. The car of the united democratic forces leader was convoyed to one of the police department of Brest. Milinkevich's wife was in the car as well. in an hour without presenting any charges Brest policemen released Milinkevich.

The activist of the United Civil Party Andrei Dzmitryev has been seized by unknown people in mufti in the center of Minsk on Jan. 12, 2007. Dzmitryev was arrested in Zakharau street by two athletic men in mufti. They had close-cropped hair. Dzmitryeu tried to fight, but his arms were twisted back, and mouth gagged. Two more men ran out of the dark green car UAZ 8912 BT7. They pushed Dzmitryev into the car and took him in an unknown direction.

A candidate for deputy in Pinsk city council Aleksandr Vasilyev was detained on Jan. 8th, 2007 and has been sentenced to 7 days of administrative arrest. He has been charged with petty hooliganism during consultations of the local vertical of power with members of election commissions. Participants of election campaign in Brest region state that it is not an isolated case of intimidation of independent candidates by the regime.
 

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) is observing the elections for local soviets that began on Tuesday, January 9th, 2007. Members of the human rights group are expected to monitor the poll at the early voting stage and on the main voting day, January 14th, 2007 both in Minsk and in the provinces.

Meantime opposition members are detained all over Belarus. Here are some of their names and their stories:

Yelena Medvedeva, a member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party "Hramada" running in the local elections in Bobruisk, Mogilyov region, was detained by police for several hours on Sunday, Jan. 7th, 2007. The activist said that she had been detained by police nine times during the previous local elections.

Vladimir Katsora, an agent of Viktor Korneyenko, a member of the United Civic Party running for the Gomel Regional Soviet, was detained by police on Tuesday, Jan. 9th, 2007. He was pulled over by traffic police in the city's Gomselmash neighborhood and ordered to drive to a police department. "They told me that I might have killed a pedestrian and hidden the body in the trunk," Mr. Katsora told BelaPAN.

On January 12, 2007 a court of Pruzhany district sentenced a member of the United Civil Party Uladzimir Radzivonchyk to 5 days of arrest for an alleged use of foul language. Radzivonchyk was detained by policemen in his native town on January 11. During the court trial policemen charged the UCP leader with using foul language in a public place. Uladzimir Radzivonchyk tried to explain it was a lie. However, Judge Alena Lahoda found policemen's evidence valid and sentenced the opposition activist to 5 days of arrest.

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) said that observers have problem getting any information from poll workers during the early voting stage of local elections that began on January 9. "Few of our monitors have been told the total number of voters in the precinct," said BHC Executive Director Oleg Gulak. "It's impossible altogether to obtain any data about how many people have voted and how many ballots have been supplied to the polling station."
Poll workers have refused to reply even to written requests for such information, according to the activist.

Democratic activists in Minsk, Homel, Bobruisk, Brest, Pruzhany, Barysau are detained every election day. As usual politicians are to be groundlessly charged with hooliganism.