MINSK, 29 September 2008 - Despite some minor improvements, the 28 September parliamentary elections in Belarus ultimately fell short of OSCE commitments for democratic elections, international observers from the OSCE concluded in a preliminary statement issued today.

The election took place in a strictly controlled environment with a barely visible campaign, said the observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA).

Voting was generally well conducted, but the process deteriorated considerably during the vote count. Promises to ensure transparency of the vote count were not implemented. The count was assessed as bad or very bad in 48 per cent of polling stations visited. Where access was possible, several cases of deliberate falsification of results were observed.

OSCE monitors were prevented or hindered from observing the vote count in 35 per cent of cases. This compromised the transparency of this fundamental element of the election process.

"The clear signals to improve the election process were not implemented and substantial improvements are required if Belarus is to conduct genuinely democratic elections in line with our common OSCE commitments. Unfortunately the repeated signals of good will did not seem to have been correctly given or received. Consequently the significant progress we hoped for in the democratic development of Belarus did not materialize," said Anne-Marie Lizin, Vice President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Special Co-ordinator of the OSCE short-term observers.

"I'm hopeful and disappointed at the same time. Hopeful because when we came here it seemed that there was some wind of change in the election environment; disappointed because we were unable to see a problem solved that has been with election observation in this country for a long time, and that is the non-transparency of the vote count. But we hope that the improved co-operation we have experienced during this election can be the basis for a genuine dialogue on implementing our recommendations", said Ambassador Geert Ahrens, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission.

Positive developments included the slightly increased access of opposition representatives to election commissions, the decision to rebroadcast once the five-minute candidate spots during prime time, and the recommendation to seal ballot box slots overnight during the five-day early voting period. Some opposition candidates noted progress in their ability to conduct meetings in authorized locations without interference.

The legislative framework continues to present obstacles for elections in line with OSCE commitments. The media coverage of the campaign did not provide meaningful information for voters to be able to make an informed choice. Political parties played a minor role, and restrictions imposed by the state authorities did not allow for a vibrant campaign with real competition.

The OSCE deployed some 450 international observers from 43 countries, including more than 320 short-term observers and 58 experts and long-term observers fielded by ODIHR, as well as 66 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA.

The OSCE/ODIHR monitoring mission didn't recognise the "parliamentary elections" in Belarus free and democratic. The heads of the mission of international observers noted that considerable violations had been found at all stages of the election campaign. The elections fell short of OSCE standards.

OSCE recommendations weren't fulfilled. Observers note that votes counting was held behind the closed doors. Observers had no access to votes counting, process of monitoring the "elections" was complicated, facts of rigging the voting results were noticed. We have all grounds to think strict administrative control was exercised over the electoral process. A subjective of an electoral campaign is offering choice for voters. However, electoral freedom was restricted by the Belarusian authorities. The Belarusian authorities need changes in order for the country to set a course of democratisation and progress, said Anne-Marie Lizin, Vice President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Special Co-coordinator of the OSCE short-term observers.

Geert Ahrens, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission said he was disappointed in the running and results of the "parliamentary elections" in Belarus. According to him, "we were unable to see a problem solved that has been with election observation in this country for a long time, and that is the non-transparency of the vote count". Mr Ahrens noted that OSCE observers had recorded violations at all stages of the electoral campaign.

Results of the "elections" in Belarus have become a subject of top level politicians' comments.

Lech Kaczy%u0144ski, the President of the Republic of Poland, has made several statements on the subject on air of Radio Bialystok on September 29.

Polish president has stated that he does not believe transparency and democratic nature of the "parliamentary elections" in Belarus.

L. Kaczy%u0144ski noted that the "election" was a step in a right direction for Belarus, however, "A ballot is democratic only when the regime has no possibilities to control the process [of voting]. "When there are possibilities for control, it always signalize about danger, and means that there is no democracy," the Polish president said.

To his mind, a process of changing ruling elites should take place in Belarus. "In other words, Lukashenko should be a person who understands that loss of power is not a failure, but it is normal," L. Kaczy%u0144ski said. "But there are no signs that Lukashenko finds loss of power a normal process".

The results of the "election" in 110 constituencies show none of the opposition figures has got to the "house of representatives".

Head of the Central Election Commission Lidziya Yarmoshyna said it at a press conference in Minsk today.

The "election" ended in the first voting. According to the official data, turnout was 75.3 per cent.

This election was the most non-alternative in the history of modern Belarus. Only 2.4 candidates contested for a seat in the "house of representatives". Election was non-alternative in 15 constituencies, with one representative of the authorities. The number of constituencies without democratic candidates was 40.

There were no democratic candidates in 9 out of 20 constituencies in Minsk. 263 candidates run in the "election". 365 people applied for registration. About 80 applicants weren't registered, more than 20 withdrew their candidatures.

An extremely low rate of representatives of the opposition political parties in polling station election commissions - only 47 people out of 69.865 (0.07 per cent) demonstrates that there was no fair votes counting and the results were rigged again, the opposition thinks.

Belarus will conduct a Parliamentary Election on September 28, 2008. And Belarus "President" Lukashenko promises his country's upcoming election will be open and democratic. So, let's talk about democracy (and regular dictatorship in between the lines).

Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held completely by people under a free and fair electoral system. What happens if there is no free and fair electoral system? And what happens if the whole electoral system is controlled by the government. Who is controlling the government? Nobody! The main thing is when there is no democracy - there is no control by the people over the government's actions. Ask the people of Zimbabwe do they want to live with no food, no water and 2000000% inflation. Probably, they don't. And, probably, that's what can happen when people loose control over their government.

So, when there is no control, there is no balance of power, there is no law, there is no opposition, no freedoms, no human rights, because two main principles of democracy are purposely destroyed by the government. The first principle is: all members of the society have equal access to power. And the second one is: all members of the society enjoy universally recognized freedoms and liberties. So, when people are separated from voting, or when they can vote for the government's candidates only, they are abused by the "tyranny" of the undemocratic dictatorial government. They are misinformed by the government's mass media and are not able to vote in their own personal interests. So, the dictatorial government does not care about people, and their votes, and their personal interests. The dictatorial government is pursuing their own personal interests and can easily falsify the results of any elections in the interests of so called president, his pocket ministers and bureaucratic representatives (in short, president's gang members).

As we know, Belarus is a presidential republic, governed (or plundered) by an illegitimate president and the National Assembly consisting of the 110-member House of Representatives, the lower house, and 64-member Council of the Republic, the upper house. Therefore, the President, Prime Minister, National Assembly, Council of Ministers, the Supreme Court, and the Constitutional Court, basically couple of hundreds of elite people in charge have ALL THE POWER what they need to do anything (stealing, killing, selling Belarus to Russia) without the rest about 10 million Belarusian people's concern.

Since the first president's election in July 1994, he consolidated all the power in his hands and dominated all branches of the government. He used a non-democratic November 1996 Referendum to amend the 1994 Constitution in order to broaden his powers and illegally extend his term in the office. This was the first time when he stole votes from the people of Belarus. After that he learned fast how to falsify any elections. Then he stole some terms in power for his personal use and began to count his 5-year term not from July 1994 but November 1996, taking illegally two more years of power. After his re-election in 2001 Lukashenko fell in love with massive vote-counting fraud forgetting forever any common standards of fairness. In 2004 he did it again fraudulently removing presidential term limits. No wander that March 2003 local elections and October 2004 parliamentary elections failed to meet any international standards. In March 2006 he re-elected himself again disregarding rights and freedoms of all Belarusian people.
What a shame!

Going back to a Parliamentary Election of October 12, 2008 there are 6523 polling stations with 110 district commissions and only 0,05% of the opposition control. How the parliament elected through not-open to voters' control polling stations can be legal? What kind of open and democratic election is that?

What Belarusian people and the opposition can not understand is that nobody is going to help them, not the US, not the EU, they have to help themselves. Every Belarus should finally admit that any election with the present "president" and his gang will be fraud and farce, and people's vote will be rigged as usual leaving then powerless to change anything again and again (for centuries?). For how long they can suffer because of the unworthy, corrupt, ignorant, illegal government obstructing any progress in Belarus. There is no better life, no progress without democracy, without legitimate elections. Did you travel to North Korea, Zimbabwe or Cuba lately? Do you want to see how people can live without any control over their government? The answer is simple; most of the people are hungry, oppressed and living in fear in very poor conditions after tens of years of rigged elections.

This time every person in Belarus should boycott the government's "election" and demand a new open, free and fair real election for all the people of Belarus. People should demand of the present government to return to the Constitution of 1994, reconsider all amendments and get dismissed. New democratic government should be elected. What the EU and US can not understand is that Belarus is not a "vassal" of Russia, the present government is. Most of Belarusian people are pro-European and pro-democratic but they never had a chance their voice to be heard during the last 14 years of Lukashenko's dictatorship. The Council of the Republic has the right to launch an investigation into charges of treason or other major crime brought by the lower chamber against the president and to dismiss the president by a two-thirds majority. All new members of the National Assembly should be elected democratically this time. Only Belarusian people themselves should fight for their rights. The real opposition is more than 9 million of people, just help them to make an informative decision, and just tell people the truth one on one.

So called president of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko called actions of Russia during the war in Georgia quiet and accurate. "Everything has been done perfect, in a very calm, wise and beautiful manner," Lukashenka said in Sochi at the meeting with so called Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev. "Russia has done everything very accurately," the Belarusian ruler obligingly added, that actions of the West in the same situation would be such that "the whole world would be stirred".

Lukashenko noted that actions of the Russian Federation for settlement the conflict are to contribute to peace in the region "for long times".
He believes that the events "nudge us to some not simple actions in the framework of the Union State". Lukashenko underlined that "never called that [Russia's actions in Georgia] a war". He noted once again that everything was done by Russia in a calm manner.

Today (August 19th, 2008) Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Russian "president" Dmitriy Medvedev in Sochi. As informed by Russian officials, during the meeting the "heads" of the states were to discuss issues of transition to market formation of prices, preparation to the CIS summit, as well as Russia's war with Georgia and the stance of Belarus towards it.

The Ambassador of Russia to Belarus Alexandr Surikov criticized the Belarusian authorities for "keeping timid silence" in the situation in South Ossetia.
To his mind, Moscow expected humanitarian aid and "words of support". Next day Lukashenko expressed condolences to victims, and yesterday evening 63 tons of humanitarian aid were delivered to Vladikavkaz from Belarus.

On August 13 at the meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidorski tried to achieve lower price for gas in 2009 (Gazprom plans to raise it to $200 per 1,000 cubic metres), and a long-time loan of $2 bn. But talks on economic topics were postponed till the beginning of autumn.

The position of Belarus towards the conflict in South Ossetia caused the proposal to Aleksandr Lukashenko to find agreement with Russian president Dmitriy Medvedev first. Dmitriy Medvedev and Aleksandr Lukashenko have agreed upon holding another session of the Supreme State Council of the "Union State". Also leaders of the states "agreed to carry to completion the work on the intergovernmental agreement on creation a single air defence system, which is to be signed during this session".

During the meeting of the "presidents" the schedule of the upcoming political contacts till the end of the year was discussed. An agreement on holding another session of the Supreme state council of the "Union State" in Moscow this autumn has been reached.

Aleksandr Kozulin, who has challenged the authoritarian "president" of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko in presidential elections of 2006, was released from jail on August 16, 2008 after being over there for 875 days.

A former candidate for presidency in the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Kozulin was hurled into prison for staging protest rallies against rigging of presidential elections on Freedom day March 25, 2006. On July 12th, 2006 Minsk city court sentenced Aleksandr Kozulin to 5.5 years of imprisonment. In prison Aleksandr Kozulin announced a hunger strike, demanding to consider the Belarusian problem in the UN Security Council. The political prisoner was on hunger strike for 53 days and lost more than 40 kilograms of his weight. His health has been irreparably damaged.

"I welcome the release of Alexander Kozulin. He and his family have shown incredible resilience, defending their rights and views on life", - said the leader of the civil campaign "European Belarus" Andrei Sannikov.

"It is now necessary to release all political prisoners in Belarus. Next on the agenda is ending the repression against the opposition and the holding of genuinely free and democratic elections. It may be necessary to talk about postponement of the parliamentary elections at a later date. Because after mass non-inclusion of opposition representatives in the precinct commission, September 28, 2008 could be held only electoral farce ", - said the leader of the civil campaign "European Belarus".

Also, I would like to remind the readers that on November 21, 2006 European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner presented a document setting out what the EU could bring to Belarus, if Belarus would engage in democratization and respect for human rights and rule of law. The document was being transmitted to the Belarus authorities both in Minsk and Brussels.

The paper made clear that "the people of Belarus are the first victims of the isolation imposed by the country's authorities, and willl be the first to reap the benefits on offer to a democratic Belarus".

Commissioner Ferrero Waldner said: "The people of Belarus have a right to know what they are missing. Our message is that as soon as the country indicates a willingness to move towards true democracy, human rights and rule of law, we will be ready to enter into a full partnership with Belarus within the framework of the ENP.

The ENP is a special relationship between the EU and its neighbours, which supports political, economic and social reform in partner countries, and seeks to share the prosperity and stability enjoyed by EU member states with those on the EU's borders. The EU would like to build such a relationship with Belarus."

If Belarus respected human rights, democracy and rule of law, respecting its commitments as a member of the UN and of the OSCE, Belarus could become a full participant in the ENP. The EU and Belarus would work together to achieve improvements in people's lives including:

---new trade opportunities to boost the Belarusian economy and create more and better job opportunities;
---improve provision of healthcare and education and support for the most vulnerable in society;
---improved transport and energy networks, and management of environmental issues;
---reform of the legal and judicial system to ensure equal rights for all;
---greater cross-border co operation.
What can the Belarusian government do to open up these opportunities?

For these possibilities to be open to the Belarusian people, the Belarusian authorities
need to respect the right of the people of Belarus:
---to elect their leaders democratically;
---express themselves freely, and have access to independent information;
---to set-up associations,
---to fair and transparent treatment by the judicial system.

No one should be imprisoned for having expressed their opinion and no one should be denied the right to participate in the determination of their countries' future.

No more electoral farce in Belarus 2008!

After the explosion in Minsk (on July 3rd, 2008), the regime uses this tragedy for arrests of activists of the democratic movement of Belarus instead of searching for criminals.

An unprecedented campaign on pressing the opposition and the civil society is carried out today. Organising pressing by the financial police of the State Control Committee, the authorities try to discredit the leaders of the democratic forces, human rights activists, journalists, regional opposition activists.

One of the leaders of the "European Belarus" civil campaign Zmitser Bandarenka, leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka, deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front Vintsuk Vyachorka, leader of the Party of Communists of Belarus Syarhei Kalyakin, human rights activists Ales Byalyatski, Valyantsin Stefanovich, Uladzimir Labkovich, Vera Stramkouskaya, head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Aleh Hulak, BHC members Tatsyana Protska, Harry Pahanyaila, Zmitser Markusheuski, journalist Iryna Khalip, as well as democratic candidates for the autumn "parliamentary elections" and candidates for members of electoral commissions were called to the Department of Financial Investigation and tax offices.

Hundreds of democratic activists in the country suffer from pressure of the financial police. The authorities act in a very cynical way by firing people at first and asking them to account for their financial status after that. Lukashenko has closed down dozens of independent newspapers, liquidated hundreds of non-governmental organisations, shut most of regional offices of opposition parties over the years of his rule. In fact, people who have democratic and pro-European views are banned from their profession. People are dismissed, their business is destroyed, employers are harassed for any activity, different from the ideology of Lukashenko.

The current events in Belarus look liked a carefully rehearsed performance, staged for the people and the international community by the authorities. As soon as Lukashenko begins to speak the elections will be fair and democratic, there comes a new wave of repressions against the opposition and the civil society. The more Lukashenko promises, the stricter actions of the secret services, riot militia, the whole administrative machine become. A list of repression measures that are already in use, namely unlawful arrests, beatings, tortures, trials, fines, prison sentences, firing and expulsion from universities, has been enlarged with tight financial persecution of the democrats and their family members. THE MAIN
PURPOSE IS REAL ELIMINATION OF THE OPPOSITION AND THE CIVIL SOCIETY IN BELARUS.

It is played to take attention off secret and unlawful large-scale privatisation, carried out by Lukashenko's "family" and his inner circle. That is why legitimating the regime by means of the coming elections is vital for Lukashenko. The dictator understands his regime doesn't have international legitimacy, neither he nor his "parliament" is recognised nowhere in the democratic world. But without this recognition it is impossible to attract investors for saving the regime from economic collapse. He counts to hold an uncontrolled privatisation with the help of cynical businessmen from the West and the East. Moreover, the Belarusian state property is sold "on the cheap", because Lukashenko needs money right now to pay back foreign loans and credits, he took over the last time in large quantities.

A possible scenario of recognition of dictatorship is known: presence of two or three opposition figures in the "house of representatives" and making the most odious persons from Lukashenko's circle efface. According to the existing information, it is these conditions that are used by business groups to lobby Lukashenko's interests in Europe. It is used to cover up shameless robbing of the Belarusian people. Lukashenko purposefully removes the last areas of civil control: in fact, there are no printed papers in the country, the authorities are trying to destroy the Internet community in Belarus. Absence of freedom of press, flagrant restrictions on activity of opposition parties, factual prohibition on activity of democratic non-governmental organisations, absence of independent legal system are used by the authorities for secret privatisation, saving of the regime and personal gain. One may just recollect the extra-budgetary fund of Lukashenko, look at villas of officials in Drazdy, extra class cars, belonging to them and their family members, to understand who profits from the privatisation.

Even such a sell-out of the Belarusian state property will make the representatives of the authorities and businessmen close to them richer by billions dollars. The people will receive nothing from it. The opposition has always stood against this kind of privatisation. Any machinations with state property will have no legal force without public control. New government of the democratic Belarus won't recognise the results of such privatisation.

Lukashenko had all chances to accept the offers of the opposition and begin phased democratic reforms in the country. He didn't use them and launched a war to destroy the opposition by using his usual methods.

Only restoration of democracy and law in the country will allow to attract really serious foreign investors to our country, improve life conditions of the majority of the Belarusians, make them be shareholders of leading enterprises. That is why the Belarusian democratic opposition, defending interests of the people, has a key to privatisation now.

Andrei Sannikov, civil campaign "European Belarus"

"The regime has given up on dialogue and democratization by unleashing a real terror against political opposition and the civil society. That is why the democratic forces are to start realization of a different strategy," believes the coordinator of the Charter'97 Zmitser Bandarenka.

- You were one of the initiators of the dialogue of the opposition with the regime. Did this initiative make sense, while the political prisoners are still in prisons, peaceful rallies are brutally disbanded, and Lukashenka publicly insults opposition members on TV?

- It did make sense, but you are right: today is the time for the opposition to abandon the dialogue too. I must remind that in the beginning of the 2007 Belarus was on the edge of an economic catastrophe after the decision of Russia to hike prices of oil and gas imported to our country. There was a threat of losing independence. In this situation the opposition intentionally extended a helping hand to the Belarusian government. No matter what Lukashenka would say today, offering a dialogue by the democratic forces helped to realize a number of investment projects in Belarus, considerably reinforced positions of the country in its talks with Russia, allowed to open credit lines in Europe. One thing is to deal with the last dictatorship in Europe, and the other with the government that have stated their beginning of democratization, readiness to conduct a dialogue with their opposition, and the beginning of a dialogue with the West. And the fact that the leader of the state publicly uses such words as "lousy", "scabby", "hell-raisers", he is just attaching these words to himself, demonstrating his own aggressiveness and lack of good manners.

- Does opposition completely give up on the dialogue with the regime?

- The dialogue opened absolutely new opportunities for the country. During their visits abroad opposition representatives said: in case all political prisoners are released, the US and European countries would have to take steps to meet the Belarusian regime. Recently in Washington we with high-ranking representatives of the US Department of the State discussed a possibility of a visit of Belarusian Foreign Minister and a representative of Lukashenka's administration to the US. America was really ready for a real breakthrough in the relations with our country. Readiness to grant a considerable assistance in solving energy problems of Belarus was mentioned.
If the Belarusian regime released Aleksandr Kazulin before the end of February, as the US and European politicians had been promised, since March 1,2008 we could live in a new Belarus. However, Aleksandr Lukashenko has chosen the side of those his associates who in no way imagine themselves in a democratic, European Belarus.
The opposition would be ready for a dialogue again only in case of real steps of the regime for democratization of the country.
So far the regime has given up on the dialogue and democratization, and unleashed a real terror against political opposition and the civil society. That is why the democratic forces are to start realization of a different strategy.

- How does a new strategy of the opposition could look like?

- The new strategy today is a severe resistance to dictatorship in all directions. In the situation when no liberalization is taking place, we cannot hope that the upcoming election to the "parliament" would be democratic and free, that is why slogans "Boycott to electoral farce!", "Boycott to Lukashenko's regime!", "Boycott to dictatorship!" are appearing on the agenda. The regime itself has pushed the opposition to change the approaches.

- What could the boycott of the election bring? Parties are stating that the electoral campaign gives democrats an additional opportunity to inform the population of Belarus on the situation in the country.

- There are cases in history when boycotts which had been carried out successfully, forced authorities to make considerable concessions at the imminent elections. An unprepared boycott is much worse. For instance, Belarusian opposition used partial boycott at the local elections in 1999 and 2007. It is not effective to announce a boycott of the election in a few days before voting. Such campaigns really result in depression of the society and withdrawal of activists. The boycott of the election in 2000 to a great degree consolidated democratic forces, allowed youth movements to emerge (Zubr, the Young Front). I think nobody would disagree that the defeat in the presidential election in 2001 was connected to the weakness and passiveness of the candidate nominated by the opposition. All the strong candidates either didn't have a right to take part in the election because of imprisonment, or had been murdered.

Boycott-2008 is also to become an obstacle to the intentions to combine the election with a referendum once again, for instance, with a referendum on a Constitutional Act of a Union with Russia.

- But nevertheless, people would be herded to take part in an early voting. How a boycott could be carried out in such conditions?

- The answer is contained in the question. Everybody knows that an early voting is used by dictatorships for mass rigging of election results. In normal conditions, including the elections in the 1990s in Belarus, 3-5% of voters take part in the early voting. That is why it is necessary to organize a control over the number of those who had voted namely on the major day of election. I think, foreign and Belarusian democratic observers are fully able to do that. I would like to remind that in 2000 right after the so-called election the Belarusian TV announced that the election haven't taken place in any regional capital and in Minsk because of a low turnout. And only in a few hours the regime changed the result. However, they had to hold repeat election in one third of city constituencies. Even in Mahilyou a second round was held. After the boycott campaign soldierly spirit of opposition was really strong.

- That is to say, you do not hope that the regime would resort to holding democratic elections, after the chair of the central Election Commission Lidiya Yarmoshyna stated that proposals of the opposition on control over vote count by independent observes are "unworkable", do you?

- I think the situation is to become clear in the middle of June. And starting from this time a boycott campaign by the forces of civil society could be started. At the initial stage parties would try to use opportunities of the election campaign for promotion of their ideas, but facing one more sheer lawlessness, they are to join the boycott. It is possible that not all would support the boycott at once, but finally the majority of democratic structures are to join it.

- Does it mean that after the boycott would be announced, repressions would be stepped up?

- Boycott is a response to repressions. Besides, a considerable enhancement of a solidarity campaign both inside the country and abroad is to become a response to the crackdown by the regime.

- When opposition offered a dialogue to the authorities, it was said that the message was intended for officials primarily. What should the officials who wanted a dialogue do?

- I think that winding up a dialogue with opposition, and especially with the West, shocked many officials. During numerous contacts of Belarusian democrats with state officials, both sanctioned "from above" or informal, we have become convinced again that an absolute majority of these people want positive changes and place their interests on a new democratic Belarus, and Europe. Now officials are to hear about detection of "a new group of corruptionists" from TV screens again. But I think that a new "turn of the screw" won't be long. The dictatorship simply doesn't have resources for that. A form of boycott to dictatorship could be chosen by anyone. It would guarantee actual uniting of all sound people both in opposition and in the government. It is obvious to everyone already that a very little group of people hinders changes in the country. And if they responded a dialogue with new arrests and pushed away an extended hand, we have nothing else to do but to rise to challenge. They, not us, have started the confrontation.

On June 20, 2008 the Moskovskiy District Court of Minsk dismissed a complaint of Svetlana Zavadskaya (one of the founders of the Civil Initiative "We Remember") against an unjust act of Mikhail Titsenkov, Deputy Head of the Minsk City Executive Committee, who banned holding a picket on 7 May, 2008 at the anniversary of disappearance of former Minister of Internal Affaires of Belarus Yuriy Zakharenko.

The aim of the picket was to attract public attention to the demand of the real investigation of disappeared public figures in Belarus, and demands to adopt and ratify The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance by the Republic of Belarus.

- I was not surprised by this decision, I was ready for it, - Svetlana Zavadskaya said. - Belarusian authorities fear the issue of enforced disappearance. They have done and do their best to ban holding of peaceful actions by all means because they do not want portraits of missing people to be shown near buildings of state institutions, the National Assembly building, Presidential Administration. Moreover, they shamelessly violate human rights, formally (only on paper) guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus.

- I'm not going to stop here and I will appeal against the decision of judge Alena Charnyak in the Higher Court. Moreover, I have filed another application to the Minsk City Executive Committee for holding a picket at the anniversary of disappearance of Dmitry Zavadsky on 7 July, 2008 near the City Hall on the Freedom Square.

Civil Initiative «We Remember» is non-governmental organization uniting family members of the involuntary disappeared persons in Belarus during 1999-2000: Yury Zakharenko, Viktor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovsky, Dmitry Zavadsky and died under unclear circumstances Gennady Karpenko.

On the photo: Civil Initiative "We Remember" founders: Irina Krasovskaya, wife of disappeared in September 1999 businessman Anatoly Krasovsky, and Svetlana Zavadskaya, wife of disappeared in June 2000 cameraman Dmitry Zavadsky.

A political prisoner Aleksandr Kazulin answered questions of Austrian newspaper "Der Standard" during a meeting with his family on May 3-5 in Vitsebsk colony. However the interview was shortened for publication in the newspaper. A daughter of the political prisoner Olga Kazulina gave the Charter'97 press-center the full answers of Aleksandr Kazulin to Austrian journalists.

- To start with, dear Mr. Kazulin, let us express our condolences to you for the loss of your wife. So we have the first question for you: how do you get through this terrible loss, especially considering the fact that you are imprisoned?
What gives you power?

- Faith, moral courage, knowing of the future. The two months after my wife's death was very hard time of my life.

- How do you feel in prison? What are conditions in the colony? What do you miss the most?

- Whenever I go, I feel myself a free person. Many people who are imprisoned are far from being free, even if they do not realize it. They are in a spiritual confinement. The conditions are usual for a Belarusian prison. Citizens of Western countries can hardly understand that. If they appeared here, they would be petrified with horror. I miss active way of living the most.

- Why haven't you accepted the offer of Lukashenko to go to Germany and treat your wife there? In fact, that offer was permission for you to leave the country with the aim of receiving a political asylum in the West%u2026

- One shouldn't judge superficially, but the real meaning of that offer should be considered and its prehistory. In a few months before this proposal German Ambassador to Belarus Mr. Weiss insistently recommended my family to persuade me to write a petition for pardon. I do not exclude his intention was noble, and he believed my release at any cost was the most important thing. But he was mistaken in that. It would be an insult of me and my family, my nation and my struggle. I stated that before, and I state that openly now. It would have meant kneeling to a tyrant; it would have been open treading on morals and ethics, which are the basic things a person and a society have, and which are feared most by Lukashenko, as he doesn't have such things at all.

Later I was offered to go to Germany. Instead of an unconditional release I was in fact offered a secret escape from the country or a deportation in a beautiful disguise. Playing upon heartstrings and the most sacred feelings, using the health of my dearly loved wife as a smokescreen, the regime tried to trample the most valuable and sacred things a person has, and to show once again that everything could be sold and bought in this world.

But neither I nor my family could fall as low as that. I am saying that aloud, as enough time has passed, but Germany does not reveal its position as before, thought it is one of the pillars of the EU. It is very interesting to me what would prevail, morals, fundamental human values, or hard pragmatism.

The future of Europe depends on that to a large extent, as in such critical moments a true identity is unveiled. German government should be asked about the motivation of such a proposal, and about whom they wanted to help, me or somebody else? By the way, Mr. Weiss came up to me during my wife's funeral and told that things will be "all right".
I wonder, what he meant by saying "right", and for whom things will come "all right"?

I hope that as me, he meant unconditional release of all political prisoners (there are three of us again), and democratization of Belarus.

So it has happened that I have been deprived of freedom, and of the dearest people, my wife and mother. As you understand, firstly my wife didn't need treatment in Germany at that period, and her quick death confirmed that. Secondly, all worldly goods and the moon were promised to me in Germany, in exchange for not returning back to my country.

But when I chose the path of struggle, I didn't excluded imprisonment. If my desire would be to go somewhere and not get into trouble, I would have done that beforehand (as I had been warned about the arrest). I am a son of my Belarusian Nation, and I will go the way with my people, no matter how difficult it may be. I will do that for the sake of my country and people's future. I do not need anything personally for myself.

- Why after the events of 2006 in Belarus Lukashenko got enraged with you in particular?

- Lukashenko can be mad only with those who pose a real threat to him. He knows well what I am capable of. He realizes perfectly well that he won't beat me in any open confrontation.

- What gives Lukashenko's regime a possibility to survive after that events and after the direct assistance of Moscow to Minsk finished?

- But isn't it obvious that the direct assistance continues? 1.5 billion of non-repayable credit, a gas price which is 2.5 times lower than in Europe, interests of Russian business in Belarus are the things that are on the surface. Besides, Europeans with their pragmatism are helping Lukashenko.

- Is it true that life of people in Belarus ruled by Lukashenko is so bad? In some countries of the former USSR, in Russia and Ukraine for instance, there is an opinion that after the collapse of the Soviet Union Belarus is the only oasis of well-being and prosperity. Who lives really well in today's Belarus?

- Life in Belarus is not so bad, but it is much worse than it could be (we are not comparing our life with Lithuania and Poland, as we have a gap between us in terms of standards of living). Life in Belarus is already worse than in Ukraine and Russia. And from the point of view of freedoms, rule of law and human rights, it is really as awful as you can imagine. The current regime in fact is practically implementing genocide against its own nation. That's why there is a proverb: "If you want to end up in prison, go to Belarus; and if you want to get in prison quick, go to Minsk". If you watch Belarusian TV, read state-run newspapers, Belarus is a haven of prosperity. But in reality Belarus
is a sanctuary of worm-eaten past in a bright propaganda's wrapping.

Whose life is good here? For some period it is good for some high-ranking officials, especially those who are close to Lukashenko; to high-ranking law-enforcers. Permissiveness and impunity are corrupting; they create an illusion of prosperity and well-being. But none of these people has future, and they understand that perfectly. So they are trying to live like there is no future, and enjoy life to the full, grabbing everything they get their hands on. None of them could be sure for a moment he won't be imprisoned tomorrow.

- Is there an active and efficient and opposition in Belarus now? What does the opposition offer as an alternative to Lukashenko?

- Self-consciousness of the nation is developing in Belarus. Lukashenko is given to us exactly for a breakthrough in conscience. Opposition is to transfigure very soon. There are all the preconditions for that. Unlike the today's regime we offer the society not conservation of the past, but a mighty spurt and ascension to the future.

- Do you and your associates feel support of the West? Does the world community remember you? What could be done to support democracy in Belarus?

- I feel support. I receive letters from almost all countries of the world. And there are even more such letters than from Belarusians. As for the support from the West, they should find their position and understand that Lukashenko is a challenge to the European civilization, that Lukashenko is an example of a modernized fascist ideology, Hitler's order, which had been mentioned by him as an ideal of a presidential republic for Belarus in one of his first interviews to a German newspaper. In fact he is realized that in practice.

An ideology of "Lukashism" is very dangerous. Europe cannot understand that still and cannot stop flirting with Lukashenko, as it was in the 1930ies with the ominous person we all know. As soon as Lukashenko is viewed as a challenge to the entire civilization and to all fundamental principles of human society, only then Europeans would be able to find a solution. Americans understood that much earlier, and now they are following an absolutely right policy towards Lukashenko. It is possible to talk to Lukashenko only from a position of strength. The most important thing is that the Europeans should be consolidated, be united and not to flirt with Lukashenko. Otherwise he will fool them finally.

Besides, my criminal case has been submitted to the Council of Europe. Mr. Van der Linden promised to carry out an independent experts' examination. My case was submitted in November 2007, and there is no result still (in May 2008).

In his address to the "parliament" of Belarus Lukashenko defined what America and Europe should do. He is panicked that the EU and the US would consolidate. That is why imposing of economic sanctions would disarm Lukashenko completely.
He has stated directly that Europe won't impose sanctions at the expense of their own interests (that Europeans' pragmatism would prevail). Europe should show the Belarusians and the world that there are more important things than economy. The humankind is rested on them. These are fundamental values which cannot be trampled by anybody; morality, spirituality, humanity, compassion, mercy.

On April 4th, 2008 the United States Ambassador to the OSCE Julie Finley has reported to representatives of member countries of that organization about the US position relating recent events in Belarus.

In a special statement addressed to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna recent events in Belarus are recalled, including a brutal crackdown on participants of a peaceful rally on March 25, 2008 and a mass attack on independent journalists on March 27.

"We call upon Belarusian authorities," the statement reads, "to fulfill their commitments to the OSCE concerning human rights and basic freedoms, and to release Aleksandr Kazulin immediately, as well as peaceful demonstrators and journalists who were detained and imprisoned".

Nevertheless on April 16 (Wednesday) at 10 a.m. proceedings in the political "case of the 14" will start in the court of Tsentralny district of Minsk (Kirau Street, 21). M. Pashkevich, A. Bondar, A. Barazenka, P. Vinagradau, U. Syarheeu, A. Dubski,
A. Straltsou, A. Charnyshou, A. Kim, A. Kojpisj, M. Kryvau, M. Subach, T. Tsishkevich, M. Dashuk are charged in the case of a protest rally of entrepreneurs which tool place on January 10, 2008 in Minsk.

As always young people are charged with violation of Article 342-1 of the Criminal Code: "Staging and preparation of actions grossly violating public order, or active participation in them". They could face up to 3 years of imprisonment under this article.

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 Liar. 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 kindergartens, 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 buying $150000 two-bedroom apartment. What people do not understand is that they can not survive without changing the system, without legitimately throwing away the illegitimate dictator and his gang. If nobody in the Belarusian government was elected by the people of Belarus why they do not have all the human rights to reelect a new parliament and a new real President?

Yes, they do have all the rights to do just that or Belarus will become a new European Zimbabwe with a record 85% unemployment rate (now in Belarus this rate is about 15%, and for sure, this is not an official but true number), 8000% inflation and so called president holding the power for 28 years (it's only 14 years for Belarus).

Yes, they do have all the rights to replace the illegitimate government before it led Belarus to economic collapse being criticized around the world for corruption, suppression of political opposition, economic mismanagement, and deterioration of human rights.

As always, there is an easy way out for the Belarusian authorities. Instead of fearing in expectation, if the European Union will join the U.S. sanctions, and making war with America, they need to release political prisoners, stop persecuting of the dissenters in the country, and hold free elections. But Lukashenko seems not to like this way out because it is a dead end for him and his gang. Just a reminder: Belarus expelled the United States ambassador and recalled its own envoy to Washington on in retaliation for U.S. economic sanctions which blacklisted Belneftekhim (supposedly the main source for Lukashenko's personal income), freezing the accounts of its U.S. representative office.

The president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, has urged the Belarusian government to immediately release the people arrested during a police crackdown on a demonstration staged in Minsk on March 25 on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Belarusian National Republic.

"The use of violence by the Belarusian authorities against peaceful demonstrators and the harassment of independent journalists are in contradiction to the fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression and is not compatible with democratic fundamental rights," Mr. Poettering says in a statement issued on March 27, 2008.

"I strongly condemn the politically motivated detentions and the intervention against Belarusian citizens who are peacefully demonstrating their commitment to the values of freedom, democracy and human rights," Mr. Poettering says. "The European Parliament expresses its solidarity with all those who defend freedom and democracy."

Aleksandr Kazulin has been released from the prison at night on Feb. 26, 2008 for three days to take part in the funeral of his wife, who had died on the 23rd of February.

The 48-year-old woman suffered from an oncological disease. Due to the fact that the authorities at first didn't release the political prisoner for the funeral, Aleksandr Kazulin went on hunger strike. The daughters of the political prisoner joined the hunger strike on February 25. An action in memory of Irina Kazulina took place yesterday in the Minsk center, with demand to release political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin.

The European Union and the US demand to release Aleksandr Kazulin. The official Minsk won't improve relations with Europe without release of all political prisoners. The European Commission, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the PACE, the European Parliament, the embassies of the US, France and Slovakia spoke in favour of Kazulin's release yesterday.

The High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) of the EU Javier Solana urged the Belarusian authorities to release Aleksandr Kazulin immediately. Javier Solana noted that he met the news about the untimely death of Irina Kazulina with great sorrow, and expressed his condolences to her husband and daughters. As said by Javier Solana, release of A. Kazulin would mean release of all political prisoners, five of which have been already released. The United States and European Union demanded in the days leading up to and after Kozulin's wife's death that he be set free.

The mourning ceremony for Irina Kazulina is to take place tonight in Minsk.

Aleksandr Lukashenko admitted on 2/15/2008 that he knew well about bad health of political prisoner Aleksandr Kazulin's wife and tried to use that situation for bargaining with the West and European Union. Irina Kazulina is seriously ill, while her husband has been kept in prison for 2 years on political motives. Release of all political prisoners is the main requirement of the EU and the USA.

The Charter'97 Press Center asked Kazulin's daughter Olga to comment on Lukashenka's statements. "Our mother is dying and Aleksandr Lukashenko knows it perfectly. Saying that he is ready to release our father for mother's treatment is height of cynicism. Let him not hide behind our mother. It's shameless and inhuman," Olga Kazulina said.

Visiting Vitsebsk region the same day, Aleksandr Lukashenko said there is no more question about political prisoners. "Question concerning the so called political prisoners is closed," he said, giving interview to Interfax. According to Lukashenko, the so called political prisoners "were punished in accordance with the Criminal Code, for particular crimes."

Yep, sure they are, Mr. Big Liar! Aleksandr Kazulin, for example, was punished with 5,5 years sentence just because he wanted to be a new president of Belarus. Andrey Klimov was punished with an absurd 2 year sentence for his article on the internet (luckily he was released on 2/16/2008!), Andrey Kim was arrested for taking part in the entrepreneurs rally and can stay in prison cell for up to 6 years, Aleksandr Zdvizhkov was convicted for 3 years for reprinted Prophet Mohammed caricature. Cases of political prisoners in Belarus are made up with all those absurd groundless "criminal" convictions and all those cases are endless just because the judicial system is so corrupt and dishonest.

As Pavel Severinets, founder of the Christian Democratic Party, admits the human rights situation in Belarus is getting worse lately:
"There are more dissent criminal cases, political criminal cases in Belarus today than in the 1970ies. In other words, today's repressions have exceeded the level of repressions in the period of stagnation. One more alarming signal is when people over high-profiled and famous cases can be released via Europe's pressure or bargaining with it, but the awful dynamics of administrative arrests, expelling from university and dismissals is growing. The human rights situation in the country is becoming worse and worse day after day."

After the Rally of Entrepreneurs in Minsk on January 10, 2008 more than 40 people were detained. 23 people were sentenced to 15 days of arrest on the next day after the action. About 20 people were arrested during the week after the rally. Many of the detained were guarded to the special prison facility on Okrestina Street beaten by riot militiamen.

Most participants of the rally of entrepreneurs were judged by the article "participation in unauthorised event." The people, who were detained next days, were accused of "using of foul language." Notably, the authorities used a new technique: they arrested people in the courts, where people came to support their friends, who had trials for the rally of entrepreneurs. Youth leader Dmitriy Hvedaruk was arrested in such a way in the court of the Central district. He was beaten when being detained, and got 15 days of arrest.

Here is a list of the arrested activists as of January18, 2008: Roman Bogdanovich, Aleksandr Borozenko, Pavel Vinogradov, Arseniy Pahomov, Sergei Klyuev, Polina Kuryanovich, Anatoliy Lebed'ko, Yan Michailov, Michail Pashkevich, Michail Krivov, Aleksandr Stepanenko, Tatyana Tishkevich, Vladimir Shilo, Anatoliy Shumchenko, Yuriy Barkun, Artem Dubovskiy, Andrey Radionov, Igor Zhaborovskiy, Aleksandr Vozhakov, Aleksandra Lyndova, Zorka A.Y., Yuriy Kuksyuk, Ales' Chernyshov, Aleksandr Makaev, Sergey Parsyukevich, Ales' Tolstyko, Katerina Krasnova, Kasya Galitskaya, Yuriy Stankevich, Vladimir Sergeev, Franak Vyachorka, Lyudmila Atakulova, Maksim Vinyarskiy, Anton Kalinovskiy, Pavel Kuryanovich, Karen Akopov, Oleg Lysko, Dmitriy Fedoruk, Yuriy Istomin, Vladimir Larin, Volodar Tsurpanov, Vitaliy Stozharov, Aleksandr Rubchenya.

The sentences were given by judges of the Moskovskij district Gusakova O. A., Rudnitskaya Y. B., Avdeenko V. A., Kuznetsova N. A., Shestkov Y. V., Kazak V. V., Frolova Y. G., Shil'ko Y. N., and judges of the Central district Tatyana Pavlyuchuk and Aleksey Bychko, judge Dmitriy Metseyuk (Grodno).

A new Rally of Entrepreneurs in Minsk is scheduled for Monday, January 21, 2008. Long Live Free Belarus!

$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 10 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.

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 criticised 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.

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.

On the eve of the European March organized by the civil society in support of 12 EU proposals the EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy (12 EU Proposals were submitted to the Belarus government on November 21, 2006), Benita Ferrero-Waldner appealed to Belarusians and noted that the European Union supports their courage and calls on them to use the opportunities offered, which could lead to a better life. The Belarusian people will gather to support the EU idea of having a closer relationship within the ENP framework, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said.

In her interview to the Europea by Satellite (EbS) Benita Ferrero-Waldner presented her view on the prospectives of the relations between the EU and Belarus.

Commissioner stated that the EU hopes Belarus will become a full-fledged democracy and part of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). There are all possibilities for productive cooperation. The Belarusian leadership know the US recommendations, but in Ferrero-Waldner's view none of the recommendations was fulfilled: detentions, lack of free media and freedom of assembly in today's Belarus are unacceptable.

If Belarus respected human rights, democracy and rule of law, respecting its commitments as a member of the UN and of the OSCE, Belarus could become a full participant in the ENP. The EU and Belarus would work together to achieve improvements in people's lives including:

---new trade opportunities to boost the Belarusian economy and create more and better job opportunities;
---improve provision of healthcare and education and support for the most vulnerable in society;
---improved transport and energy networks, and management of environmental issues;
---reform of the legal and judicial system to ensure equal rights for all;
---greater cross-border co operation.
What can the Belarusian government do to open up these opportunities?

For these possibilities to be open to the Belarusian people, the Belarusian authorities
need to respect the right of the people of Belarus:
---to elect their leaders democratically;
---express themselves freely, and have access to independent information;
---to set-up associations,
---to fair and transparent treatment by the judicial system.

What concerns the prospectives of the relations between the EU and Belarus, Commissioner stressed the EU has offered the ENP participation to Belarus. The EU leadership wants to see Belarusians as partners within the ENP, Commissioner noted. The EU supports the courage of Belarusians and has great solidarity with their opinion.

On August 22nd, 2007 at about 22:30 pm in Minsk, Belarus, belarussian militia have rushed into the private house in area of Bangalor where a premier performance of Edward Bonda's play "11 shirts" by "Free Theater" was taking place. More than 50 people were taken to the Soviet District Militia Station for a pure interrogation (probably, under duress, as always). After 3 hours 30 of them including a French director Christian Benedetti (Art-Manager of French Theatre-Studio "Artfoville") and two professors of one of the Dutch theatrical schools were released.

Nevertheless, there are more than 10 people, including the Art-Director of "Free Theater" Nikolay Khalezin, his spouse Natalia Kolyada, youth leader Paul Yukhnevich and other actors and simple spectators are still in the station.

" The author of the play Edward Bond allows to play performance only in informal places for a youth audience. The Bonda's play "11 shirts" shows in details how the violence destroys young individuality. To us it became clear, that theatre today is the opponent of the authority, and by quantity of employees of law enforcement bodies which have rushed now to us on performance, problems with freedom in the state will be solved only when our theatre would not be touched ", - has said Nikolay Khalezin before he was taken to the station.

"Free Theatre" - the independent theatrical project which today plays the performances on prestigious platforms of Europe, however and for sure, it is forbidden in Belarus. Also "Free Theatre" became a member of the European Theatrical Convention (ETC) and has been nominated for reception of the most prestigious European theatrical award - "Premiums of Europe". On August 4th, 2007 Belarus "Free Theatre" delegation had a chance to meet a world-famous politician and playwright, and ex-President Vaclav Havel in Czech Republic.

More information about Belarus "Free Theatre"
you can find here:
http://dramaturg.org/index.php?lang=en

Long live Free Theatre in Free Belarus!

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".

US president George W. Bush has extended sanctions against Aleksandr Lukashenko and a number of Belarusian officials. Assets of the leader of Belarus and other top officials responsible for rigging presidential election results and disbanding protest rallies in 2006, were frozen last year. A son of the Belarusian president, Viktor Lukashenko (he is on the photo with his father), was blacklisted too.

As the press service of the White House informs, on Thursday (6/14/2007) George Bush signed a document stating that "blocking of assets" of those persons which come within the jurisdiction of the US, to be prolonged for a year, Radio Svaboda informs.

On June 19, 2006 the US President signed a decree on financial sanctions against 10 Belarusian officials, "responsible for undermining democratic developments and institutions, violations of human rights, for state corruption". These officials are a "threat to the US National Security". First a list of 10 officials was attached to the decree:

1. Aleksandr Lukashenko;

2. Viktor Lukashenko, a member of the Security Council, a Presidential aide;

3. Viktor Golovanov, Justice Minister;

4. Aleksandr Zimouski, the chairman of the Belarusian State TV and Radio Company;

5. Vladimir Naumov, Interior Minister;

6. Dmitriy Pavlichenko, SOBR commander;

7. Natalya Petkevich, a deputy head of the Presidential Administration;

8. Stepan Sukharenko, the KGB chairman;

9. Viktor Sheyman, the Security Council secretary;

10. Ludmila Yarmoshyna, the chairperson of the Central Elections Committee.

On February 27, 2007 the U.S. Treasury Department imposed financial sanctions against 6 more high-ranking Belarusian officials:

1. Petr Miklashevich, Prosecutor General;

2. Yuriy Padabed, Lieutenant Colonel of the Special Riot Police in Minsk;

3. Aleksandr Radkov, Minister of Education;

4. Vladimir Rusakevich, Minister of Information;

5. Yuriy Sivakov, former minister of the interior and former minister of sport and tourism;

6. Oleg Slizhevskiy, head of the Public Associations Department of Justice Ministry.

Sanctions against these six persons could be prolonged after February 2008.

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.

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...

More than 10,000 Belarusians have taken part in celebration of Freedom Day in Minsk on March 25, 2007. The 89th anniversary of the Belarusian People's Republic has been marked by mass rallies and meetings. Europe which was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the European Union foundation, was following the opposition rally in Minsk. A vice president of the European parliament Janusz Onyszkiewicz, deputies of the European Parliament, of parliaments of Poland, Slovakia, Germany, the leader of the Union of the Right Forces (Russia) Nikita Belykh, a deputy of the State Duma (Russia) Vladimir Ryzhkov, ambassadors of the EU countries and the USA took part in the meeting.

The authorities haven't allowed people to celebrate the national holiday in the center of the city, having gathered together policemen and riot policemen to October Square, and having arrested preventively more than a hundred of oppositionists.

Near the Academy of Science a mass meeting was held. Alyaksandr Milinkevich congratulated everybody on the holiday, Freedom Day, and told that the Belarusians have showed that they want to live in a free and independence state. The Belarusians who have gathered in the center of Minsk greeted Angela Merkel's words: "Today [Belarusians] are celebrating their independence day. Our thoughts are also with them today and our message to them is: human rights are indivisible! Europe is with you!"

The leaders of the Belarusian Popular Front Party, the United Civil party, vice president of the European parliament Janusz Onyszkiewicz, deputies of Polish Sejm, leaders of the Union of Right Forces (Russia) and "Mussavat" (Azerbaijan) were present at the meeting. In his address vice president of the European parliament Janusz Onyszkiewicz answered to declarations of the Belarusian regime about their readiness to cooperate with Europe. He stated that by personal experience he has learnt today that Belarus is not a free country, and is ruled by a dictator.

For the first time in the last 13 years the regime has recognized the holiday on March 25, which is a victory of the opposition.

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!

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.

Free Belarus!

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.

Today (3/16/2007) the Day of Solidarity with Belarus is traditionally celebrated in Belarus and all over the world. Actions are to be held in Europe and the USA with a call to the authorities of Belarus to release Belarusian political prisoners and start democratic reforms.

Street rallies of solidarity, conferences, exhibitions, screenings of films dedicated to Belarus are to take place on March 16 in Brussels, Washington, Amsterdam, London, Warsaw, Krakow, Kyiv, Poznan, Lublin, Prague and many other cities and countries.

Street actions in support of Belarus are to take place in 10 cities of Poland. In Kyiv a picket in front of the Belarusian embassy will take place. An action with a demand to release political prisoners in Belarus is planned for March 16 in Washington. A play of the Free Theatre "Generation Jeans" will be presented in Brussels. A conference dedicated to the situation in Belarus, screening of "A Lesson of Belarusian" and "Can I Have a Right?" will take place in Amsterdam.

Days of Solidarity with Belarus are held on the 16th day of every month as a sign of solidarity with families of oppositionists abducted in Belarus, with political prisoners, the repressed and all those who are fighting for freedom and democracy in Belarus.

Long Live Free Belarus!