European Belarus - civil campaign

Political violence captured on stage

The West Australian

In their own country, members of the Belarus Free Theatre hold performances deep in forests or at private apartments for fear of being arrested. Their uncensored productions, which highlight the realities of living under Europe’s last dictatorship, have landed actors and audience members in jail.

Russian gas transit to Europe through Belarus increased by 26 million cubic meters

Interfax-Ukraine

Minsk, January 5 (Interfax) - Transit of Russian natural gas to Poland through Belarus has been increased by 26 million cubic meters to 109.5 million cubic meters a day, the Belarusian gas transportation company Beltransgaz told Interfax on Monday.

Belarus on track to receive $2.5bn IMF loan

By Stefan Wagstyl, Financial Times

Belarus, the authoritarian state headed by President Alexander Lukashenko, is set to secure a $2.5bn (£1.7bn, €1.8bn) International Monetary Fund emergency loan to help it weather the global economic crisis.

Andrei Sannikov: “Only democracy can defend independence of Belarus”

“Any moment dictator can make any decision in order to save his personal rule regime. From verbal ultimatums Moscow can move to concrete actions, as it happens recently, and then the Kremlin would simply drive Lukashenka into a corner,” believes the leader of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Andrei Sannikov.

Eastern partnership for Belarus but not for dictatorship

A proposal of the European Commission on participation in the Eastern Partnership initiative is available for Belarus, but a country must meet European standards to become its member. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, said in Brussels on December 3.

The Washington Post: Chávez to fight US with help of Lukashenka and Russian arms

Influential American The Washington Post runs about a recent visit of Russian president to Venezuela and arms supplies to this country. According to the newspaper, Hugo Chávez intents on building alliances with American adversaries, including Belarus.

Repression still rules despite thaw towards EU

By Stefan Wagstyl, Financial Times

When Pavel Kuryanovich first attended political demonstrations three years ago he was still at school. Now aged 19, he is an opposition veteran with four prison sentences to his name.

Lenin still alive in Belarus

Participants of the protest action on November 7 had trials in the Leninski district court of Minsk today. On the day, when the Belarusian authorities officially celebrated the anniversary of the “great October”, Young Front activists came to the KGB building with a banner “Communism Must be Tried by Tribunal!”

Obama wins historic US election

BBC NEWS

"It's been a long time coming, but tonight... change has come to America," the president-elect told a jubilant crowd at a park in Chicago.

Belarus Asks IMF for Credit Line as Economy Falters

By Lily Nonomiya, Bloomberg.com

Oct. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Belarus requested aid from the International Monetary Fund, joining Iceland, Pakistan, Hungary and the Ukraine in asking for assistance in weathering the global financial crisis.