Free Republic

Only nine days after provoking near universal anger among Belarusians and revulsion in Western capitals by having his forces tear down 70 crosses at the site of the Kuropaty mass graves near Minsk, Alyaksandr Lukashenka compounded his offense by having them destroy 50 more yesterday. This time the actions were taken by about 100 participants in a Soviet-style Saturday work session, and leaders announced that they were planting trees in place of the metal crosses. But their actions provoked a counter-demonstration by Belarusians outraged by this attack on religion and national identity and negative commentaries by Catholic and Orthodox leaders....

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says he will travel to Moscow to participate in events marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe on May 7 and 8, but he will not attend a Victory Day military parade in the Russian capital on May 9. In an interview with Russia's ITAR-TASS, Lukashenka said he will preside over a Victory Day parade in Minsk on May 9 instead.

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says his country is ready for a "constructive dialogue" with NATO. Speaking to top Belarusian military officials in Minsk on February 19, Lukashenka said: "As a sovereign state we are open, in particular, to constructive dialogue with NATO on parity and transparency principles." He added that "we have a lot of common issues [with NATO]; joint work on which fully meets Belarus’s interests." Lukashenka -- who has ruled for 21 years and been called the last dictator of Europe -- said the fighting in Ukraine has shown that Belarus must have an army capable of protecting...

Russia Proposes Belarus as Meeting Ground A meeting of the Presidents of Poland and Russia was expected in Autumn. There was mention of Gdansk and Kaliningrad or a ship as possible locations. Now a meeting seems very unlikely. A month ago the Polish side received a letter from the Russians proposing Belarus as the meeting ground and Lukaszenko as host.

Jane’s Intelligence Digest probes the covert links between Minsk and Tehran. A recent JID probe has indicated that Belarus may be preparing to export sensitive Russian military technology to Iran. Since early 2005, Minsk has been negotiating with Moscow for the purchase of the latest and most advanced version of the S-300SP surface-to-air missile system. According to well-informed sources, a contract for an unspecified number of S-300SP missiles was signed between Minsk and the Kremlin during the summer of 2005, with delivery scheduled to take place either later that year or else in early 2006. Our investigations suggest that the...

Lukashenka's gas challenge Moscow launches a new offensive to gain control of the Belarusian gas sector During a meeting with the Belarusian Energy Minister Alyaksandr Ahieye? on 30 March 2006, Gazprom Chief Aleksiey Miller announced that the price of gas paid by Belarus would be increased severalfold as of 2007. On 4 April 2006, Gazprom Deputy Chairman Aleksander Riazanov said that one way to reach a compromise concerning the gas price was for Belarus to cede control of its gas transmission and distribution system to Gazprom. Moscow seems in this way to have launched a new offensive to control the...

THOUSANDS of Belarussians defied a show of force by the country's hard-line government yesterday, protesting in streets swarming with riot police in a rally that ended with violent scenes. Black-clad riot police clubbed demonstrators with truncheons and shields as demonstrators gathered in a park to denounce President Alexander Lukashenko after a disputed election returned him to power. Tensions ran high as the marchers confronted rows of police who blocked off the central Oktyabrskaya Square where opposition leaders had called for a rally. Police in full riot gear arrived by the busload to push the crowds back in a bid to...

Riot police in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, have broken up a five-day demonstration against the re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko. More than 100 troops poured into the central square and loaded protesters onto waiting trucks. Small groups of demonstrators had gathered in the square since Mr Lukashenko secured a third term in office last Sunday. The opposition condemned the election result, saying the vote was rigged. The BBC's Emma Simpson says about 150 demonstrators were in the square when it was cleared in less than 20 minutes. An Associated Press reporter at the scene said some of the demonstrators were...

March 17, 2006 -- Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka today warned against any attempt at stirring unrest in the country, saying security forces would "wring the neck" of troublemakers. Lukashenka made the comment two days ahead of the March 19 presidential election, in which he is seeking a third term in office. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, earlier today warned Belarusian authorities that they would meet "strong international reaction" if they used violence against peaceful demonstrators. Belarus's main opposition candidate, Alyaksandr Milinkevich, has called on supporters to rally in Minsk tomorrow. The European Union has stepped up pressure...

Belarus rally marred by arrests An opposition candidate in Belarus has been briefly detained by police amid tension in the run-up to presidential elections set for 19 March. The man, Social Democratic Party leader Alexander Kozulin, was also beat up by police in Minsk, witnesses said. He was detained after trying to gain entry to a conference being addressed by President Alexander Lukashenko. Thousands of supporters of another opposition candidate, Alexander Milinkevich, held a rally in Minsk. There was a stand-off as the streets were filled with riot police. The authorities had said the rally was illegal. The crowd later...

Belarus Opposition Accused of Plotting By YURAS KARMANAU, Associated Press Writer Wed Mar 1, 9:54 PM ET MINSK, Belarus - The Belarusian security service on Wednesday accused the isolated ex-Soviet nation's opposition party of planning to seize power during this month's presidential election. Security chief Stepan Sukharenko read a statement on state television alleging that the opposition had plotted to detonate explosives on election day in a crowd of supporters protesting against alleged fraud. "The opposition planned to seize power," he said. The allegations were dismissed by the opposition in Belarus, where authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko has ruled with an...

Belarus leader denounces West By Ron Popeski MINSK (Reuters) - Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday defiantly told his Western critics to stay out of his country's affairs, while an opposition rival for the presidency was beaten by security forces and detained. Lukashenko, who faces tougher Western sanctions if a March 19 election which he is heavily favored to win is denounced as unfair, vowed to take whatever steps were necessary to prevent Western-inspired subversion of his administration. "It is not for (the West) to teach us about human rights. Let them deal with their own affairs. They have plunged...

.S. Warns Belarus Over Vote Combined Reports MINSK -- A senior U.S. diplomat warned Belarus not to manipulate results in next month's tense presidential election, in which Alexander Lukashenko is seeking a third term. Lukashenko's main challenger, Alexander Milinkevich, has said opposition backers will hold demonstrations if the March 19 election is tallied fraudulently -- and concerns are high that any such large gathering would be swiftly and harshly put down by police and troops. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer called on all sides to avoid violence, but "there is a bigger responsibility on the part of...

Poland supports democracy in Belarus The state media in Belarus have been working hard to create an espionage hysteria through antagonizing Belarusian society against Poland and the ethnic Polish community in that country. Belarus, a former Soviet republic squeezed in between Poland, Lithuania and Russia, has what is described as Europe's only authoritarian regime. Several incidents, like the turning back at the border with Poland of the Union of Poles president Angelika Borys a few days ago, testify to concerted efforts of the authorities in Minsk to fuel mistrust towards democracies such as Poland in an attempt to soften Belarusian...

Belarus Says Polish Embassy Is Spy Headquarters 8 February 2006 -- The Belarusian counterintelligence service, the KGB, has accused the Polish Embassy in Minsk of spying. In a program broadcast yesterday on Belarus state television, an unnamed KGB officer said that the Polish Embassy had become a headquarters for foreign secret services. On the same program, a KGB spokesman said that foreign spies have stepped up their activities in Belarus ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. He said there was a concerted effort to "create scandals" that would undermine the country's stability. Polish Embassy officials in Minsk criticized the report,...

Belarus election unlikely to be fair January 05, 2006 THE US ambassador to Belarus said Wednesday the upcoming presidential election in the central European state was "highly unlikely" to be free or fair, but gave no hint of possible new US sanctions. Ambassador George Krol painted what he called a "dismal" picture of opposition prospects to challenge President Alexander Lukashenko in the March 19 poll in Belarus, condemned here as Europe's last dicatarship. "What we've seen for quite some time are all the efforts by the authorities to prevent any alternative views from being able to get out to the...

U.S. Warns Belarus It Must Change Its Ways By BARRY SCHWEID AP Diplomatic Writer Lashing out at censorship and other restrictions in Belarus, the Bush administration on Wednesday told officials in the former Soviet republic that they must end authoritarian rule or risk isolation. At a State Department news conference, U.S. Ambassador George Krol said the Belarus government "knows it will not be able to enjoy a robust relationship with the United States and Europe if it maintains this kind of system." With presidential elections scheduled for March 19, Krol depicted the government of President Alexander Lukashenko, who is seeking...

Belarus crisis BIALYSTOK, Poland: Belarus will be rocked by mass street protests if long-time President Alexander Lukashenko cheats in March’s presidential election, the main opposition candidate said during a visit to Poland on Friday. "Our aim is not to stage a revolution but if the law is flouted during the vote we will take to the streets," Alexander Milinkevich told reporters in this north-eastern Polish city after meeting Polish Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz. But, he warned, Lukashenko could use force to put down any protests. "We can’t rule out that Lukashenko will call in the army," said the opposition leader....

Belarus gets Russia gas cheaply not for friendship’s sake 26.12.2005, 18.56 MINSK, December 26 (Itar-Tass) -- Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said Belarus gets Russian gas cheaply not for friendship’s sake. “We do not ask Russia to sell us gas for a song,” he said in an interview to Rossiiskaya Gazeta on Monday. Lukashenko said the transit of Russian gas over Belarussian territory costs one-fifths to one-third of that over Ukraine. “If Ukraine talks about the world price of Russian gas transit, then the price of gas supply should be the world price, too,” he said. Moreover, Ukraine proclaimed its intention...

New Belarus bill restricts online dating Associated Press MINSK, Belarus - Belarusian lawmakers have passed legislation that would crack down on Internet dating and online spouse searches in the latest of a series of stringent government controls backed by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. Authorities said the measure, which was passed 101-1 by the lower house of parliament Wednesday, was intended to help halt human trafficking in the former Soviet republic. The bill still must be approved by the upper house and signed by Lukashenko before becoming law. The legislation would place new restrictions on organizations that promote dating or help...