Decree on Belaruskali corporization signed

Alyaksandr Lukashenka singed decree #331, under which Belaruskali will be reorganized into a open joint stock company.

Interfax learnt this from the press service of the Belarusian ruler.

In accordance with the decree, oil trunk pipelines Gomeltransneft Druzhba and Navapolatsk-based republican unitary oil transportation enterprise Druzhba must be converted into joint stock companies.

The preamble says the decree is aimed at "attracting investments to development of certain companies".

Under the decree, the shares of the enterprises shall not be sold to members of the labour collective exchanged for Property (Imushchestvo) vouchers.

"The government considered in details prospects for development of

Decree on Belaruskali corporization signed

Alyaksandr Lukashenka singed decree #331, under which Belaruskali will be reorganized into a open joint stock company.

Interfax learnt this from the press service of the Belarusian ruler.

In accordance with the decree, oil trunk pipelines Gomeltransneft Druzhba and Navapolatsk-based republican unitary oil transportation enterprise Druzhba must be converted into joint stock companies.

The preamble says the decree is aimed at "attracting investments to development of certain companies".

Under the decree, the shares of the enterprises shall not be sold to members of the labour collective exchanged for Property (Imushchestvo) vouchers.

"The government considered in details prospects for development of

Dr. Alban ignored Belarusian journalists after paying $400 for visa

As said by organisers of "Discothèque of the 90ies", musicians ''played the peacock".

-- It's my life! - loudspeakers of a car driving along the streets of the capital were lumbering for a few days. The sound advertising and nostalgia for the reckless 1990ies worked: last evening "Minsk Arena" was cram-full. Middle-aged ladies relaxed listening to Coco Jambo song and other hits of the end of the last century, "Komsomolskaya pravda in Belarus" writes.

A few hours before the concert jouranlists gathered for a press-conference, which main stars were to become Dr. Alban and Mr. President. Despite of the fact

Gazprom to sign new contract with Belarus on own conditions

Gazprom notices some progress in negotiations with Belarus on working out a supplement to the contract for 2010, which may be signed soon.

It was said by Gazprom chief Alexey Miller at a press conference after Gazprom's annual shareholders meeting, RIA Novosti reports.

"We are carrying out a dialogue with our Belarusian colleagues. We are having a constructive dialogue, all principal questions of the supplement have been solved," Miller said.

According to him, after transit and supplies were resumed in full, the gas company's manages continued phone conversations with Beltransgaz and the Belarusian deputy PM on Thursday night, Gazprom chief

Gazprom shareholders approved $250 gas price for Belarus

Russian gas for Belarus is to become more expensive, decided Gazprom shareholders.

Gazprom's annual shareholders' meeting has approved the agreement with Beltransgaz, according to which the company is to buy 22.5 billion of cubic metres of gas in 2011 which would cost $5.625 billion. Thus, gas price next year has been increased from $200 to $250 per cubic metre, AFN informs.

We remind that according to the agreement approved last year by Gazprom shareholders, in 2010 the volume of purchases from Gazprom by Beltransgaz makes 22.1 billion cubic metres at $4.42 billion.

Agreements approved by Gazprom shareholders, also stipulates that

Gazprom to sign new contract with Belarus on own conditions

Gazprom notices some progress in negotiations with Belarus on working out a supplement to the contract for 2010, which may be signed soon.

It was said by Gazprom chief Alexey Miller at a press conference after Gazprom's annual shareholders meeting, RIA Novosti reports.

"We are carrying out a dialogue with our Belarusian colleagues. We are having a constructive dialogue, all principal questions of the supplement have been solved," Miller said.

According to him, after transit and supplies were resumed in full, the gas company's manages continued phone conversations with Beltransgaz and the Belarusian deputy PM on Thursday night, Gazprom chief

Secret session of “chamber” is preparation to elections?

On June 23 after 8 official issues in the agenda were discussed by the "chamber of representatives", "deputies" hid behind the closed doors form the public.

Journalists were kicked out from House of Government

The session lasted for about an hour, Radio Svaboda informs, and after that one of the "deputies" told:

"We have not discussed issues of oil and gas, gas war and other issues of interaction with Russia, but were busy with domestic problems". To a request to define which home problems, the deputy answered: "As in any organization, "the chamber" has its internal affairs".

"Belarusian partisan" website

Bakiyev’s brother hides in Belarus

Belarus gives shelter not only to the ousted dictator, his unofficial wife and minor children.

Former president of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiyev said at a press conference in Minsk he didn't regret he had left his home country and fled to Belarus after the April coup, RIA Novosti informs.

"I am convinced I did the right thing when I accepted the offer of the Belarusian president and left Kyrgyzstan," Bakiyev said.

He noted just one of his brothers was in Kyrgyzstan at eh moment, but didn't say which. "All other family members are abroad. I don't say where, because even members

Belarus leading in number of militia staff

Belarus has the largest number of law-enforcement staff per capita among the post-Soviet states.

This is showed by a joint survey of European University at St Petersburg and "Vedomosti" newspaper.

Belarus has 1441.6 militiamen per 100,000 people, which is two times more the average rate of 15 countries (637.9). Russia is ranked second with 975.7 law-enforcement officers per 100,000 people. Poland has the lowest number of law-enforcement officers (328.3 per 100,000 people).

Source: Charter'97 :: News from Belarus

Lavrov doesn’t plan to settle gas disputes in Minsk

The gas dispute between Russia and Belarus lies beyond the cognizance of the Russian MFA, it is being discussed by the two countries' energy companies, the Russian foreign minister said.

"The MFA doesn't deal with this issue. This is a matter of the appropriate companies of the two countries, which, as I understand, are carrying out a direct dialogue. The dialogue is based on the contracts signed, so, in my view, any misunderstandings are impossible here," Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow, RIA Novosti reports.

According to the press service of the Belarusian MFA, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov

Lukashenka gets mixed up: “Don’t bow us, don’t rebuke”

The Belarusian dictator furiously attacked Russia during his visit to Mahilou region.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka is not sure whether the country owes Russia for gas. He said the parties had managed to settle all difficult issues. "We are conducting negotiations on the issue. From Russia's point of view, this is a debt. But judging from my words, we do not have a debt. I think we'll come to terms," Lukashenka told in answer to Interfax's question during his working visit to Mahilou region on Friday.

"If we agree this is a debt, and Russia finds it difficult to forgive it and

Lukashenka gets mixed up: “Don’t bow us, don’t rebuke”

The Belarusian dictator furiously attacked Russia during his visit to Mahilou region.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka is not sure whether the country owes Russia for gas. He said the parties had managed to settle all difficult issues. "We are conducting negotiations on the issue. From Russia's point of view, this is a debt. But judging from my words, we do not have a debt. I think we'll come to terms," Lukashenka told in answer to Interfax's question during his working visit to Mahilou region on Friday.

"If we agree this is a debt, and Russia finds it difficult to forgive it and

Lukashenka gets mixed up: “Don’t bow us, don’t rebuke”

The Belarusian dictator furiously attacked Russia during his visit to Mahilou region.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka is not sure whether the country owes Russia for gas. He said the parties had managed to settle all difficult issues. "We are conducting negotiations on the issue. From Russia's point of view, this is a debt. But judging from my words, we do not have a debt. I think we'll come to terms," Lukashenka told in answer to Interfax's question during his working visit to Mahilou region on Friday.

"If we agree this is a debt, and Russia finds it difficult to forgive it and

Unemployment relief in Belarus is 15 dollars

The crisis has affected many Belarusian enterprises, unemployment grows, and the size of the unemployment relief is simply miserable.

As BelaPAN was told in the directorate of the employment of the Labour, Employment and Social Defense Committee of Minsk City executive committee, the average size of an unemployment relief in May was 45.6 thousand rubles (44.600 Br in April). It is equal to $15.

Source: Charter'97 :: News from Belarus

Belarusians returned Olympic medals

The Belarusian sportsmen appealed against positive doping tests at the Olympics in Beijing.

ON June 10, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne upheld the athletes' appeals against the decision of decision of the Disciplinary Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on stripping them of their medals. So, Vadim Deviyatovskiy and Ivan Tsikhan were returned silver and bronze medals, respectively, they won in hammer throwing.

Disciplinary Commission of the International Olympic Committee took a decision on December 11, 2008, to annul the results of Belarusian hammer throwers Vadim Deviyatovskiy and Ivan Tsikhan performed at 2008 Olympics due

Belarus to check Elton John’s morality?

The Public Council on Morality asks organizers of Elton John's concert in Minsk to provide it with records of the singer's previous performances.

Interfax news agency learnt this from the Council head MikalaI Charhinets.

He noted that the Public Council on Morality had watched records of previous Rammstein's gigs before the band's concert in Minsk on March 7, 2010. "It was awful what we saw about Rammstein. We did the right thing by raising this question. As a result, the organizers asked Rammstein not to afford the things they did in other places," he said.

Charhinets also added the Council is

Sechin: Issue on Belarus’s gas debt can be solved only by paying

The issue on Belarus's gas debt to Russia can be solved only by paying it but not by giving assets, Russian deputy prime minister Igor Sechin told journalists on Friday.

"We should adhere to the documents signed, so only paying is possible. The parties bear responsibility," he told, RIA Novosti informs.

Lukashenka's statement on his readiness to discuss giving Beltransgas under the control of Russia was regarded as a possible was to pay the debt ($200 million) of Belarus for gas supplies in 2010.

Sechin also confirmed that Russian doesn't see any grounds for reconsidering the arrangements on oil export

Sechin: Issue on Belarus’s gas debt can be solved only by paying

The issue on Belarus's gas debt to Russia can be solved only by paying it but not by giving assets, Russian deputy prime minister Igor Sechin told journalists on Friday.

"We should adhere to the documents signed, so only paying is possible. The parties bear responsibility," he told, RIA Novosti informs.

Lukashenka's statement on his readiness to discuss giving Beltransgas under the control of Russia was regarded as a possible was to pay the debt ($200 million) of Belarus for gas supplies in 2010.

Sechin also confirmed that Russian doesn't see any grounds for reconsidering the arrangements on oil export

Sechin: Issue on Belarus’s gas debt can be solved only by paying

The issue on Belarus's gas debt to Russia can be solved only by paying it but not by giving assets, Russian deputy prime minister Igor Sechin told journalists on Friday.

"We should adhere to the documents signed, so only paying is possible. The parties bear responsibility," he told, RIA Novosti informs.

Lukashenka's statement on his readiness to discuss giving Beltransgas under the control of Russia was regarded as a possible was to pay the debt ($200 million) of Belarus for gas supplies in 2010.

Sechin also confirmed that Russian doesn't see any grounds for reconsidering the arrangements on oil export

US Congress to hear on situation in Belarus

Co-chairman of the US Helsinki Commission said about the plans to hold a hearing on the situation in Belarus ahead of the presidential campaign.

Alcee Hastings told about this at a meeting with the leaders of the UCP party and Tell the Truth campaign Yaraslau Ramanchuk, Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu, and Anatol Lyabedzka.

"This is a concrete result of the meeting. The appropriate instructions were given in our presence. Hastings expressed his deep concern about the current situation in Belarus," Anatol Lyabedzka told the website ucpb.org.

"Mr Hastings initiated adoption of a special resolution on Belarus ahead of the presidential campaign that is to

Minsk refutes Ukrainian minster: beer dispute not settled

The Belarusian MGA hasn't stopped an anti-dumping investigation in connection with Ukrainian beer supplies.

Interfax news agency has learnt this from Belgospischeprom concern.

"The investigation is still in process, the investigation request hasn't been withdrawn," the concern said underlining that the parties just managed to agree on a necessity to find understanding.

The concern explained that negotiations on price undertaking of Ukrainian companies supplying beer to Belarus go on. At the same time, the concern refused to say the prices proposed by Belarus for reasons of the confidentiality of information.

Minister of agricultural policy of Ukraine Nikolai Prisyazhnyuk said during

Belarus to check Elton John’s morality?

The Public Council on Morality asks organizers of Elton John's concert in Minsk to provide it with records of the singer's previous performances.

Interfax news agency learnt this from the Council head MikalaI Charhinets.

He noted that the Public Council on Morality had watched records of previous Rammstein's gigs before the band's concert in Minsk on March 7, 2010. "It was awful what we saw about Rammstein. We did the right thing by raising this question. As a result, the organizers asked Rammstein not to afford the things they did in other places," he said.

Charhinets also added the Council is

Physically disabled person from Vaukavysk threatens with a protest hungry strike

UCP activist from Vaukavysk Vital Hulyak was unable to receive his disability pension, because his bank card had been seized by the militia.

"Militiamen took away my card, so I cannot get pension now. I have nothing to live on, but the militia don't say when I get back the card and my belongings seized after the search. I am ready for decisive measures – if I don't receive back at least the card, I'll go to Minsk to investigator's office and announce a hunger strike in protest. What else can I do?" the oppositionist told in an interview to

Kirkorov: How can one vote for an artist from a dictatorial state?

Philipp Kirkorov, a famous Russian musician and producer, comments on the performance of the Belarus representative at Eurovision song contest.

Kirkorov told in an interview to Deutsche Welle that it is difficult for artists from Belarus to perform at Eurovision song contest because of the public opinion the West has towards the country and its president.

"The matter is controversial attitude toward the republic and its president imposed on the Europeans. It is said the Belarus is a dictatorship, there is no freedom, one shouldn't vote for the country because if you go to Belarus to Eurovision you will be

Lukashenka gifted gown in Baku University

Alyaksandr Lukashenka was awarded the title of Honoured Doctor of Baku Slavic University.

The rector of the university presented a diploma of an Honorary Doctor and a gown to Alyaksandr Lukashenka during his visit to the university on June 4, BelTA informs.

The Belarusian ruler has been granted this title for "his achievements in strengthening friendship and cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan and his personal contribution to the promotion of relations between the two peoples".

Alyaksandr Lukashenka noted he appreciates the title because it demonstrates respect for Belarus and is a great honour for him and a stimulus to continue

Lukashenka gifted gown in Baku University

Alyaksandr Lukashenka was awarded the title of Honoured Doctor of Baku Slavic University.

The rector of the university presented a diploma of an Honorary Doctor and a gown to Alyaksandr Lukashenka during his visit to the university on June 4, BelTA informs.

The Belarusian ruler has been granted this title for "his achievements in strengthening friendship and cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan and his personal contribution to the promotion of relations between the two peoples".

Alyaksandr Lukashenka noted he appreciates the title because it demonstrates respect for Belarus and is a great honour for him and a stimulus to continue

Lukashenka gifted gown in Baku University

Alyaksandr Lukashenka was awarded the title of Honoured Doctor of Baku Slavic University.

The rector of the university presented a diploma of an Honorary Doctor and a gown to Alyaksandr Lukashenka during his visit to the university on June 4, BelTA informs.

The Belarusian ruler has been granted this title for "his achievements in strengthening friendship and cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan and his personal contribution to the promotion of relations between the two peoples".

Alyaksandr Lukashenka noted he appreciates the title because it demonstrates respect for Belarus and is a great honour for him and a stimulus to continue

Moskva-Minsk bank's branch robbed in Minsk

On May 31, a criminal burst into the banking outlet with two guns.

Policemen are searching for the criminal who had held up the branch of Moskva-Minsk bank in the Maskouski district of Minsk.

Interfax agency has been told about that by the Main directorate of the Interior Affairs of Minsk on Monday.

"Menacing by two objects reminding two pistols, the evil-doer has robbed a branch of Moskva-Minsk bank today," Main directorate of the Interior Affairs of Minsk informed.

According to preliminary information, "a criminal took possession of 500,000 Russian rubles," the agency's source said. The Main directorate of the

NATO: Presidential elections in Belarus to become test for further relations

The Alliance notes that so far there are no political preconditions for closer cooperation with Belarus.

Free and fair elections would become a strong foundation for reconsideration of the realtions with Belarus by the NATO countries. It has been stated by the NATO spokesperson James Appathurai, the European Radio for Belarus informs.

"It is obvious that free and fair presidential elections will be an important litmus paper test for further relations bween NATO and Belarus. NATO will positively assess the polls if recognized by international observers", the NATO representative noted.

James Apparthurai also noted there were no political preconditions for

Protest of Belarusian automobilists: "Stop petrol!" protest (Photo)

Belarusian car owners are indignant at fuel price rise. Automobilists are called upon limiting their rides on June 1-4 and ignoring filling stations.

Over incomplete 5 months since the beginning of the year, prices for fuel in Belarus went up three times, and have been increased by 15% already. Motorists also say that since mid 2004 petrol prices have grown twice, and diesel fuel has gone up by factor 2.5, "European Belarus" website informs.

Motorists are especially angry at the fact that prices for fuel are not determined by global tendencies and prices at which Russian energy resources are