Russian Prime Minister added up losses due to gas deliveries to Belarus

Every year Russia receives $3 billion less than it is due because of duty-free gas deliveries to Belarus.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has stated during the annual televised question-and-answer session with Russians, Lenta.ru informs.

Earlier during the talks in Moscow, dedicated to creation of the single economic space, First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Uladzimir Syamashka noted that Minsk would receive duty-free gas constantly. "We received gas duty-free, but there have always been some doubt. From now on in the framework of the Customs Union this preference is constant," the official noted.

Meanwhile, Minsk is trying to secure a

Poland plans to increase aid to civil society of Belarus

Poland plans to increase its aid to the civil society of Belarus. It has been stated by MFA Press Spokesman of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Marcin Bosacki at a press-conference in Warsaw on December 29.

As said by him, this aid is to be addressed to the families of the political prisoners and sent for development of independent mass media and many civil initiatives. As informed by PAP, the financial assistance is to be increased from 20 millions to 40 millions PLN (about 13 million dollars) a year.

The agency informed with a reference to anonymous diplomatic sources

Dear Friends!

We would like to appeal to you, our readers, who were with us at the most complicated periods of our site activities.

Today, all those people who worked developming Charter'97 web-site are under arrest. We can not rebuild our activities and have it at a full-scale very quickly. We need time for it. But it would happen -- we would start to update site within few weeks when all technical problems would be solved.

Natalia Radina is under arrest in KGB's jail. Authorities prepare a criminal case against her. Technical staff of the web-site have received 15 days of arrest

Dear Friends!

We would like to appeal to you, our readers, who were with us at the most complicated periods of our site activities.

Today, all those people who worked developming Charter'97 web-site are under arrest. We can not rebuild our activities and have it at a full-scale very quickly. We need time for it. But it would happen -- we would start to update site within few weeks when all technical problems would be solved.

Natalia Radina is under arrest in KGB's jail. Authorities prepare a criminal case against her. Technical staff of the web-site have received 15 days of arrest

Dear Friends!

We would like to appeal to you, our readers, who were with us at the most complicated periods of our site activities.

Today, all those people who worked developming Charter'97 web-site are under arrest. We can not rebuild our activities and have it at a full-scale very quickly. We need time for it. But it would happen -- we would start to update site within few weeks when all technical problems would be solved.

Natalia Radina is under arrest in KGB's jail. Authorities prepare a criminal case against her. Technical staff of the web-site have received 15 days of arrest

Foreign Ministry of Poland condemned beating and detention of protesters

The Foreign Ministry of Poland has made a statement condemning the mass battery and detentions of protesters in Minsk streets.

The cruelty of law-enforcers is unacceptable, the statement reads. Cases of cruel beating and detentions of oppositional candidates for presidency Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu and Andrei Sannikov, as well as Vital Rymasheuski, Mikalai Statkevich and Ryhor Kastusyou, cause special concern, "Radio Svaboda" reports.

"We urge to stop violence, immediately release the detained and explain the beating of demonstrators, politicians and journalists, including the foreign ones," the document reads.

The Foreign Ministry will make a conclusion about the process and results of the

Human rights activist detained on Belarusian border again

Human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka with 10 copies of instructions for observes on him was detained at Kamenny Loh border crossing point on his way from Lithuania.

Sudalenka travelled by bus, so all passengers had to wait for over two hours while officers of the customs service in Ashmyany were drawing reports on seizure of printed materials, the campaign "Human Rights Activists for Free Elections" reports.

It's not the first case when activists of the campaign "Human Rights Activists for Free Elections" have been seized information materials for observes on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border. The same happened

Dear Friends!

We would like to appeal to you, our readers, who were with us at the most complicated periods of our site activities.

Today, all those people who worked developming Charter'97 web-site are under arrest. We can not rebuild our activities and have it at a full-scale very quickly. We need time for it. But it would happen -- we would start to update site within few weeks when all technical problems would be solved.

Natalia Radina is under arrest in KGB's jail. Authorities prepare a criminal case against her. Technical staff of the web-site have received 15 days of arrest

Dear Friends!

We would like to appeal to you, our readers, who were with us at the most complicated periods of our site activities.

Today, all those people who worked developming Charter'97 web-site are under arrest. We can not rebuild our activities and have it at a full-scale very quickly. We need time for it. But it would happen -- we would start to update site within few weeks when all technical problems would be solved.

Natalia Radina is under arrest in KGB's jail. Authorities prepare a criminal case against her. Technical staff of the web-site have received 15 days of arrest

Mother of many children has been hunger-striking for five days already. Authorities are silent

Mother of many children from Mahilyow Natallya Shkadun has been hunger-striking for 5 days already. She is striving for improvement of living conditions for her family.

As Natallya Shkadun states, during this hunger-strike she hasn't been directly contacted by the authorities. The leadership of the medical institution where she works persuades her to stop the hunger-strike, as it threatens her health, "Radio Svaboda" reports.

"As far as I know, yesterday there was a call from the Regional Executive Committee to ask whether I was at work. Today, I hope, I'll have enough strength to work. I have a confining

Belarusian Ministry of Defense refused to direct paratroopers for CSTO military exercises

Five officers of the Ministry of Defense of RB will observe the military exercises.

Belarus refused to direct its military contingent for the common operative and tactics military exercises of the Collective Operational Reaction Forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CORF CSTO), it was informed in the General Staff of the Armed forces of RF.

"Belarus is not directing its military contingent to Russia for participation in the common anti terrorist exercises of CORF CSTO near Chelyabinsk. Instead of paratroopers included into CORF it will direct five officers of the Defense Ministry to the training ground "Chebarkul", who will

Jude Low: «Live Belarus!» (Video)

A British actor, Jude Law, appealed to the Belarusians within the scope of Global Artistic Solidarity Campaign.

Jude Law is a famous British cinema and theater actor. His first big success in cinema is considered to be the Anthony Mingella's movie, «The talented Mr. Ripley», where Jude shared the scene with Matt Damon and Gwineth Paltrow. Although two years earlier in 1997 he brilliantly let himself to be known acting a paralyzed disabled role in the science fiction thriller, "Gattaka", where his partners were Uma Turman and Ethan Hawk.

Further career of Jude Law became clearly prominent – he got the

Human rights activist detained on Belarusian border again

Human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka with 10 copies of instructions for observes on him was detained at Kamenny Loh border crossing point on his way from Lithuania.

Sudalenka travelled by bus, so all passengers had to wait for over two hours while officers of the customs service in Ashmyany were drawing reports on seizure of printed materials, the campaign "Human Rights Activists for Free Elections" reports.

It's not the first case when activists of the campaign "Human Rights Activists for Free Elections" have been seized information materials for observes on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border. The same happened

Mother of many children has been hunger-striking for five days already. Authorities are silent

Mother of many children from Mahilyow Natallya Shkadun has been hunger-striking for 5 days already. She is striving for improvement of living conditions for her family.

As Natallya Shkadun states, during this hunger-strike she hasn't been directly contacted by the authorities. The leadership of the medical institution where she works persuades her to stop the hunger-strike, as it threatens her health, "Radio Svaboda" reports.

"As far as I know, yesterday there was a call from the Regional Executive Committee to ask whether I was at work. Today, I hope, I'll have enough strength to work. I have a confining

Mother of many children has been hunger-striking for five days already. Authorities are silent

Mother of many children from Mahilyow Natallya Shkadun has been hunger-striking for 5 days already. She is striving for improvement of living conditions for her family.

As Natallya Shkadun states, during this hunger-strike she hasn't been directly contacted by the authorities. The leadership of the medical institution where she works persuades her to stop the hunger-strike, as it threatens her health, "Radio Svaboda" reports.

"As far as I know, yesterday there was a call from the Regional Executive Committee to ask whether I was at work. Today, I hope, I'll have enough strength to work. I have a confining

Mother of many children has been hunger-striking for five days already. Authorities are silent

Mother of many children from Mahilyow Natallya Shkadun has been hunger-striking for 5 days already. She is striving for improvement of living conditions for her family.

As Natallya Shkadun states, during this hunger-strike she hasn't been directly contacted by the authorities. The leadership of the medical institution where she works persuades her to stop the hunger-strike, as it threatens her health, "Radio Svaboda" reports.

"As far as I know, yesterday there was a call from the Regional Executive Committee to ask whether I was at work. Today, I hope, I'll have enough strength to work. I have a confining

“Grandson” from “Hide Your Grandma’s Passport” clip expelled from BSU

The order of the rector to dismiss him was signed on October 15. All that time the student did not know that he had no right to attend the university.

He was told about dismissal only yesterday. According to the official version confirmed by the dean's office, the reason for expulsion was absence from university, "Nasha Niva" writes.

Representatives of the dean's office declined to comment absence rate of other students, and whether expulsion of Aleh Anufrienka was politically motivated and discriminatory.

Aleh was a five-year student of the Belarusian State University (journalism department) and received state-subsidized education. He passed

British actor Sam West: “We have solidarity with you”

Samuel West addressed the Belarusian in the framework of the Global artistic campaign of solidarity with Belarus.

Sam West is a winner of ten British national and international awards, including three nominations for Oliver Award given by the Society of London Theatre. He played over 30 roles at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre.

Howards End James by Ivory was the start of Sam West's career as a film actor followed by not less successful Jane Eyre by Franco Zeffirelli, Notting Hill by Roger Michell, Van Helsing by Stephen Sommers; he also voiced 101

Human rights activist detained on Belarusian border again

Human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka with 10 copies of instructions for observes on him was detained at Kamenny Loh border crossing point on his way from Lithuania.

Sudalenka travelled by bus, so all passengers had to wait for over two hours while officers of the customs service in Ashmyany were drawing reports on seizure of printed materials, the campaign "Human Rights Activists for Free Elections" reports.

It's not the first case when activists of the campaign "Human Rights Activists for Free Elections" have been seized information materials for observes on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border. The same happened

A military man ran away from a special mission unit in Minsk

Troops patrols of Interior Ministry of Belarus are searching for soldier in Minsk District.

The soldier ran away from a special mission unit in Uruchcha (military unit 3214). It is known that the area along the highway Kalodzishchy – Zaslawye is being investigated, BelaPAN transmits.

Particular attention is paid to the district of "Paunochnyja cementary" and "Paunochny" firing range where a large crowd of week-end villages is situated. Photographs of the soldier who had deliberately left the military unit hung there, the patrols inspect cottages for signs of unauthorized entry, ask villagers, showing photos of the fugitive. According to the

A military man ran away from a special mission unit in Minsk

Troops patrols of Interior Ministry of Belarus are searching for soldier in Minsk District.

The soldier ran away from a special mission unit in Uruchcha (military unit 3214). It is known that the area along the highway Kalodzishchy – Zaslawye is being investigated, BelaPAN transmits.

Particular attention is paid to the district of "Paunochnyja cementary" and "Paunochny" firing range where a large crowd of week-end villages is situated. Photographs of the soldier who had deliberately left the military unit hung there, the patrols inspect cottages for signs of unauthorized entry, ask villagers, showing photos of the fugitive. According to the

A military man ran away from a special mission unit in Minsk

Troops patrols of Interior Ministry of Belarus are searching for soldier in Minsk District.

The soldier ran away from a special mission unit in Uruchcha (military unit 3214). It is known that the area along the highway Kalodzishchy – Zaslawye is being investigated, BelaPAN transmits.

Particular attention is paid to the district of "Paunochnyja cementary" and "Paunochny" firing range where a large crowd of week-end villages is situated. Photographs of the soldier who had deliberately left the military unit hung there, the patrols inspect cottages for signs of unauthorized entry, ask villagers, showing photos of the fugitive. According to the

100 per cent of duty put on oil products for Belarus, gas rises in price

Belarus will pay 100% of export duties for oil products after ratification of documents on the Single Economic State.

It has been stated by Russia's Economic Development Minister Elvira Nabiullina.

"We are cancelling all oil duties in mutual trade. We will supply oil duty-free to Belarus, while duties on oil products will be charged on external borders and transferred to the Russian budget," Nabiullina said to journalists, RIA Novosti reports.

She added that 100% of these duties are meant.

The price for Russian gas for Belarus in 2011 is to remain on the pre-planned level, Nabiullina said.

"The price is

Zlotnikau: Belarus needs to borrow $1 billion a month

And if the sources of external borrowings run low, Belarus living standards will decrease immediately.

Such opinion in the interview to the Russian edition "Commersant" was expressed by Belarusian economist Leanid Zlotnikau, commenting the speech of Alyaksandr Lukashenka on the "all-Belarusian meeting".

"I recall how in September Lukashenka was speaking on the trade unions congress and was answering the question: why, if our economy grows so quickly, and GDP grows quickly as well, why aren't we the richest in comparison with our neighbors, with Russia? Indeed, it's very difficult to answer this question, as GDP per person is lower than

Human rights activist detained on Belarusian border again

Human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka with 10 copies of instructions for observes on him was detained at Kamenny Loh border crossing point on his way from Lithuania.

Sudalenka travelled by bus, so all passengers had to wait for over two hours while officers of the customs service in Ashmyany were drawing reports on seizure of printed materials, the campaign "Human Rights Activists for Free Elections" reports.

It's not the first case when activists of the campaign "Human Rights Activists for Free Elections" have been seized information materials for observes on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border. The same happened

A military man ran away from a special mission unit in Minsk

Troops patrols of Interior Ministry of Belarus are searching for soldier in Minsk District.

The soldier ran away from a special mission unit in Uruchcha (military unit 3214). It is known that the area along the highway Kalodzishchy – Zaslawye is being investigated, BelaPAN transmits.

Particular attention is paid to the district of "Paunochnyja cementary" and "Paunochny" firing range where a large crowd of week-end villages is situated. Photographs of the soldier who had deliberately left the military unit hung there, the patrols inspect cottages for signs of unauthorized entry, ask villagers, showing photos of the fugitive. According to the

A military man ran away from a special mission unit in Minsk

Troops patrols of Interior Ministry of Belarus are searching for soldier in Minsk District.

The soldier ran away from a special mission unit in Uruchcha (military unit 3214). It is known that the area along the highway Kalodzishchy – Zaslawye is being investigated, BelaPAN transmits.

Particular attention is paid to the district of "Paunochnyja cementary" and "Paunochny" firing range where a large crowd of week-end villages is situated. Photographs of the soldier who had deliberately left the military unit hung there, the patrols inspect cottages for signs of unauthorized entry, ask villagers, showing photos of the fugitive. According to the

A military man ran away from a special mission unit in Minsk

Troops patrols of Interior Ministry of Belarus are searching for soldier in Minsk District.

The soldier ran away from a special mission unit in Uruchcha (military unit 3214). It is known that the area along the highway Kalodzishchy – Zaslawye is being investigated, BelaPAN transmits.

Particular attention is paid to the district of "Paunochnyja cementary" and "Paunochny" firing range where a large crowd of week-end villages is situated. Photographs of the soldier who had deliberately left the military unit hung there, the patrols inspect cottages for signs of unauthorized entry, ask villagers, showing photos of the fugitive. According to the

Embarrassment on OSCE summit: Lukashenka wasted his breath in vain

During Lukashenka's speech on OSCE Summit in Astana technical problems in the press centre occurred, and due to this journalists hadn't heard the speech of Belarusian leader.

In particular, as argumenti.ru reports, during the speech there was no signal in the headphones that are used for sound transmission from the video broadcasting arranged on big screen.

To be fair, need to note that problems started during the previous speech – of the head of Polish delegation, though such failure took place for the first time during the current Summit.

It's recalled that in his speech Lukashenka has severely criticized OSCE

Record growth in negative balance of foreign goods trade

According to the results of the past 10 months, foreign goods trade negative balance reached $6932,5 mln.

For the same period of the year 2009 it amounted to $5703,6 mln., Belstat reports.

In October negative balance amounted to $949,9 mln. (against $989 mln. in September, $812,5 mln. in August, $691,1 mln. in July, $787,6 mln. in June, $659,1 mln. in May, $827 mln. in April, $767,3 mln. in March, $440,5 mln. in February and $28,5 mln. in January 2010).

The volume of foreign merchandise trade in January-October 2010 amounted to $46688,9 mln., thus increased by 17,7% in comparison with January-October

Human rights activist detained on Belarusian border again

Human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka with 10 copies of instructions for observes on him was detained at Kamenny Loh border crossing point on his way from Lithuania.

Sudalenka travelled by bus, so all passengers had to wait for over two hours while officers of the customs service in Ashmyany were drawing reports on seizure of printed materials, the campaign "Human Rights Activists for Free Elections" reports.

It's not the first case when activists of the campaign "Human Rights Activists for Free Elections" have been seized information materials for observes on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border. The same happened