No Candidate Would Agree to Be the Kremlin's Protégé, Lebedko Says

No Belarusian candidate would agree to be a protégé of Russia. The statement was made by the chairman of the United Civil Party, Anatoly Lebedko. However, according to the UCP leader, first time in 16 years we can expect that the President of Belarus will not receive a public open support from the Kremlin.

"It will be a new quality in the process of presidential elections", Anatoly Lebedko stated. Moreover, we can expect that the Kremlin will remove the taboo for business to support those or other political projects in Belarus, what was real till the present, the opposition politician said, Trud informs. full text

Improvement of Belarusian-American Relations Depends on Changes and Reforms, Romanchuk Says

We asked the potential participant of the forthcoming presidential campaign, Jaroslav Romanchuk to comment on Alexander Lukashenko’s desire to improve relations between Belarus and the United States.

“If Jaroslav Romanchuk to be elected the President of Belarus, all problems between Belarus and the United States will be resolved in a few weeks. Alexander Lukashenko has the unique ability to strain relations and provoke conflicts. He does not trust the professionals and tries to do everything himself. Official Minsk has the only way - to make substantial changes and reforms, primarily in domestic politics. full text

Lithuania Could Help Belarus Seek Alternative Gas Routes

Lithuania, which will build a liquefied natural gas terminal to ease dependence on Russian gas, may also help neighbour Belarus seek alternative natural gas routes, Lithuania’s premier said Tuesday. Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius met with Belarus Prime Minister Sergei Sidorski for talks late Tuesday on developing separate LNG infrastructures on Lithuania’s Baltic Sea coast to serve the two ex-Soviet states.

"Belarus is showing its interest. I said we see the possibility of developing two parallel projects that could be joined in the future," Kubilius told AFP on telephone from Nesvizh, Belarus, adding that a preliminary expert analysis would be known this fall.full text

UCP to Address International Organizations With a Petition to Grant "Prisoner of Conscience" Status to Andrei Bondarenko

The United Civil Party (UCP) will seek granting "prisoner of conscience" status to Andrei Bondarenko.

"We met with the leaders of the Belarusian human rights organizations, and we do not have doubt that Andrei Bondarenko is a prisoner of conscience. His criminal case is politically motivated and was fabricated, an innocent person serves time in jail”- chairman of the United Civil Party Anatoly Lebedko said.full text

Court Officers Ordered to Seize Anatoly Lebedko’s Property

Leader of the United Civil Party Anatoly Lebedko has received notification that Court officers were ordered to seize his property. It should be reminded that Octiabrskiy District Court of Minsk fined Anatoly Lebedko with Br 875. 000 ($300) for taking part in an action in honor of former Interior minister Yuri Zakharenko, who was abducted 11 years ago.

Anatoly Lebedko believes the verdict is "unlawful and politically motivated".

"The authorities are trying to impose a ban on the theme of kidnapped and killed opposition leaders. This is an absurd. full text

Police Disperses Opposition Rally in Minsk

On July 27, police dispersed an opposition rally in Minsk, in honor of the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Belarus.

Leader of a movement Razam (Together) Vyacheslav Sivchik and young opposition activists Nikolay Demidenko, Andrei Kim and Katerina Davydik were detained and spent the night in the detention center on Okrestina Street. They are accused under article 17.1 of the Administrative Code - disorderly conduct. The trials will be held today.full text