![red-hat-reality-check.jpg](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/red-hat-reality-check.jpg)
![russian_oil.jpeg](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/russian_oil-180x120.jpeg)
On December 19 summits of the CSTO, the Eurasian Economic Community and the Customs Union will take place in Moscow. The agreement on oil supplies in 2013 is expected to be concluded during negotiations in Moscow between Lukashenko and Putin at the end of...
![screen_shot_2012-12-17_at_10.25.30.png](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/screen_shot_2012-12-17_at_10.25.30-180x120.png)
Festival of non-formal education, National Gender Platform approval, discussion of Minsk brand and human rights defenders of the year were among the most notable civil society events in Belarus last week. Festival of Non-Formal Education. On 7-9 December, the 4th Festival...
![gazprom.jpg](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gazprom-180x120.jpg)
On 22 November, Alexander Lukashenka met with Putin`s protégé and head of the Gazprom directive board Alexey Miller. During the meeting, Miller presented a program on how Gazprom will develop the Belarusian gas infrastructure and make new investments into the economy. Gazprom...
![pole.jpg](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/pole-180x120.jpg)
Post-Soviet mass discourse often portrays Belarus as a country of villagers. A big deal of that comes from the image of president Lukashenka himself. He has been director of a farm in Eastern Belarus before going into high politics and is famous for...
![rabstvo_01.jpg](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/rabstvo_01-180x120.jpg)
The Belarusian government is becoming increasingly dysfunctional. It finds it more and more difficult to perform its daily tasks without resorting to administrative force. This is the major implication of the unprecedented decree that Alexander Lukashenka signed on 7 December. The...
![deti_1.jpg](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/deti_1-180x120.jpg)
The number of cases of parents being deprived of their parental rights in Belarus is very high compared to other European countries. On the whole, Belarus brings up more than 25,000 boys and girls in children's institutions of various types....
![screen_shot_2012-12-10_at_08.12.12.png](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/screen_shot_2012-12-10_at_08.12.12-180x120.png)
In November, civil society representatives convened in Minsk to vote on the Concept of the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EAP CSF). The adopted version of the Concept favours an expansive interpretation of the civil society...
![screen_shot_2012-12-07_at_08.39.26.png](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/screen_shot_2012-12-07_at_08.39.26-180x120.png)
The Kalinowski scholarship for young Belarusians wishing to study in Poland is six years old but not not without controversy. While those who run it underline its success, the post-graduation reality sometimes raises serious questions. In 2006 the Polish government launched...
![computer-porn.jpg](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/computer-porn_1-180x120.jpg)
Last month BELTA news agency announced that a 21-old Belarusian in the east of the country published eight pornographic videos on his social network page. The authorities started a criminal case and the accused faces up to four years in jail. Belarus has become a...
![novaya_zhizn.jpg](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/novaya_zhizn-180x120.jpg)
The Marketplace of Youth Initiatives announces results in Brest. Fond of Ideas conducts a talk show on corporate social responsibility. The Liberal Club presents an alternative view on public administration reform. The Office for the Rights of People with...
![broken-marriage.jpg](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/broken-marriage_0-180x120.jpg)
According to The Economist, Belarus occupies the fourth highest place in the world for divorce, behind South Korea, Russia and Aruba. The Belarusian Statistics Agency has recently published fresh data on marriages and divorces in Belarus. It also suggests the growing unpopularity of...
![social_networks.jpg](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/social_networks-180x120.jpg)
Politicians in social networks, civil society in politics, geopolitical preferences of Belarusians and the state of small business were, among other topics, in the focus of Belarusian analysts over the last few weeks. Belarusian Politicians Have Nothing to Catch...
![p_et_chernilo_1.jpg](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/p_et_chernilo_1-180x120.jpg)
Lately many in Belarus talk about prohibition to sell cheap poor quality alcohol and fight against alcoholisation of population in Belarus. However, sales of vodka in Belarus amount to a half of the market share. Moreover, the government as watchdog...
![belsat.jpg](https://belarusdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/belsat_1-180x120.jpg)
On 26 November the only independent television channel Belsat broadcasting for Belarusians cut the broadcast and sent a significant number of its employees on leave. Earlier this year Belsat broadcasted for 17 hours a day. Today it is only six and...