Loading...
RSS
Belarus-Russia relations Belarusian language Belarusian military travel to Belarus
Why Support Belarus Digest?
The Government Alcoholises the Belarusians
p_et_chernilo_1.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...
29 November 2012
belsat.jpg
Belsat TV Struggles to Survive

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...

28 November 2012
lukashenka.jpg
Relations with the West: No Step Backward

Lukashenka and his entourage believe that their resistance to the wave of democratisation from the West is quite rational and well-reasoned. They hope that sooner or later, if they remain tenacious and consistent, the West will let them alone and...

27 November 2012
belarus-currency-money.jpg
Belarus Seeks Money to Serve Its Mounting External Debt

Today a Belarusian delegation which included the Minister of Finance of Belarus Andrey Kharkavets and the Minister of Economy Mikalai Snapkou arrives for a three-day visit to Singapore and Hong Kong. They plan to arrange a road show to market...

26 November 2012
bialiatski.jpeg
Bialiatski, Belsat, Liberal Club – Digest of Civil Society

Notable events last week included transfer by Ales Bialiatski of his prize to Belarusian human rights defenders, reduction of Belsat broadcasting, and a new Belarusian initiative in Prague. Ales Bialiatski awarded the Prize of the Peter Kelly. The ceremony was held...

23 November 2012
library.jpeg
Innovations in Belarus: When Dreams Come True

In the recently released state budget of Belarus for 2013, support of science features among the top priorities. This could signify a change of policy because for years state financing of science has been unacceptably low. Even with the increase in...

21 November 2012
vak.jpg
Suicide Triggers Changes in the Belarusian KGB

On 16 November, Alexander Lukashenka appointed Valer Vakulchyk as Chairman of the KGB. Vakulchyk remains one of the least famous Belarusian security service officials and the Belarusian state leader trusts him a great deal. A week earlier, on 9 November,...

16 November 2012
51277ad74a1b95668374b3ccd3b7264caa96e24f.jpg
Belarus Announces Pull Out from Latvian and Lithuanian Ports

Alexander Lukashenka announced a re-orientation of Belarusian export cargo streams from Latvian and Lithuanian ports to Russian ports. The announcement came on 9 November at a meeting with the Governor of Russia's Leningrad region.  Belarusian authorities have started a new round...

15 November 2012
belarus_investment_forum.jpeg
Foreign Investments Weaken the Belarusian Regime

Today the Belarus Investment Forum opens in Minsk. In recent years, Belarus has significantly improved its ranking in the Doing Business Report of the World Bank Group. This year it climbed two places, and on two parameters even made...

14 November 2012
klaskouski.jpeg
Ghetto or Barricade? – Digest of Belarusian Analytics

Belarusian experts carried out a lively debate on the role of civil society and intellectual in contemporary Belarus, revelations of Zianon Pazniak and the situation with doing business in Belarus among other topics.  Civil Society: To the Ghetto or the...

13 November 2012
deputaty_2_2.jpg
Belarusian Politicians Do Not Care About the Economy

The Centre for Analytical Initiatives of the Liberal Club in Minsk has recently presented the second edition of its research project - Index of Economic Adequacy of Belarus. The researchers found that the vast majority of Belarusian politicians (both pro-government...

12 November 2012
5.jpg
Belarusian Political Prisoners Get Special Treatment

In addition to sending their political opponents to prisons for years, Belarusian authorities make sure they get "special treatment" there. Today 12 political prisoners are serving sentences. Most of them remain incarcerated in disciplinary cells or stricter regimes. Last...

8 November 2012
velo1.jpeg
Trees Rally, Swamp Campaign, MaeSens – Belarus Civil Society Digest

Belarusian third sector demonstrates a remarkable diversity of activities - from campaigns to save trees and energy to initiatives against drug abuse and new student organisations.  New student association - BOSS. On October 5, Minsk hosted a conference on student...

7 November 2012
image_police.jpg
Belarus Police on the Edge of Reform

Despite being "over-policed" Belarus has one of the highest rates of crime per capita among ex-USSR countries. This fact contradicts a famous myth about stability and order in Lukashenka regime. Belarusian system of justice and law enforcement obviously needs a serious...

6 November 2012
shenhenskija_vizy.jpeg
When Will The Madness with Registration of Application Forms in the Polish Embassy End?

"Tell me, what is the system of getting registered at the consulate? I went there on 10 September, it said "closed until 30/09". I think, okay, they'll open closer to the end of October, and I'll get registered......