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Top 10 Civic Actions in Belarus in 2014 Acording to Pact
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With the 2015 approaching fast, international NGO Pact identified the most notable items in Belarus’ civil society life in 2014. For the second straight year Pact acknowledged top 10 civic actions in Belarus. Belarus`s civil society is growing...
5 December 2014
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Snoop Dogg’s Love, Civil Society Under Pressure And A Tragic Discovery – Western Press Digest

Belarus has also gained some international notoriety recently. American rapper has proclaimed his love for Belarusian culture by launching an accessory line. In more gruesome news, Belarus has been a gruesome discovery that old Jewish headstones were used as building materials...

18 November 2014
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Non-Formal Education in Belarus: Unleashing the Civil Society Potential

Over the past couple of years informal education has witnessed remarkable growth in Belarus. It offers Belarusians possibilities missing at the nation's over-regulated state-run universities. New grass-roots initiatives such as the European College of Liberal Arts and the Flying University...

6 November 2014
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Belarusians and Civil Society Organisations Finding Common Language

According to a recently published report by the Independent Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Studies (IISEPS), Belarusians have become increasingly aware of the presence of civil society organisations. IISEPS published findings based on polls, dating back to 2012, which focused...

29 August 2014
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European Intercultural Festival, Superkot, European College of Liberal Arts – Belarus Civil Society Digest

European Intercultural Festival to be held on September 4-14 in Belarus. CES launches the European College of Liberal Arts. 4th Belarus Reality Check is to be held in Riga. CSO networks announce calls for small projects - National Youth Council...

30 May 2014
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World Ice-Hockey Championships in Belarus: What did Journalists See beyond Sport?

The world knows little or nothing about Belarus. The ice-hockey championships opened up the country not only to tourists, but also to journalists. How did they use this opportunity? Barring presidential elections, the World Ice-Hockey Championships was the first event...

24 December 2013
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Top 10 Belarus Civil Society Achievements in 2013

Top 10 activities and achievements, which in enriched Belarusian civil society in 2013. Advocacy of the Year: Perspectiva NGO Perspectiva, a small vendors association headed by Anatoly Shumchanka managed to postpone, until 1 July 2014, a complex procedure of...

9 December 2013
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Analytical Paper: Belarusian Identity – The Impact of Lukashenka’s Rule

The regime of Aliaksandr Lukashenka rejected the ethno-national model of state suggested by his predecessors in the early 1990s.Instead, he restored a soviet style “statist nation” with a centralised bureaucratic machine at its core. These are the conclusions reached in...

21 November 2013
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European Humanities University Elects Its Senate and Debates its Future

On 19 November the European Humanities University (EHU), also knows as Belarusian university in exile, held elections for its Senate. Although the Senate is just one of several bodies which govern EHU, the result may affect the direction of EHU's reforms.  Unlike previous elections,...

27 September 2013
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Cycling As a Threat to the Belarusian Regime

On 17 August, Minsk cycling fans gathered to make an unusual ride – they agreed via social network to dress in 1950s style clothes. Around 50 people participated in the event, and it even drew the attention of Belarusian media.Yet on 2 September police summoned Iryna Bijnik, the organiser...

2 September 2013
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Getting a Belarusian Visa: Easier but More Expensive

Since 22 August 2013 all foreigners can get Belarusian visas through the Minsk National Airport just after their arrival.However, these and other relaxations in the visa regime on the eve of the 2014 Ice Hockey World Cup still remain...

12 June 2013
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Setting Up an NGO in Belarus: Challenge Yourself

Earlier this month the Belarusian authorities refused to register yet another human rights organisation called For Just Elections (Za Spravedlivye Vybory). To put it mildly, the three reasons for the refusal are odd: none of them seemed to be based...

22 January 2013
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Vitali Silicki Prize, Budzma, Tsmoki – Civil Society Digest

Gallery Ў hosts a presentation of a book on Ales Bialiatski in Minsk. The Center for Legal Transformation trains the first group under its not-for-profit Law School. A Minsk court orders compensation to former political prisoner Dmitry Bondarenko. BISS shares plans for 2013. The public announcement of the...

17 January 2013
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Alternative Civilian Service in Belarus: Possible, but Only in Theory

Belarus has mandatory legal conscription, but Alexander Lukashenka has ordered the preparation of a law on alternative civilian service in 2013. For a long time the absence of this law has been putting many young people in a legal trap of...

29 December 2012
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Belarus Top Civic Actions in 2012

With the New Year celebration just around the corner, it is time to think about the list of top civic actions in 2012.  As a disclaimer, the goal of the list is to highlight achievement and recap success, often...