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BELARUS - 22nd March 2006
1. Dozens of opposition activists arrested in
Minsk
The arrests over the course of the post-election protests have
generally taken place outside of the main protest arena of October
Square. From my recollection, October Square is crawling with
foreign journalists and cameras so they can’t get away with it
there. The arrests are taking place in the surrounding metro
stations and streets, as people take a break for food, warmth or to
go home for a wash, and come back again.
The full list of the detained is here:
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2006/03/22/trials
Among them are
Anatoly Lebedko, leader of the United Civil Party and Milinkievich’s
campaign manager. He was also beaten during demonstrations in 2004,
so badly that he nearly died after hospital staff were forbidden to
treat him. Two other prominent aides and Alexander Milinkievich’s
sons were also arrested:
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2006/03/22/arrest
William Hague has called on the EU to put Belarus top of its agenda
at tomorrow’s summit, following the arrests.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2006/03/22/conservative
More on the
surreptitious arrests:
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2006/03/22/pogon
And not so
surreptitious ones:
http://67.18.131.22/eng/news/2006/03/22/brest
http://67.18.131.22/eng/news/2006/03/22/police
2.
Detentions and beatings continue after elections
From Amnesty International.
http://67.18.131.22/eng/news/2006/03/22/continue
3.
Demonstrators to stay in October Square until the weekend
Demonstrators protesting the fraudulent re-election of Alexander
Lukashenko have been asked to stay in the square by their candidate,
Alexander Milinkievich, until the weekend to show their commitment
to the cause of democracy in Belarus. Having turned out on Sunday,
some have been in the square continuously since Monday evening in
sub-zero temperatures, sleet and snow.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2006/03/22/calls
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2006/03/22/noch
4.
Ahmedinejad congratulates Lukashenka on “election” “victory”
A cynic would say they deserve each other. In reality this is more
evidence of the world’s worst human rights abusers sticking together
to distort the international community’s human rights agenda.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2006/03/22/iran
5. Russian
ambassador: Belarus vote outcome must be accepted
Russia and Iran
are so far the only governments to recognise Lukashenka’s election
as legitimate.
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2006/03/22/russian
http://67.18.131.22/eng/news/2006/03/22/critical
6. Three
Georgians deported from Belarus for taking part in election protests
It seems I slipped through the net :-)
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2006/03/22/deported
7.
mfront.net disabled
The website of the major youth opposition movement Young Front, with
whom I demonstrated on Monday, was hacked and briefly shut down
today.
www.milinkievich.org has gone the same way but
www.milinkevich.org is working.
8. World media slowly wakes up to Belarus
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Belarus-Election.html?hp&ex=1143090000&en=cc8b35f378de1500&ei=5094&partner=homepage
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4830830.stm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2097395,00.html
9. Polish
Foreign Ministry condemns Belarusian elections, prepares for
sanctions
http://67.18.131.22/eng/news/2006/03/22/pl
BELARUS & UZBEKISTAN - 22nd
March 2006
Observatory for
the Protection of Human Rights Defenders singles out Sudan, Russia,
Belarus and Uzbekistan for curbs on freedom of expression
http://67.18.131.22/eng/news/2006/03/22/report
UZBEKISTAN - 22nd March 2006
1. Uzbek government closes UN refugee office in
Tashkent
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/03/21/uzbeki13041.htm
2. Uzbek and Kazakh leaders
hold joint press conference
(This is an official Uzbek government website)
http://www.gov.uz/en/content.scm?contentId=18346
3. Russian MPs visit Uzbekistan
http://www.gov.uz/en/content.scm?contentId=18255 |
