Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Belarus

Police Detain Belarusian Opposition Leader -- Twice

Alyaksandr Milinkevich during a previous stint in detention for an unsanctioned rally (Bymedia.net)

January 6, 2007 -- The leader of Belarus's beleaguered opposition, Alyaksandr Milinkevich, is in custody following his second detention today by police.

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January 06, 2007

Milinkevich's spokesman said he was detained in the morning, while traveling to meet voters ahead of January's local and regional elections, when police said they suspected him of drunken driving.

He was reportedly released after it was determined that he was not intoxicated.

But later today, Milinkevich was again taken into detention, where he remains, reportedly on suspicion of being involved in a traffic accident.

Milinkevich and Alyaksandr Kazulin unsuccessfully challenged incumbent President Alyaksandr Lukashenka in a March election that was dismissed as undemocratic by Western governments.

Lukashenka officially won 83 percent of the vote -- a figure he later said he picked because his actual support would have appeared incredible to foreign observers -- while Milinkevich garnered 6 percent and Kazulin 2 percent.

(AP)

Russia And Belarus

The main Moscow-Minsk railway line(Tass)

TO MERGE OR NOT TO MERGE: For over a decade, Moscow and Minsk have been working on a project to form a single state, the Russia-Belarus Union. However, every time the two countries seem on the verge of making progress, one or the other steps back, leaving the entire effort in doubt.

Putin, Lukashenka Press Ahead With Unification

Has Putin Promised Lukashenka Fair Weather?

Tensions Remain In Putin-Lukashenka Talks

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RFE/RL's coverage of Belarus. RFE/RL's coverage of Russia.

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