Opposition presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich in October (epa) 24 December 2005 -- Eight men have submitted documents in a bid to become candidates in Belarus's presidential election on 19 March.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yekhanurov (file photo) (epa) 23 December 2005 -- Ukraine is preparing to turn to an international arbitrator to resolve its dispute with Russia over the price of natural gas.
(RFE/RL) 23 December 2005 -- The Belarusian magazine "Solidarity" published its last edition today.
Four candidates have so far filed to challenge Lukashenka in 2006 (CTK) 22 December 2005 -- Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka today submitted his paperwork to run for the presidency in next year's elections.
Police in Minsk have launched a holiday public security campaign that also aims to improve their image. Officers dressed up as Ded Moroz, or Grandfather Frost, wear red suits, white beards, and their police badges and call on citizens at home to discuss safety issues.
President Lukashenka has brought forward presidential elections and given opponents just days to register, all part of a strategy to deflate the opposition, analysts say.
In September, Belarusian President Lukashenka promised imminent "landmark" decisions to further integration with Russia. But he is still offering no clue what those decisions might be.
17 December 2005 -- A Ukrainian parliamentary commission has cleared the former secretary of the National Security Council, Petro Poroshenko, of all accusations of corruption leveled against him.
Belarusian police have been criticized in the past for their heavy-handed tactics (CTK) 16 December 2005 -- Police in Minsk will soon launch a holiday season campaign to improve their tough image by making random early evening visits to homes dressed "in an unexpected costume" (typically, Father Christmas and a female assistant), dpa reported on 15 December, citing Interfax
16 December 2005 -- Belarus's lower house of parliament today set 19 March as the date for next year's presidential election, in which President Alyaksandr Lukashenka is expected to stand for another term in office.
Russian opinion of Ukraine was high when President Yushchenko was elected (AFP) Prague, 16 December 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Results of a recent opinion survey reveal that the Russian opinion of Ukraine is deteriorating.
Belarusian President Lukashenka (L) and Russian President Putin in Sochi (epa) 15 December 2005 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin called for closer trade ties between Russia and Belarus ahead of a three-hour meeting on 15 December with his Belarusian counterpart Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
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