Nyaklyaeu and Statkevich accuse 'Tell the Truth' of collaboration with KGB

The duo is set to persuade Tatsiana Karatkevich to withdraw from the elections and convince the OSCE that they should not be recognized as free.

28.08.2015 - 18:23 Ales Piletski

Press conference with participation of Mikalai Statkevich, Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu, Pavel Sevyarynets and Anatol Lyabedzka has attracted a crowd of journalists. Everyone is waiting for Statkevich to announce the promised plan of action during the elections. But Statkevich says much less than Nyaklyayeu, who for first time since leaving the "Tell the Truth" publicly suspects his former associates in collaboration with the authorities.
"What do you mean I did not fight with my former colleagues, with those who are now in 'Tell the Truth'... Listen, what can I alone do against the secret services? I could only do what I did -- leave. And so I did," almost breaks to scream Nyaklyayeu.
He says that he had a plan to become a single candidate from the opposition, and while participating in live televised debates, he planned to withdraw from the election, telling everyone they were rigged. He did not become a single candidate, instead he offered Karatkevich. Nyaklyayeu said he wanted her to take part in the Congress of Democratic Forces. But it all went wrong, and now Tatsiana Karatkevich, in his opinion, is "under the influence" of other people.

Mikalai Statkevich has that same opinion of Karatkevich. He announced the beginning of a campaign of non-recognition of the elections as democratic and free. He says that Karatkevich, perhaps, is a good person, but her involvement in the campaign should not legitimize the election. Allegedly, oppositional nature of Karatkevich is rather formal.
"Maybe she really is a good and kind woman. But the man who is behind her... You know, I would be ashamed. To get publicly disgraced, betray, and then again walk around in white. How can he do that? I do not understand. Nevertheless - he is there. Maybe he was made to do it. Maybe he is on some hook it sits. And now there is allegedly an opposition candidate in the election. There are all the signs of a formal opposition," said Mikalai Statkevich.
All participants of the conference agreed that the West should be prevented from recognizing the election, and image of the opposition must be saved by persuading Karatkevich to withdraw. Nyaklyayeu said that he even wrote a personal letter to his former colleagues and plans to talk to Karatkevich in person:
"I will tell you once again. I am still asking her (Karatkevich - Euroradio) to withdraw. I wrote a personal letter to the campaign "Tell the Truth." If they respond to it, then maybe something will change. If not, if they do not find the moral and political force themselves to rectify the situation, in which they put not only themselves, but the entire democratic opposition, it will be the greatest defeat that the opposition has had for all these years. "

Accusations of collaboration with the secret police are commented by the current head of the "Tell the Truth" and the head of the electoral headquarters of Tatsiana Karatkevich Andrey Dzmitryieu. According to him, Nyaklyayeu worked in the camapign for five years and had never expressed the suspicion that they cooperated with the authorities. According to Dzmitryieu, "Tell the truth" was always ready to support Nyaklyayeu:
"The campaign "Tell the Truth" was ready to support the candidate Nyaklyayeu even if he was not elected a single one. He refused. He then suspected none of us in collaboration. And now, when it became beneficial, everyone vecame an agent."
Dzmitryieu also said that Karatkevich will not withdraw from the election if she is registered as a presidential candidate. "You cannot deprive people of alternatives," he believes.

Kilde:  http://euroradio.fm/en/nyaklyaeu-and-statkevich-accuse-tell-truth-collaboration-kgb

R.I.P:

Belarus activist dies from injuries in eastern Ukraine

Ales Charkashyn, 33 aka Taras who fought along Ukraine military volunteers in Donbas dies after heavy combat injuries.

29.08.2015 - 01:23 Euroradio

He was seriously injured on August 10 during clashes with pro-Russian separatists near Belakamenka, was in coma and died, reports Radio Svaboda.
Charkashyn was known in Belarus as the head of a committe to create the Belarusian Christian Democracy party's branch in Brest. His parents decided to bury their son in Belarus.
Ales was among dozens Belarusians fighting in the Right Sector voluntarily Ukrainian crops against pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Disabled parents from Ivatsevichy allowed to keep their baby

The woman with disability can finally return home from hospital with her newly-born.

Euroradio

Handicapped parents from Ivatsevichy have been allowed to bring up their child themselves. The decision to deprive Hanna and Anatol Bahur of the right to bring up their son has been cancelled. Hanna and her son Kostya can finally go home.
The woman received an official reply from the chief physician of Ivatsevichy Central District Hospital yesterday. The Ministry of Health has cancelled the previous decision. The hospital has apologized to the woman for ‘inconveniences’ and is ready to keep rendering medical assistance to the mother and child.
37-year-old Ivatsevichy inhabitant Hanna Bahur suffering from limbs pathology gave birth to a healthy boy a month ago. Medics did not discharge her from hospital because people with such a disease are not allowed to bring up children in Belarus. The child could be given to guardians.
The story of the Bahurs drew a wide response. Minister of Labour Maryana Shchotkina visited Hanna in hospital. It is necessary to analyze all such situations individually, the official claimed. Such a mother could not be deprived of her baby, Shchotkina said.

Мікалай Статкевіч на волі. Сустрэча палітвязьня УЖЫВУЮ

Minsk greeting Mikalai Statkevich (photo)

On the evening of August 22, the now ex-political prisoner has arrived at the bus station Uskhodni. He was behind bars from December 2010.

More than a hundred people met the now ex- political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich at the bus station Uskhodni on late evening of August 22 in Minsk. He and five other political prisoners was pardoned by the head of state and came out of the Mahiliou prison. Mr Statkevich had been in prison since December 2010. In 2011, he was sentenced to 6 years in prison "for organizing mass disorder."

There were plenty of journalists at the Usckhodni bus station, including those from Russian TV channels. There was also the wife of Mikalai Statkevich, Maryna Adamovich, his friends and colleagues, many activists. Above the crowd waved the white-red-white flag. Minibus from Mahiliou with Statkevich arrived late. "Long live Belarus!" shouted Statkevich. Former political prisoner thanked everyone for their support and stressed that he did not write a petition for pardon. "Hero!" - shouted the crowd.

"I will keep on doing what I did -- work for free Belarus," said Mikalai Statkevich about his plans. But in the coming days he will meet with relatives. Later, he is going to meet with the leaders of oppositionnal organizations. "The situation is a stalemate. There is no strategy," said Statkevich. He also said he was not going to leave Belarus.

Also Statkevich told reporters he did not expect that Lukashenka would release him before the election. But, apparently, "there is no money in the country," he said.

The Hunger Games i Belarus

Young Front: Candidates who won't withdraw from “elections” are part of Lukashenka's punitive system

7

Young Front calls on all candidates who consider themselves to be pro-democratic to withdraw from the “elections”.

It is said in the statement published on the organisation's website.
“Taking into account the fact that political prisoners, who were convicted for the 2010 elections, remain in jails, running in the elections without the release of political prisoners is not only disgraceful. Such behaviour allows the Lukashenka regime to take new political hostages without worries. The vivid example is the arrest and charges in connection with the “graffiti case”.
Young Front urges all candidates who consider themselves pro-democratic to withdraw from the “elections” and seek the release of political prisoners. We are convinced that this is our common moral duty to everyone struggling for freedom and changes in Belarus.
We say that all candidates who won't withdraw from the elections are a part of Lukashenka's punitive regime who will share full moral responsibility for the illegal holding of political prisoners in jails.
At the open convention of Young Front on September 12, activists will discuss the strategy of countering the so called opposition candidates if they don't withdraw from the campaign. The moral prostitutes who consider themselves to be democratic and discredit the opposition in the eyes of millions of people who support changes pose a greater threat to Belarus than Lukashenka and henchmen of his regime,” the statement says.

Man on crutches attacked by riot police on nudist beach

Security forces were going to detain his girlfriend.

 Euroradio

There is now available a Youtube video, reportedly from an unofficial nudist beach at the Minsk sea. Its author, Oleg Dogtor posted it on August 8. Later on there appeared a full Youtube video - you can watch it here.
According to him, the riot police was called to the beach by a 45 year old woman with children. She did not like that at this informal nudist beach a woman next to her was topless. According to the author of the video, first arrived two riot policeman who ordered the woman to get her things.
A girl tried to intercede, which was later grabbed and gragged by riot police on the sand. Her boyfriend or husband on crutches with a broken leg tried to find out what was going on when the riot police pushed and hit him as well. According to the author of the video, the police even took out pepper sprays. Soon help arrived of five more riot police officers.
As a result, the girl and her boyfriend on crutches left the beach in an ambulance. About five people from those who defended the girl were taken away by the police.

Kilde: http://euroradio.fm/en/man-crutches-attacked-riot-police-nudist-beach-full-video

Illusion and reality: Contrasts of life in Belarus - Charter'97 :: News from Belarus - Belarusian News - Republic of Belarus - Minsk

Belsat TV published a video titled “No freedom without solidarity” that shows contrasts of life in Belarus: widow-dressing holidays and optimistic reports by state-owned media on the one hand, political prisoners and repression against dissidents on the other hand.
According to Viasna human rights centre, six political prisoners are held in Belarus behind bars: former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich, activist Yury Rubtsou, anarchists Mikalai Dziadok and Ihar Alinevich, as well as Yauhen Vaskovich and Artsiom Prakapenka, who were jailed for attacking the KGB office in Babruisk.
Illusion and reality: Contrasts of life in Belarus - Charter'97 :: News from Belarus - Belarusian News - Republic of Belarus - Minsk

Paraglider pilot, detained in Belarus: I was lucky not to be shot down

12 days in a temporary detention facility, $600 of fine and 5 years’ ban on entering Belarus – these are the consequences of the illegal crossing the border on a paraglider.

A dweller of the Polish city of Bialystok, Marcin Duszynski, who by mistake landed in Belarus in the end of July, gave an interview to Radio Racyja.
- Why did you decide to fly in this direction?
- We always fly downwind, in order to fly as far as possible. And on that day there was the wind from the west, exactly in the direction of Belarus. It is our sport, we want to fly as far as possible. I saw the border, but I wanted to fly as far as possible.
- And how does this flight looks like technically? Do you have any gadgets with you, do you see the border is getting nearer?
- Yes, we have devices that show zones of flight, for example, towns on the border, but these maps are not exact. There was exactly a failure of technical equipment, as when I landed, I was sure I was on the Polish side – two kilometres before the border. The border is visible, but I thought that there was some space before me still.
- While being in the air, didn’t you see you were crossing the border?
- No, I didn’t see that. From the air all roads and power lines in the forest looked the same.
- And at what height did you cross the border?
- I was at the height of about 450 metres over the border. In that spot, a kilometer and a half from the border, I exactly turned and landed, as there was another meadow in front of me. I was sure it was a territory of Poland still, but I didn’t want to fly there, as I was sure I was able to reach it.
- What did you do after landing?
- It looked in the following way: I landed, called my friends, boasted of my result, as it was my record – 72 kilometres. I asked how I could return, I said I was near the village of Zaleszany, and I was going to walk there. My friend wrote me that a bus was to come to Szymki in an hour, and it was five kilometres away. I packed my things, ate, called my friends. Until I reached the village, an hour and a half passed. On my way I asked young people were I was, and they answered in Belarus. I went to the village, met a man aged about 50. I said I had problems, as I am a Pole and I had no documents, a visa, I had flown by a paraglider, and I would like to solve that problem somehow. He scratched his head, called border guards, at the same time my friends were looking for contact details of our Polish border service, in order to ask how to solve the problem.
- How were you detained?
- Two border guards arrived, they asked whether I had a visa, documents, and how come I was there. It took some time to explain that I had flown by a paraglider. They did not believe it could be packed in a rucksack. There was information that they saw me crossing the border. They had a right to shoot, but fortunately, it hasn’t happened.
- Where were you kept?
- First I was taken to the building of the border group for interrogation, than at night I was taken to Hrodna to the isolation detention facility of border guards.
- When were you told that you were detained and what charges you faced?
- They said from the start I was detained, as I had crossed the border and entered the airspace illegally, the investigation was to last for a few days.
- What incarceration conditions in the detention facility are?
- I would compare the conditions to a cellar. Several beds, a window somewhere near the ceiling. There were several Tajiks in the cell first, one of them had been flying paraglider once. He was released the next day. Then I had a cellmate, a Tajik, who spent 12 days with me, until the end. We could listen to a radio for one hour a day. There was interrogation on the first day, it was Thursday, and I landed on Wednesday. On Friday I already received a statement that I would be fined, $100, and banned from entering Belarus for 5 years, and I was to leave the country on Monday. On Monday the decision was changed, as there had been a mistake there, I was to be released on Wednesday-Thursday, but as I learnt later, an authorized officer was absent, who could have signed the relevant documents, so it lasted until Monday.
- Did you have a chance to contact your family and friends?
- After the flight I talked to my friend, he knew where I was, and informed my family. On Monday the consul was there, he asked whether I wanted anything, or whether I had any problems, for instance, with guards. From the beginning there were questions: “Where is the engine?” “How does it work?” “Why have you flown here?” There were some suspicions of espionage, drugs trafficking. All people there were very pleasant, favorably disposed, they just laughed that I am the third or the fourth Pole who tried to cross the border in this direction, as usually people do that in an opposite direction. There were several persons with Polish ancestors, we even spoke Polish.
- Are you facing anything from Polish border guards?
- The fine was changed from $100 to $600, as $100 is a fine for crossing the border on foot, and crossing in the airspace is more expensive. I am to give explanations here, but it is not a problem, I face a fine up to PLN 500. And it should be considered that in Belarus, when crossing the border illegally for the second time, one faces criminal prosecution, not administrative one, and I could be imprisoned then. It was an exciting adventure. There were many people from Iran, Tajikistan, Cuba, from Africa. They were not really feeling bored, many of them were waiting for an answer about their future for two months and more. My story ended well.
The 26-year-old resident of the Polish city of Bialystok crossed the border near Syamyonauskae Lake. He returned to Poland on Monday. After these accidents the Polish border service established a 5-kilometre zone on the border with Belarus, where paraglider flights are banned.

Kilde: http://charter97.org/en/news/2015/8/7/163548/

Russia eliminates banned goods: first photos

The first lot of banned goods has been eliminated in Belgorod Oblast, Russia.

 Euroradio

Сёння ў Белгародскай вобласці была знішчана першая партыя санкцыйных прадуктаў: ​​на палігоне цвёрдых бытавых адходаў бульдозерамі было разціснута каля 10 тон забароненага да ўвозу ў Расію імпартнага сыру. У прэс-службе ўпраўлення Рассельгаснагляду па Белгародскай вобласці заявілі, што сыр невядомай вытворчасці быў затрыманы на расійскай мяжы напрыканцы мінулага месяца, паведамляе Znak.com.
Працэс знішчэння 10 тон сыру заняў каля гадзіны. “Сыра было вельмі шмат — цэлы КАМАЗ. Частка — у скрынках і частка без пакавання. Яго разціснулі 45-тонным катком”, — распавялі ў прэс-службе ведамства.
На мінулым тыдні Уладзімір Пуцін падпісаў указ аб знішчэнні на мяжы РФ забароненых да ўвозу прадуктаў. Шэраг экспертаў і палітыкаў выказаліся за перагляд такога падыходу да санкцыйных прадуктаў.
Акрамя таго, жыхары Расіі таксама выступаюць супраць знішчэння харчовых прадуктаў. На сайце Change.org з’явілася петыцыя са зваротам да Пуціна, у якой прапануецца не знішчаць прадукты, а раздаваць іх людзям, якія жывуць у нястачы, праз дабрачынныя арганізацыі. Пад зваротам на дадзены момант падпісаліся амаль 264 тыс жыхароў Расіі.





Фота: znak.com

Kilde: http://euroradio.fm/en/russia-eliminates-banned-goods-first-photosh-praduktau-u-rasii

Mikalai Autukhovich is back to preventive supervision

Preventive police supervision will be prolonged for former political prisoner Mikalai Autukhovich.

 Euroradio

Hrodna Province Court has cancelled the decision of Vaukavysk District Court of July 17. The court cancelled the preventive supervision of ex-political prisoner Mikalai Autuhovich back then, Radio Liberty reports.
The hearing was appointed for August 6 but it was suddenly moved to August 5 on Tuesday evening. Autuhovich asked to postpone the hearing because he had no time to discuss everything with his lawyer. However, the hearing was sonly postponed for 4 hours and the lawyer did not even manage to arrive from Minsk in time.
Autuhovich committed only one violation during his preventive supervision – he left the city. However, it was done for the purpose of work (his boss asked him to do it). The violation was annulled due to the expiration of the period of limitation on August 1. Moreover, Autuhovich has already paid a fine for it.
All this has not helped change the judges’ opinion: they have cancelled the decision pronounced by Vaukavysk District Court and restored the preventive supervision for the former political prisoner.
Vaukavysk District Court will reconsider his case in order to prolong his preventive supervision term on August 6, Autuhovich believes. The term expires on Thursday.
Photo: svaboda.org
Kilde: http://euroradio.fm/en/mikalai-autuhovich-back-preventive-supervision

Blindern-vekter siktet for falsk forklaring

Ifølge politet var det vekteren selv som avfyrte skudd og plasserte ut en bombelignende gjenstand på Blindern natt til onsdag.

– Det er alvorlig det som er skjedd. Han har skapt frykt, utrygghet og en enorm etterforskning, sa Grete Lien Metlid, leder ved Oslo-politiets volds- og sedelighetsseksjon, på en pressekonferanse torsdag morgen.
Saken har dermed tatt en helt annen vending enn det som var status onsdag, da vekteren var fornærmet i saken og politiet jaktet på to gjerningsmenn.
Bombegruppen ble også kalt ut for å uskadeliggjøre en bombeliknende gjenstand som ble funnet i nærheten av der vekteren hevdet å ha blitt skutt.
– Vekteren blir suspendert hos oss i påvente av videre etterforskning, sier kommunikasjonssjef i Nokas Ådne Mauritzen til VG.
I etterkant av pressekonferansen sier Metlid følgende til VG om det som skjedde i løpet av onsdag kveld og natt til torsdag.
– Det var et veldig viktig avhør vi prøvde å få til med fornærmede gjennom hele gårsdagen. Det kom først i gang i går kveld. Etter flere timers avhør og etterforskning som løp paralellt, fant politiet grunnlag for å endre status på fornærmede. Etter noe tid valgte han å gi en ny forklaring, der han knyttet seg til den bombeliknende gjenstanden og skytingen.
– Betyr det at de to personene som ble etterlyst i går, er oppdiktet?
– Jeg vil si at vi fremdeles er interessert i å komme i kontakt med personer som har oppholdt seg på Blindern, sier Metlid til VG.

Politiet har sperret av en stor del av universitetsområdet på Blindern i Oslo onsdag morgen etter at en bombelignende gjenstand er funnet. Politiet jakter også på to menn etter en skyteepisode. Foto: Vegard Wivestad Grøtt / NTB scanpix

Vurderer fengsling

Metlid ønsket ikke å gå inn på om mannen har forklart hvorfor han avfyrte skudd og plasserte ut gjenstanden som skapte stor frykt i hovedstaden onsdag. Motivet for de angivelige ugjerningene er derfor foreløpig ukjent.
– Han har forklart noe, men det gjenstår flere avhør, så jeg kan ikke si noe mer om det nå.
Våpenet er funnet og beslaglagt, men Metlid ønsker ikke å gå inn på hva slags kunnskap politiet har om hvem som eier det eller om det er lovlig.
– Han har hatt medvirkning til at vi har funnet og fått kontroll på våpenet, opplyser Metlid.
Politiadvokaten vil vurdere fengsling i løpet av dagen. Vekteren har foreløpig ikke fått oppnevnt forsvarer.

– Alvorlig

Tidligere politioverbetjent Finn Abrahamsen sier det er alvorlig at en vekter har iscenesatt en skyteepisode på Blindern natt til i går.
– Politiet måtte binde opp mye ressurser på dette, og det er alvorlig, sier han til VG, men roser samtidig Oslo-politiet for god etterforskning.
Han sier det er en spesiell sak, og at det ikke finnes mange liknende eksempler i Norge.

– Det er godt at saken nå ser ut til å være oppklart. Våre studenter og ansatte kan føle seg trygge ved UiO, sier universitetsdirektør Gunn-Elin Aa. Bjørneboe.

Skal ha blitt utsatt for vold tidligere

TV 2 snakket onsdag kveld med vekteren, som fortalte at han har blitt utsatt for tre drapsforsøk på tre år. Alle episodene skal ha skjedd på Blindern, hvor han har vært ansatt i flere år.

Hendelsene han har vært utsatt for tidligere skal inkludere forsøk på kveling med tau, angrep med elektrosjokkvåpen og knivstikking.

– Han har forklart seg noe om disse hendelsene også, men jeg ønsker ikke å gå inn på det, sa Metlid under pressekonferansen.

Inneholdt ikke eksplosiver

Det var 02.41 natt til onsdag at politiet fikk melding om at en vekter var blitt skutt utenfor et av universitetets bygg.

Like etter meldingen fant politiet en mistenkelig gjenstand utenfor Blindern.

Den ble etter hvert uskadeliggjort av politiets bombegruppe og undersøkelser i ettertid viser at den ikke inneholdt noen eksplosiver.

Vekteren har nå forklart at det var han som plasserte ut gjenstanden.

Kilde: http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/krim/blindern-vekter-siktet-for-falsk-forklaring/a/23500925/

How embargo works: apple concentrate exports from Poland to Russia increase 100 times

Polish export hits record despite the Moscow embargo.  "Prohibited" Polish apples get in Russia via mediators from Belarus and Serbia.

One year after the introduction of the Russian embargo on the Polish goods,  export from this country hit a record, Deutsche Welle reports.
Export of Polish apples have increased by 47% (not including Russia). After the introduction of Moscow's ban on exports, a significant part of Polish apples began to be sold to Belarus and Serbia, which then ... sell these apples to Russia.
Polish producers also started to export more apple concentrate to Russia instead of apples, which allows you to bypass the embargo. In 2013, Poles in Russia sold 100 tons of concentrate, and in 2014 - more than 10 thousand tons. However, manufacturers are losing money, so they receive help from the Polish government.
As for the Polish consumers, they began to eat 18 kilograms of apples a year instead of 16 before that. It nay have happened due to the fall in prices caused by the embargo or, perhaps, after a widespread campaign, which called to rescue domestic gardeners.
The Russian embargo on Polish producers of apples came into effect on August 1, 2014 and it will last until at least January 2016.
belsat.eu/en/, Deutsche Welle

Bombelignende gjenstand funnet etter at vekter ble skutt i Oslo

BLINDERN (VG) Politiet forbereder seg til å uskadeliggjøring den bombelignende gjenstanden.

Politiet ifører seg verneutstyr nå i forbindelse med uskadeliggjøring av gjenstanden. Det kommer også trolig et smell fra området, skriver politiet på twitter.

Det eventuelle smellet vil være kontrollert, og iverksatt av politiet på stedet.

– Laget for å se ut som en bombe

Politiet har fortsatt ikke pågrepet de to antatte gjerningspersonene som flyktet til fots fra skyteepisoden i natt. Bombegruppen håndterer samtidig en mistenkelig gjenstand de fant på åstedet.

– Det er ikke en tilfelidig blikkboks som er funnet, men det ser ut som å være en tanke bak at det skal se ut som en bombe eller at det er en bombe. Det er fortsatt uavklart om det er en bombe eller ikke, og bombegruppen gjør sine tiltak, sier operasjonsleder Tor Jøkling ved Oslo Politidistrik til VG.

Vet du noe om saken? Har du tips eller innspill? Kontakt oss her!

Ved 09-tiden bekreftet politiet  at bombegruppen vil prøve å uskadeliggjøre gjenstanden på bakken.

– Gjenstanden har ikke blitt mindre mistenkelig, og bombegruppen vil derfor bruke utstyret sitt for å uskadeliggjøre gjenstanden, sa operasjonsleder Jøkling til VG.

Fant jakke ved t-banestopp

Det mistenkelige funnet skal ha vært i nedre del av Blindern, og politiet har sperret av et større område i nærheten av fysikk- og kjemibygget.

– Det er funnet ytterligere gjenstander som vi setter i forbindelse med hendelsen og personene, Jøkling.

FUNN: En bombelignende gjenstand er funnet på området til Universitetet i Oslo på Blindern onsdag morgen. Foto: Foto: Audun Braastad, NTB scanpix

Politiet opplyser overfor NRK at de har funnet en jakke på t-banestasjonen på Blindern, som de mistenker kan stamme fra en av gjerningspersonene.

Flere bygninger og noen bolighus er også avsperret, og det har blitt satt opp en sperring ved t-banenestasjonen på Blindern.

PST i tett dialog

Bombegruppen arbeider nå på stedet for å finne ut hva de mistenkelige gjenstandene som ble funnet i en pose er.

– Vi kan ikke utelukke eller bekrefte at funnet har en sammenheng med skyteepisoden i natt.

Det er tid og funnsted som likvel gjør at politiet tror at funnet kan ha tilknytning til nattens hendelse.

– PST ble tidlig orientert om situasjonen og er nå i tett dialog med Oslo politidistrikt, sier Martin Bernsen, seniorrådgiver i PST, til VG

Meldingen om skytingen kom 02.43 natt til onsdag, og meldingen om funn av mistenkelig gjenstand kom 06:55.

Hadde skuddsikker vest

Vekteren har selv forklart til politiet at han oppdaget to menn på runden sin i området. Da han tok kontakt med dem skal de ha løpt, hvorpå han løp etter.

– En snudde seg og løsnet fire-fem skudd. Et treffpunkt er brystet på vekteren, sier operasjonsleder Vidar Pedersen til VG.

Se bildespesial:

Politiet har sperret av en stor del av universitetsområdet på Blindern i Oslo onsdag morgen etter at en bombelignende gjenstand er funnet. Politiet jakter også på to menn etter en skyteepisode. Foto: Vegard Wivestad Grøtt / NTB scanpix

Vekteren skal ikke være alvorlig skadet, men fikk behandling av helsepersonell på stedet. Han hadde på seg skuddsikker vest.

– Han er truffet. Vi vet ikke hva slags våpen det er, men vi vurderer det som et finkalibret våpen, sier operasjonsleder Vidar Pedersen til VG.

Mannen som politiet mener avfyrte våpenet er beskrevet som rundt 175 cm høy, iført rød cap, svart jakke og grå sko. Mannen er hvit og snakket engelsk, ifølge politiet.

Det skal ikke være snakk om at flere personer ha blitt observert på stedet andre enn de to mistenkte etter skyteepisoden.

Har satt krisestab

FULL UTRYKNING: Brannvesenet er også på stedet.
Foto: Foto: Audun Braastad, NTB scanpix

– Vi er glade for at vekteren ikke er alvorlig skadet, men det er en alvorlig situasjon som har oppstått og som politiet nå håndterer, sier Gunn Elin Bjørneboe, universitetsdirektør og beredskapsansvarlig ved Universitetet i Oslo, til VG, og legger til at de har satt krisestab.

Ifølge Bjørneboe har det vært lite aktivitet ved bygningene som nå er sperret av den siste tiden. Hun kjenner ikke til at det har foregått noe oppussingsarbeid eller lignende, som kan forklare gjenstandene som politiet har funnet.

Majoriteten av ansatte og studenter er først ventet i forbindelse med skolestart i neste uke. Universitetet sier til VG at de sammen med politiet vurderer hvorvidt de av de ansatte som skal jobbe i dag, skal sendes hjem eller ikke.

Leter fortsatt

Skytingen skal ha funnet sted utendørs på universitetsområdet.

Store politistyrker søkte etter de to mennene i området, blant annet med hundepatruljer, men trappet i 06-tiden ned søket.

– Vi har ikke pågrepet noen, men leter fortsatt, sier Pedersen.

Politiet vet ennå ikke hvorfor de mistenkte skal ha oppholdt seg på stedet, eller løsnet skudd mot vekteren.

– Området er vanligvis åpent for fri ferdsel, og vi vet ikke hvorfor de kan ha vært på området.

Fornærmede vil også bli avhørt i løpet av dagen.

Nokas: – Ikke opplevd liknende

SKUTT: En Nokas-vekter ble natt til onsdag skutt av to ukjente gjerningsmenn.
Foto: Audun Braastad, NTB scanpix

Kommunikasjonssjef i Nokas, Ådne Mauritzen, forteller at de ikke har opplevd liknende hendelser etter trusler den siste tiden.

– Vi har aldri opplevd at våre vektere har blitt skutt på, så dette er svært alvorlig, sier Mauritzen.

I november i fjor ble imidlertid en vekter forsøkt fraranet noen nøkler, utsatt for vold og skutt med sjokkpistol av ukjente gjerningsmenn. Hendelsen førte til at NOKAS utstyrte alle sine vektere med en såkalt vernevest.

– Det er ikke en direkte skuddsikker vest, men en vest som kan beskytte mot knivstikk og lignende, forteller Ådne Mauritzen, kommunikasjonsdirektør i NOKAS, til VG.

Følger opp hendelsen

Etter det Mauritzen kjenner til ligger vekteren fortsatt til observasjon på sykehus, og det skal etter forholdene stå bra til.

– Han er nok preget av hendelsen, og det han har opplevd. Det er viktig for oss nå å følge opp vekteren og sørge for at han får den bistanden han trenger fra lege og helsetjeneste.

Nokas forteller også at de kommer til å gjøre en gjennomgang av rutinene deres, og vurdere om det er nødvendig å gjøre ytterligere tiltak med tanke på trusselnivået.

LØSNET SKUDD: Meldingen om skytingen kom 02.43 natt til onsdag. Store politistyrket leter etter de to antatte gjerningsmennene på Blindern i Oslo.
Foto: DANIEL D. LAABAK, TIPSER.NO

T-banen i området går som normalt, men politiet sier at det vil bli en del komplikasjoner i trafikken og ferdselen i området så lenge det pågår politiarbeid på stedet, skriver NTB.

Kilde:  http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/krim/bombelignende-gjenstand-funnet-etter-at-vekter-ble-skutt-i-oslo/a/23500271/

Apocalypse tomorrow: 2016 the year of growth in prices

"For the future of independent Belarus" is the pre-election slogan of the incumbent.
Just a month ago, Alyaksandr Lukashenka reminded everyone:
Belarusians will have to pay more the next year. According to BelaPAN, communication services in the next year will rise in price by 40 percent, travel in the metropolitan transportation - by a third, and the railroad - twice. The government plans to increase price for communal services by 5-7 dollars in the equivalent and other prices regulated by the government - by an average of one-tenth.
ALYAKSANDR YARASHUK, CONGRESS OF DEMOCRATIC TRADE UNIONS:

"This decision is among the unpopular ones and, of course, it can spoil the mood of those who potentially have to vote for the government. Therefore, they waited until the next year, as well as other payment increases."

Along with an increase in tariffs, experts predict further decline in economic indicators, which will be followed by more urgent need for foreign loans. The significant price increase in this case is simply inevitable, says economist Vasil Matskievich.
VASIL MATSKEVICH, ECONOMIST:

"This is a requirement of our external creditors, both Russia and the International Monetary Fund. To get a loan, our government has to raise prices for transportation and utility services."

Before the election, the government held them as much as possible. However, after another "elegant" victory we should expect less enthusiastic approach in taking care of the population welfare. Majority of surveyed Minskers, however, do not doubt this.
SURVEY

"I think it is not getting better."

"I think it will get worse. Many factors, including the fact that a lot of money will be spent on the elections, which we already known who will win at.

"It definitely has to improve. A new person will come to power, and there will be new prospects for development."
Apart from Alyaksandr Lukashenka, currently there are 7 potential candidates fighting for the presidency. One of them - businessman Viktar Tsyareshchanka - sees three ways to solve the economic problems of the country.
VIKTAR TSYARESHCHANKA, POTENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENCY:

"You can go for 20 more years with Moses and come to a certain drop in output and living standards. You can listen, you can work together and you can find a way to solve this. But there is another way - somebody else will become president."

However, Moses is entirely not willling to give up his seat.
Volha Zharnasiek, belsat.eu/en/ 
http://belsat.eu/en/articles/apocalypse-tomorrow-2016-year-growth-prices/

Pavel Seviarynets: Pray for a new Reagan in America

Pavel Seviarynets
PHOTO BY BELAPAN

The USA must require real steps from Lukashenka: release of political prisoners, mass media freedom, and transparent elections.

Pavel Seviarynets, the co-Chairman of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, told in his interview with charter97.org, commenting on the arrival of American congressmen to Minsk.
- At the meeting with Lukashenka an American congressman Dana Rohrabacher declared the necessity to restore full-rate diplomatic US presence in Belarus. How do you assess the diplomatic conflict between our country and America since 2008 and this statement of a congressman?
- Aliaksandr Lukashenka's unwillingness to implement international norms, including those in the sphere of democracy and human rights, were the reason for the conflict. The leadership of the US Embassy was indecently expelled from Belarus, later the number of employees reached pre-war minimum. It happens at least when such relations are close to the "Cold War".
The West took it and since then the American Embassy has had to conduct its activities in a minimal format. There are talks about “liberalization", revision of relations after the Minsk agreements and a war situation in Ukraine. Unfortunately, it is all done behind "closed doors", without meetings with representatives of the Belarusian democratic community and bears the character of a backroom dealing.
There is nothing wrong if it resumes the work of the Embassy of the United States. But if the situation in Belarus is taken as a norm, and the arrival of several employees will be enough for the normalization of relations, then this will be a signal for Lukashenka. Signal for further election fraud, imprisonment of political prisoners, destruction of the Belarusian economy and its close ties with Russia. Thus, nobody asks him to step up.
- Do you think the American diplomacy is acceptable in this case? What should be new conditions for resumption of the Embassy?
-The United States could act hard and step by step, on a specific "road map", considering a difficult situation for the Belarusian regime, to win back a space for democracy in Belarus.
To require real steps: the release of political prisoners, liberalization of mass media and free elections. Generally speaking, the American diplomacy has enough levers of influence, but, unfortunately, it has lack of vigour.
Situation both in Ukraine and Belarus shows that the American administration and diplomacy has lack of persistence that was illustrative of Reagan. Speaking frankly, I just pray for a new Reagan in power in America - a religious, determined person, who can say "no" to dictators like Vladimir Putin or Aliaksandr Lukashenka.
Then it is possible to make major changes. Otherwise, the situation will be preserved and the West will constantly face problems in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. So, the Belarusians, the Russians, the Ukrainians will suffer the tyranny in Belarus and Russia.

Kilde:  http://charter97.org/en/news/2015/8/4/162982/

Cat Vitushka from Vitsebsk

Leaflets depicting a cat named Vitushka appeared in Vitsebsk.

It is unknown who is the owner of the cat, but his or her position is clear: cat Vitushka asks not to “spam the mailbox with invitations to the elections”. There is no sense in voting after cat Barsik was not registered as a candidate, Radio Svaoda reports.
The message is intended for “members of election commissions and other activists of the electoral process”.
According to the Vitsebsk residents who saw the leaflets, many agree with cat Vitushka and don't plan to vote in the presidential elections not because cat Barsik was not registered by the Central Election Commission as a candidate, but because the outcome of the “elections” is already known, as experience of previous “elections” shows.

Kilde: http://charter97.org/en/news/2015/8/4/162980/

U.S. Congressman: We need to build up relations with Belarus from scratch

“The USA needs to build up relations with Belarus from scratch,” Californian congressman and member of the Republican Party Dana Rohrabacher claimed.
“The American President said that the USA needed to reload its relations with Russia some time ago,” the congressman reminded. “We can also speak about a reload now [in the relations with Belarus]. The USA and all the others states need to take a detached view of the situation and think of the way to improve our relations. The USA-Russia and USA-Belarus relations have not been developing in a positive way recently and the problems should be solved together.”
The two countries’ cooperation in science may help ‘return our relations to the positive state’, Rohrabacher said. He will talk about his impressions of Belarus in the first place when he returns home, the congressman added. “We are being told that Russia and Belarus are hostile to the USA but I have noticed no proof of it during my visit,” the American politician said.
The delegation of the U.S. Congress arrived in Belarus on August 2. The trip was initiated by the USA. The congressmen visited the place where victims of Stalin’s repressions were killed in Kurapaty and the territory of the former Nazi concentration camp in Maly Trastsyanets on the first day of their visit.
The delegation met with President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Alyaksandr Huryanau on August 3.
The American congressmen will also meet head of the National Bank Pavel Kalaur. The visit will finish on August 4, BelaPAN reports.

Kilde: http://euroradio.fm/en/us-congressman-we-need-build-relations-belarus-scratch