Stories about Belarus from July, 2009
Belarus, Russia: Bloggers React to Graphic Chechen War Video
On July 3, Belarusian blogger Tatsiana Elavaya posted a provocative video showing the assassination of captive Russian soldiers by Chechen guerrillas during the 1999 war in Chechnya. The video had been available elsewhere before, but when Tatsiana posted it on her blog, the reaction of the Cyrillic blogosphere was unprecedented.
Europe: “When East Becomes West”
Raf Uzar is wondering whether “the definition of Western Europe [is] the same now as it was in 1945.”
Belarus: Flooded Streets of Minsk
Heavy rain caused flooding in the streets of Minsk on Friday: LJ user toxaby (RUS) posted 45 photos and LJ user black-hg (RUS) posted two.
Belarus: Arms trade rescues regime
Bielar.us discusses a recent United Nations’ report on arms’ trade in the world, where Belarus is pointed out as a major dealer, and the significance this trade has for the regime.
Belarus: Europe's only non-free country
Bielar.us directs attention to the 2009 Freedom in the World Index, by Freedom House, showing Belarus as the only non-free country in Europe.
Belarus: Arrests of opposition activists
LJ user ingannatore reports [RUS] on yesterday's arrests of some 50 opposition activists in Minsk and other cities in Belarus and goes on to comment the conduct of the authorities.
Belarus: The Grünwald pillow battle
LJ user reaktivny puz advertises [RUS] a 15 July celebration of the 1410 battle at Grünwald (Tannenberg) by staging a battle with pillows.
Belarus: Between Napoleon and Alexander
LJ user nicolaev writes about [RUS] Belarus during the Napoleonic wars and how the country related to Russia and the invading French.
Lithuania: Russian charter challenges loyalty
Lituanica comments on news that a Russian NGO is starting to issue so called Russian charters – a certificate of allegiance to Moscow – to ethnic Russians outside of the country and sees it as a potential threat that state citizens of other countries may declare loyalty to Moscow.
Russia-Belarus: Foreign policy split between Moscow and Minsk?
Sergei Makedonov at OpenDemocracy discerns an increasing foreign policy split between Russia and Belarus and explains why.
Belarus: Population decreases as alcohol consumption increases
LJ user kasiner critically presents [BLR/RUS] statistics showing how Belarus’ population decreases as alcohol consumption increases.
Belarus: A Holiday, Sort Of
Mikhail Larchanka reviews what some Belarusian bloggers write about Belarus' three Independence Day holidays, including the official one, which took place on July 3.
Belarus: President Pardons Emanuel Zeltser
On June 30, a U.S. Congress delegation visited Minsk to meet with Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko. During this meeting, members of the U.S. delegation asked the president to pardon Emanuel Zeltser, an American lawyer who, in August 2008, was "sentenced to three years in prison on charges of 'attempted industrial espionage' and the use of fake documents." Lukashenko said he could do it and signed the pardon later that day.