Rumor about Belarus-Can someone help me get info? update: I found the info :(

[Cindyluwho]

I've heard a rumor today that the Belarussian government/President Lukashenko is not going to allow any email in and out of Belarus during March because of the Presidential elections. They're saying he doesn't want any outside interference, especially from our government. It's almost impossible to get any info out there now that he's shut down most of the newspapers, does anyone here have friends or family there that may know about this? We're trying to get all our paperwork in for hosting the Chernobyl kids and the email thing would make it really tough. I'm trying not to panic but that government is just plain scary and the thought of not seeing our kids this summer is just torture. I'm sorry I'm being such a whiner but I'm really getting scared. If anyone knows how to get any info I'd sure appreciate it.

 

[Steamboat Marti]

well, the only thing I can tell you is that our international adoption was halted because of this man and the politics of the two countries. He's not high on my list of Christmas cards....

I really hope you get some information - the kids are the ones that are suffering.

 

[Cindyluwho]

this isn't looking good

Tech News


Belarus to cut off home computer internet access nationwide
Feb 10, 2006, 17:56 GMT
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Minsk - Belorussian Ministry of Communications officials on Friday announced new laws effectively banning home access to the Internet.

A policy statement from the national telephone monopolist Beltelekom defining legal internet access limited potential users of the Internet to companies and government organizations and specifically omitted private individuals.

Belorussian internet domain operators not associated with a company or government agency would be cut off and in case of repeated violations could face heavy fines or even jail, the statement said.

The Belorussian internet is in terms of size in its infancy, with some 1,300 domains, almost all non-commercial, and 14,000 users.

The Beltelekom policy if put into effect would nevertheless drastically reduce Belarusian's access to international media, as Belarus' state media is heavily biased towards the country's authoritarian President Aleksander Lukashenko.

Internet aside, the only other source of uncensored information in Belarus is foreign radio broadcasts, which are at times jammed by the Lukashenko regime.

Lukashenko is widely expected to win a third term in office in national elections this March.

His administration and the country's KGB has cracked down on potential opposition groups in the run-up to the vote, targeting among others Polish ethnic groups and western NGOs.


© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur