DATE:
03/12/2005
The parliament of Belarus has passed drastic new sedition laws.
The laws will make it a criminal offence to discredit the Belarusian state, both within Belarus and abroad.
Offenders can expect to spend up to three years in jail.
Officials in Belarus say the new law will help to prevent protests similar to those that led to the ousting of Ukraine's government earlier this year.
The US and the European Union have described Belarus as Europe's last dictatorship.
- BBC
Source:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200512/s1522782.htm
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