BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

07/01/2008

Belarusian Authorities Ban Opposition Leader From Traveling Abroad

The Belarusian police's migration department has notified Anatol Lyabedzka, the leader of the United Civic Party, that he is listed in the Interior Ministry's database of people barred from leaving Belarus, Belapan reported on January 4. The Belarusian authorities imposed the travel ban on Lyabedzka over the defamation case brought against him in 2004. Lyabedzka allegedly slandered Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka while appearing on Russian television. Belarusian investigators in 2004 suspended the proceedings due to the lack of cooperation from Russia, but did not close the case. The government introduced the travel-ban database on January 1, replacing permit stamps in passports. AM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/01/3-cee/cee-070108.asp