The Council of the Republic of the third convocation had its last sitting in Minsk this week. What are the main results it has achieved and who is going to take over? The first sitting of the new parliament is scheduled for 31 October.  [24–10 16:27]

Corruption in top echelons in the West is among the key reasons behind the global financial turmoil, President Alexander Lukashenko told the two chambers of parliament on Thursday. [24–10 16:27]

Belarus accused the United States on Friday of harming the interests of ordinary citizens by imposing new sanctions on the ex-Soviet state's industry in a row over human rights. [18–05 21:02]

Belarus’ diplomatic offices in the U.S. keep providing consular services for U.S. citizens, spokesman for Belarus’ Foreign Ministry Andrey Popov told a news briefing on Thursday. “We have not received official notifications from the U.S. about discontinuation of visa processing in Belarus,” Popov said. [21–03 20:43]

Advertising and public-relations executive Lord Bell, best known for his advisory role in Margaret Thatcher's three successful UK general election campaigns, has confirmed he has met and is hoping to advise Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. [21–03 20:42]

Emanuel Zeltser, a Russian-born U.S. citizen who sued the Bank of New York during the height of its Russian money-laundering scandal in the 1990s, was detained last week in Minsk, his brother told Forbes. [21–03 20:41]

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko warned the West, which has placed sanctions on the former Soviet state due to its human rights record, that further pressure would push Minsk closer to Russia. [21–03 20:40]

Withstanding from “throwing out” the American Ambassador from Belarus and only persistently recommending  Karen Stewart to leave for Washington for consultations, official Minsk did not take responsibility for escalating the conflict between Belarus and the USA after the specific sanctions against Belarusian Belneftekhim were introduced.  [14–03 20:22]

U.S. Ambassador Karen Stuart  left Minsk on 12 March. The Embassy’s official press release said that she went to Washington for short-term consultations.  [14–03 20:21]

Belarusian Minister of Labour and Social Defence Vladimir Potupchik is visiting a  session of the Administrative Council of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on 6-20 March in Geneva, to report how the country is trying to fulfil the ILO’s recommendations.  [14–03 20:20]

The Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Belarus, Karen Stewart, departed the Embassy at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 12, en route to Washington. Ambassador Stewart’s absence is temporary, and she remains the U.S. Ambassador to Belarus, the Embassy said in a press statement. [14–03 20:19]

Alexander Zdvizhkov, the Deputy Editor of Zgoda newspaper that was shut down by the authorities, has announced plans to leave Belarus and change his citizenship. The statement was made on 25 February at the press conference at the Belarusian Journalists Association in Minsk, reports BelaPAN.  [29–02 20:02]