BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

04/01/2008

Belarus imposes travel ban on opposition leader

MINSK - Belarus has banned United Civil Party leader Anatoly Lebedko from travelling abroad, the veteran opposition figure told Reuters on Friday, calling it a political move after he met U.S. President George Bush last year.

The United States and the European Union accuse President Alexander Lukashenko of strangling democracy in the ex-Soviet state by jailing his opponents, shutting down independent media and rigging polls, including his own re-election to a third term.

Lebedko, leader of one of several liberal and nationalist opposition parties which have tried to unite, said he received papers from the interior ministry banning him from travel abroad, which it said was in connection with a libel case against him.

'The travel ban is a political decision,' he told Reuters by phone. 'The problems began after I visited the United States, where I and my colleagues had a conversation with President George Bush.'

Lebedko, who has served time in jail for his activities, said he has been involved in a libel case since 2004, when he criticised the government on a Russian television show, but had travelled many times since then. The case has not reached court.

The United States and the EU barred Lukashenko from entry after his landslide victory in 2006, which was followed by unprecedented protest rallies. He later jailed opposition candidate Alexander Kozulin for his role in the protests.

Late last year, the EU cautiously praised Minsk for releasing two jailed activists before the end of their terms and welcomed the restraint used by police during opposition rallies.

But Washington has sharpened its rhetoric, imposing economic sanctions against state oil company Belneftekhim and threatening more action, which prompted Lukashenko to say on Sunday he would expel the U.S. ambassador and ban trade in dollars.

(Editing by Giles Elgood)

Source:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20080104-0439-belarus-opposition-.html

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