BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

30/11/2006

Belarus Opposition Leader Detained After Meeting With Bush

MosNews

Belarusian authorities detained an opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich as he returned from NATO summit in Latvia, RIA Novisti news agency reports November 30.

Milinkevich was arrested Wednesday at Minsk airport on suspicion of forging his domestic passport, the leader's press secretary said. Lately he had visited Riga on the invitation of the Latvian president and met with U.S. President George Bush and several White House officials who were attending the NATO summit.

Milinkevich is a leading opposition figure who ran against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in a March presidential election. He has been already arrested several times over his role in mass demonstrations and as forgery is considered a criminal offense, the consequences may be serious, Milinkevich spokesman Pavel Mazheyka said.

Speaking in Riga on November 28, Bush said Lukashenko's government "offends the conscience" of Europe and the United States.

Source:

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/11/30/belorusianopposition.shtml