Pro-Russian Soviet-style government of Belarus declared Martial Law in the city of Baranovichi and its suburbs. It has also allowed six thousand Russian troops to enter the country. Russia and Belarus on Tuesday completed two days of massive joint military exercises on bases that are close to borders with NATO members. Officials said about 12,500 servicemen took part in the West-2009 exercises, roughly... 

Ian Micallef, President ad interim of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and a member of the Committee of the Regions, and the Council of Europe, found himself seated next to Yury Ambrazevich, Minister-Counsellor for Belarus’ Mission to European Communities, at the seminar, and the two talked quietly in between questions from the audience and while other speakers were assessing the situation...