Cyprus-Forum.com

[miltiades]

The fact that the 'Lady' was well known to the 'Cops' sounds a bit 'Sus' to me.

Moral:- "When in 'Belarus' watch out for 'Scammers', they are up to all kind of tricks!"

Family life here is very similar to ours in Cyprus, a close nit family unity is very much a cultural thing.

Just be careful that YOU do not end up the only 'NIT' in amongst them all.

Same way one spells Nife or Nee silly !!

Silly? Not plonker? You're getting softer Milti.

On the contrary, I have never been as ...hard as Im right now

[kimon07]

You dark and hairy Middle-Eastern-European! You obviously stood out as a potential ...... terrorist!

Not so dark my dear !! Clean shaven too and smartly dressed .
Learn just a little about Belarus:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news ... lukashenko

A splendit civilized and democratic country indeed.

Doing business in Belarus: Beware of hostage-takers
02.09.13 @ 19:52
By Joerg Forbrig
BERLIN - Just back from their summer break, European policy-makers are rubbing their eyes with disbelief over the astonishing trade war between the once, and officially still, fraternal states of Belarus and Russia.
A long-simmering dispute over potash exports, a key ingredient for fertilisers worldwide, took a dramatic turn last week when Belarusian authorities arrested the head of Uralkali, one of Russia’s largest companies.
http://euobserver.com/opinion/121285

Belarus tightens grip on political prisoners

10.04.13 @ 17:27
By Nikolaj Nielsen
BRUSSELS - As the Nobel peace prize nominee and human rights defender Ales Bialiatski continues to languish away in a penal colony in Belarus, his compatriots in Brussels attempt to secure his freedom and those of 10 other political prisoners.
Valentin Stefanovic, who heads the Belarus human rights group Viasna [meaning "Spring"] told EUobserver in Brussels that Bialiatski’s wife is no longer allowed to visit him until August. Meanwhile, their son is in self-imposed exile in Poland where he recently started his university studies
http://euobserver.com/foreign/119757

[kimon07]

Learn just a little about Belarus:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news ... lukashenko

I just did. Stupid of me. Depressing. Ruined my evening.

The Government Alcoholises the Belarusians
30 November 2012

Lately many in Belarus talk about prohibition to sell cheap poor quality alcohol and fight against alcoholisation of population in Belarus. However, sales of vodka in Belarus amount to a half of the market share.
Moreover, the government as watchdog and owner of most of distilleries in Belarus is steadily increasing production of vodka over the last years, effectively guaranteeing one of the most sustained sources of raising money for the budget. It turns out that the campaign against drinking is in direct conflict with replenishment of the state budget?
According to the latest Belstat data, the vodka sales continue to expand in Belarus. Between January and October this year sales of vodka increased by 1.2 per cent as compared to the same period of last year. Ten and a half million dekalitres (dL) of vodka were sold; its share in the total volume of alcohol sold amounted to 49.8 per cent (45.6 per cent in the period between January and October 2011). The other half accounts for all other pleasures, i.e. fruit and berry wine, beer, liqueurs and spirits, wine and brandies.
http://belarusdigest.com/story/governme ... ians-12306

Is Belarus “the last dictatorship in Europe”?
Published: 14 May 2011

Political freedoms in Belarus are severely restricted, especially in comparison with other European countries. However, the authorities are a long way from controlling all spheres of society, as would happen in a totalitarian state. Elections, however, are not free and fair. There is no separation of powers between the executive, the judiciary, and the legislature. As a matter of fact, all political decision-making is either made directly or on behalf of the presidential administration.
http://belarusdigest.com/myth/belarus-% ... 80%9D-2085

How to Survive on $200 Dollars a Month
Nadine Lashuk 03 February 2012

A typical "dacha" in Belarus
Although prices in Belarus are as high as in any European country, salaries are very low. The average monthly income is around USD 200, but people still manage to buy food, flats and smart phones. How is it possible to make ends meet with such a low income?
According to the State Statistics Committee Belstat, between January and October 2011 the average monthly salary in Belarus was roughly USD 208. After the second devaluation it even fell to USD 135 per month at some point. USD 200 is not a lot and it means that the economic situation of many families drastically deteriorated in 2011. Just before the presidential elections the average monthly salary was over USD 530, according to Belsat. But Belarusians still manage to survive.
http://belarusdigest.com/story/how-surv ... month-7591

The "Real Belarus": Travel Tips from a German Expat

Nadine Lashuk 12 January 2012

At the beginning of the new year, Belarus made headlines in the Western press once again. The reporting on the new internet law showed that Belarus is a white stain on the European map for most people. This week the Toronto Star published an article called "Belarus: The North Korea of Europe". It’s those often misleading descriptions that most Westerners have in mind when going to Belarus for the first time.
Based on Western media reports, it is impossible to imagine what Belarus is actually like and how people live here. For this reason, Belarus Digest launches a new series of articles, written by a German living in Belarus. In several articles, we will try to paint a more realistic picture of life in “Europe’s last dictatorship” and describe events and everyday life from the perspective of a Western expat. So let's begin the journey……..
Landing at Minsk-2 Airport: Welcome to the Potemkin Village!
Airport Minsk 2 will seem strangely deserted…….. Upon landing you will probably be intimidated by customs officers and border guards in huge hats who never smile or try to pretend to speak anything other than Russian. You will need to buy a Belarusian insurance because the traveling insurance you bought in your home country will not be valid in Belarus no matter what the agent told you at home. When you have passed the passport and customs control, you will take a relieved breath and head towards Minsk.
………………The highway connecting the international airport Minsk 2 to the city looks very modern and shows off the national companies and campaigns on glossy (English language!) road signs. Clearly this country wants to impress its foreign visitors from first sight.
However, you will understand quickly that this road as well as the impressive buildings you will see when entering Minsk are Potemkin villages. The facades are beautifully maintained and always freshly painted, but when you see them from the backside you understand that you have been fooled. Never mind, Minsk is still a nice city…..

Three Survival Tips for Your First Visit to Belarus

So, when traveling to Belarus for the first time, make sure you remember these three tips:
First, never be intimidated by an official unless you have done something illegal and there is a chance they know about it.
Second, never try to put on a seatbelt when sitting in the back of a taxi. Even if you may find seatbelts, the taxi drivers will be seriously insulted and take it as a sign that you do not trust their driving skills.
Third, if you are not keen on reading newspapers and books in Belarusian or Russian for the duration of your stay, bring your reading materials in a language you understand. It is impossible to buy international newspapers in Belarus.
http://belarusdigest.com/story/real-bel ... expat-7284

All the previous explain this, I believe:

Why Do Belarusians Commit Suicide?

Ryhor Astapenia 13 September 2013
On 10 September, the world marked suicide prevention day. Belarus ranks sixth in the world with regard to the number of total suicides that occur annually.

Last year, about two thousand Belarusians committed suicide - higher than the number of road accident victims. Belarusian men, like elsewhere in the world, tend to commit suicide more than women, though the large number of suicides in rural areas sets Belarus apart from other countries. Studies indicate that increases in alcohol consumption in Belarus correlates with an increase in the number of suicides.

The overall social withdrawal and tendency towards depression that Belarusians face, rather than poverty, constitute the main reasons for the current situation. Although the Ministry of Health Care has taken certain steps to prevent suicides, Belarusians should first and foremost decrease their own alcohol consumption in order to reach this goal.
http://belarusdigest.com/story/why-do-b ... cide-15411

[miltiades]

This is my 16th trip to Belarus in just over 3 years.

I do not profess to be an expert on the nation and its people but better qualified than some who visit the nation once or twice and drawing conclusions based on their hotel stay etc,

Much of what I read on Belarus when I first came here in September 2010 turned out to be pure mythology, written by people who had not properly interacted with the locals, as I do on my every visit. Being the inquisitive type and one who attaches great emphasis on being honest, polite, smile a lot and genuinely appear pleased to meet new people, has given me an in-depth knowledge of Belarus and its people.

A German wrote that prices are as high as anywhere else, well he is a Plonker, a German Plonker.Obviously has never carried out any research on prices apart from comparing hotel ROOM prices which indeed are as high as European ones. However an espresso in most 4 - 5 star hotels costs between 60p and £1.00.

I don't have much time this evening as its my last evening and guests are beginning to arrive, but will do so from London. As I said above I do not profess to be an expert but having been here so many times, interacted daily with the people, sat for dinner, drunk ...vodka and ZAMAGORGA, a bit like Zivania, surely I must have an opinion based on my numerous "integrated" visits.

Finaly, for all you smokers, a packet of 20 will set you back between 65p, 20 Winston red, to just under a £.

Eggs are sold in 20s and cost either just under or over a £.

I love quails eggs, they are great for Diabetics, I buy them by the ton, average cost £1.20 for 20 eggs, Pork as well as Chicken most favourites, both very tasty and cheap. Their potatoes are as hard as rocks yet as tasty as the Cypriot potatoes.

[bill cobbett]

Sod eggs and coffees and tarts...

... but fags at 60p ...!!! Rather than the GB£8.60...!!! sounds a great place.

[kurupetos]

Milti, what's the cost of local women?

[bill cobbett]

Milti, what's the cost of local women?

HDY Toffoui... !!! How frigging well dare you...!!! ... as if our gentlemanly pappou would know the answer to a question like that...!!!

[supporttheunderdog]

Milti, what's the cost of local women?

HDY Toffoui... !!! How frigging well dare you...!!! ... as if our gentlemanly pappou would know the answer to a question like that...!!!

I think it suggests Kurupetos is a buy-sexual....

He cannot get if for nought so he has to pay for it...

Hence the green face of jealousy....

[Schnauzer]

Miltiades has become the 'Παλαβος' of 'Belarus'.

[kurupetos]

Miltiades has become the 'Παλαβος' of 'Belarus'.

Are there Pakistani traffic wardens in Belarus?