11.   Russia has urged lawmakers to drop impeachment proceedings if President Alexander Lukashenko makes a controversial referendum that would expand his powers non-binding.

12.   The constitutional court has found the government violated the constitution over a controversial failed referendum on NATO membership last May, a judge said Tuesday.

13.   The controversial referendum has now been validated by the Supreme Electoral Council.

14.   The lawmakers were ousted last fall, after Lukashenko held a controversial referendum that extended his term and gave him broad powers.

15.   The president, in turn, said a controversial referendum to expand his already vast powers would be non-binding, though it will go ahead as planned Sunday.

16.   The president, in turn, agreed that a controversial referendum he has been trumpeting to expand his already vast powers will be non-binding.

17.   They also will vote in a controversial referendum on whether to ease restrictions for people seeking citizenship.

18.   Voters in this impoverished nation determine their future Sunday in a controversial referendum pitting hard-line President Alexander Lukashenko against his foes in parliament.

19.   Fischer has said the new constitution established by a controversial referendum in November was illegal.

20.   Hundreds of opposition demonstrators on Thursday took to the streets of the east Algerian city of Bejaia to protest against a controversial constitutional referendum boosting presidential powers.