IN THIS ISSUE:

OPPOSITION ELECTORIAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JAILED

On March 1, Victor Gonchar, chairman of the opposition Central Electoral Committee, was arrested in Minsk just an hour before the 16-member Committee was supposed to begin its meeting. Valentina Zenkovich, a judge of the Leninky District Court of Minsk, promptly sentenced him to ten days in prison for "organizing an unauthorized meeting" on February 25. According to witnesses, during the arrest Gonchar's car was stopped by a traffic police officer who then broke the driver’s side window and ordered Gonchar out of the car. Ex-minister of the Interior Yuri Zakharenko, who was present at the scene, described the arrest of his colleague as an "act of political vandalism." Zakharenko was particularly shocked by the fact that Gonchar's relatives, who were in the car with him, were not even allowed to remove their personal things, including money and a mobile telephone, from the car. Gonchar was carrying all the documents necessary to hold an election committee session. (Interfax, March 1)

…AND GOES ON HUNGER STRIKE

On March 3, Victor Gonchar started a dry hunger strike. Sergei Obodovsky, Gonchar’s colleague, also went on hunger strike. Obodovsky’s strike had continued for several hours when he was hospitalized with high blood pressure. Later, Anatoly Gurinovich, another member of the CEC, joined the hunger strike. Elisabeth Schrodter and other members of the European Parliament expressed their indignation at the arrests of the CEC members and extended their support to the legitimate authorities of Belarus. (Charter 97, March 3)

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT CONDEMNS ARRESTS

The U.S. State Department says it "views with great concern" the Belarusian government’s arrest of the nation's entire Central Electoral Commission. In a statement issued late February 25, the Department called on the Belarusian authorities to release the commission's chairman and 14 members "and to begin working with the democratic opposition to resolve Belarus's longstanding constitutional impasse," which the State Department blames on the country's "illegitimate 1996 referendum."

"The constitutional dispute is a direct result of the illegitimate 1996 referendum. The Belarusian Constitutional Court ruled the referendum unconstitutional and the United States, European Union, OSCE Troika and Parliamentary Assembly, and much of the international community rejected it. President Lukashenko nevertheless abused the referendum to augment his powers and extend his term of office by two years.

Belarus should resolve this constitutional deadlock by creating a truly democratic political process in which all elements of society, including the opposition, can take part. A good place to start would be with revision of the local election law in line with the Minsk OSCE Mission's recommendations. A full year of opportunity has passed while the government ignored the OSCE mission's legislative recommendations and attempts to facilitate dialogue," deputy spokesman James B. Foley said. (USIA, February 25)

…AS DOES THE INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

On March 3, the International League for Human Rights issued a statement protesting the detainment of Victor Gonchar. The ILHR further expressed concern that Gonchar was not given access to his lawyer, Hari Pahanyayla, and that he was tried in a closed courtroom proceeding. The ILHR called on Ambassador Wieck, head of the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus to seek permission to visit Gonchar in prison "to monitor the conditions under which he is kept, and to seek his immediate and unconditional release, since he has bee unlawfully detained for exercising his civil and political rights and liberties. While staunchly defending the right of Gonchar to defend his right to freedom of expression and assembly, the ILHR "implored him to end his fast on the grounds that such actions deal the greatest blow to family and supporters rather than to those who are the root cause of the human rights violations." On March 6, Gonchar did in fact end his hunger strike. (ILHR, March 3; Charter 97, March 6)

MINSK DENOUNCES US STATEMENT

On March 4, the Belarusian authorities sharply criticized the US State Department’s statement concerning the arrests of CEC members. "The legitimacy of the November 1996 referendum and its results should not be doubted and do not require affirmation by other states. The activities of Victor Gonchar and other members of the illegally created commission contradicts the republic's current legislation and provokes instability in the socio-political situation," the official statement reads. (ITAR-TASS, March 4)

Lukashenko told reporters during a visit to Moscow last week that no reprisals against the organizers of the alternative elections would follow. "These are a dozen and a half people who represent nobody but themselves. These people are not a significant political force, unless we make heroes of them. They themselves are interested in getting arrested," Lukashenko said. (Reuters, March 2)

OSCE CONCERNED ABOUT ARRESTS OF OPPOSITION MEMBERS

On March 3, OSCE chairman-in-office Knut Vollebaek said that he was "deeply concerned" with the arrest of 16 members of the opposition Electoral Committee. "The chairman-in-office would like to remind the government of Belarus of its obligation as an OSCE participating state to respect democratic principles, such as the freedom of assembly," read an OSCE statement. "The OSCE will continue assisting the parties in the dispute to avoid further friction and to establish a political dialogue on constitutional questions," Vollebaek reiterated. (Agence France Presse, March 3)

US OSCE AMBASSADOR ON PRESS FREEDOM IN BELARUS

On February 25, David T. Johnson, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, addressing the OSCE Permanent Council, called on the government of Belarus to allow free reporting by the media on the opposition's plans to hold elections in May, and to lift all restrictions on an independent press.

"We…are shocked that six independent newspapers have recently received governmental warnings not to cover the opposition's plans to hold elections this May. It is not only the right but the responsibility of the media to report on public events," said Johnson.

"Laws that penalize publications that allegedly "defame" government officials or cause "intolerance," as cited in the OSCE's AMG January report on the media, foster self-censorship. Administrative provisions including registration requirements, license fees, steep taxes, and countless tax inspections combine to make reporting of the news in Belarus a prohibitively costly and bureaucratic affair. This imposes further restrictions upon the independent press. I have to say that the very existence of a "state committee on matters of the press" is repugnant. And I question what it could possibly be for except to promote censorship," he added.

"We also call for the government of Belarus to address concerns about media freedom through the tripartite group made up of representatives of the government, independent media, and the AMG. We would commend the government for working with the AMG in the creation of this group. We hope the work of this group will produce constructive action on the problem of media freedom in Belarus. We also encourage the government to participate in the AMG's upcoming Seminar on Information and Society."

David Johnson also encouraged Belarus to boost free economic activity, noting that the government blamed the recent poor harvest on bad weather: "Yet, private farmers who sowed and harvested by their own good judgment did far better than the centrally-directed state farms." (USIA, February 25)

OPPOSITION STARTS POLL CAMPAIGN

On March 1, despite the arrest of its Chairman, the Central Electoral Committee held a scheduled session to announce the start of the presidential election campaign. The session took place in a bus, since the administration of the Trade Union Hall did not allow the CEC to enter its premises. During the session two initiative groups registered: one in support of ex-Prime Minister Mikhail Chigir and the other to back Zyanon Paznyak, leader of the Belarusian Popular Front, who plans to return to Belarus from his exile in the United States. The day before, Victor Gonchar met Paznyak in Warsaw to discuss the presidential elections. According to the 1994 Constitution, a presidential candidate should collect 100,000 signatures within 10 days to register officially. (ITAR-TASS, February 28 - Reuters, March 2)

MINSK COURT PASSES VERDICT ON 16 OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS

As we wrote in the previous issue, on February 25 sixteen members of the Opposition CEC on Presidential Elections including its chairman Victor Gonchar were arrested in Minsk. Activists were charged with "staging an unauthorized assembly" under Art.167, section 1 of the Belarusian Administrative Code and were ordered to appear in court on March 1. They insisted, however, that this section deals with outdoor actions and is not applicable to those held indoors; accordingly, they initially decided not to attend the March 1 court hearing. However, in light of the arrest of Victor Gonchar, they changed their minds. Immediately after the March 1 session 15 members of the Committee went to the Leninski District Court. Three of them were sentenced to five days in prison. Others, including three women got official warnings and fines from 20m to 30m BR ($65-$100). (Interfax, March 1)

UNITED CIVIL PARTY CONDEMNS ARRESTS

On February 25, Professor Stanislav Bogdankevich, chairman of the United Civil Party, made a statement concerning the arrests of the CEC members. "The United Civil Party decisively condemns arbitrariness and lawlessness committed by the government. We appeal to sympathetic political parties of other countries, to parliamentarians, and to the international community at large to declare their decisive protest against lawlessness and violations of human rights in Belarus," the statement says. (United Civil Party, February 25)

…AND WILL NOT TO ENDORSE A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

From February 27 to 28, the United Civil Party held its IV Congress. Addressing his colleagues, Stanislav Bogdankevich stressed that UCP intends to become a mass movement. The Congress passed the Social Manifesto, which highlights several concrete measures aimed to improve the Belarusian social system. The United Civic Party decided not to endorse a candidate for the presidency in the forthcoming May 16 elections, and recommended its members to vote for a democratic candidate. Bogdankevich was re-elected the party’s chairman. (Belapan, March 1)

PAZNYAK AGREED TO RUN FOR PRESEDENCY

The Belarusian Popular Front started disseminating a declaration written by its leader Zyanon Paznyak with regard to the opposition presidential elections, which he believes to be constitutional. Paznyak confirmed that he would run in the elections because of political necessity and because he has a real chance of success. The declaration urges Belarus to return to "traditional spiritual values". Paznyak believes that Belarus's greatest achievement is its sovereignty and also devotes particular attention to economic issues. (Belapan, March 2)

EX-PRIME MINISTER PROVIDES SOME DETAILS ABOUT ELECTIONS

"The Belarusian opposition is planning a realistic mechanism for taking power from Lukashenko and handing it over to a newly elected head of state," said Mikhail Chigir, ex-Prime Minister of Belarus, at a news conference in Minsk on March 1. Chigir stressed that only mass reprisals can prevent a presidential election in 1999. According to him, more than 3,000 people want to work in his team and their number increases every day. The collection of signatures in support of his candidature will be headed by Vasil Shlyndikov, deputy of the 13^th Supreme Soviet. As Chigir said, his team is open to government officials who might want to join it later. "Many local officials and heads of collective farms really want the elections to happen", he said. Chigir did not rule out that the elections would be held at night in rural areas because of the authorities’ pressure. (Belapan, March 2)

OPPOSITION PROTESTS AGAINST RUSSIAN FASCISM AND LUKASHENKO

On February 27, about 2,000 people protested in Minsk, urging Lukashenko to step down in July 1999 and demanding an official ban of the Russian National Unity’s activities in Belarus. The protesters carried banners with slogans such as "Say ‘NO’ to Russian Fascism!", "Stop Nazism!", "Down with Lukashenko," "No to Fascism and Nuclear Weapons". Banners of democratic parties, white-red-white national and European Union flags could be seen over the participants’ heads. The demonstrators held a meeting in front of the Opera Theater. Representatives of different democratic parties and human rights organizations called for rebuffing the fascism, which this time is coming from the East. During the meeting, volunteers enrolled into anti-fascist self-defense units, which will patrol the city to protect its citizens from skinheads. The same day the organizers of the march were charged at the Central District police station with "impeding public transport." (Charter 97, February 27)

ORGANIZERS OF ANTIFASCIST RALLY SENTENCED TO 10 DAYS

Ales Belyatski, Valery Kostko, and Dmitry Bondarenko, who organized the February 27 antifascist rally were tried at the Minsk Sovetsky district court. They were accused of violating an agreement with the city authorities on maintaining order during the action. Specifically, instead of walking on the sidewalk (as the authorities requested), people marched down the road [because the sidewalk was covered with 30 inches if snow]. The organizers believe that this obstacle was created by Minsk Mayor Vladimir Yarmoshyn, who decided not to clean the snow to obstruct the rally. Having listened to the opinions, the judge found that there was indeed a violation of the law. As it was the Belyatski’s second violation within the last 12 months, he was sentenced to 10 days. The trial of Bondarenko and Kostko was postponed first until March 4 and then until March 16. Ales Mikalaichanka, a member of the Council of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, was able to find a shelter at the International Education Center, where the OSCE mission is based. He phoned from there that he was being followed by a car. (BBC, March 3)

BPF HEADQUARTERS IN GRODNO ASSAULTED BY FASCISTS

On February 26, the Belarusian Popular Front headquarters in Grodno were stormed by a group of young thugs, 20-25 years old, who all had a fascist swastika on their arm bands. The foray resulted in a fight between fascists and BPF activists. As a result of this fight BPF members and the attackers were injured and several people were detained by the police. (Charter 97, February 27)

OPPOSITION MEMBERS GET ASYLUM IN BELGIUM

Marat Kulbatsky and Igor Lazarchik, activists of the Belarusian Popular Front, were granted political asylum in Belgium. They left Belarus several months ago because of political persecution by the government. Kulbatsky had been last arrested in the spring of 1998 in Minsk, when, during a demonstration dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Communist terror, he placed a wreath made of barbed wire on the statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky, the head of the VCHK, the first Soviet law-enforcement body, notoriously famous for its activities during the Stalin repressions. (Charter 97, March 1)

…AND SEEKS SUPPORT IN CZECH REPUBLIC

On March 4, members of the Belarusian opposition delegation, who are on a three-day visit to the Czech Republic, informed journalists and former dissidents about the difficult position of the independent press in Belarus. The delegation brought to Prague the Charter 97 petition on the protection of human rights in Belarus. After a meeting with the delegation, Petr Pithart, Senate deputy chairman, promised that "he will discuss the issue in the Senate groups, and the Senate might take a stand on it." (CTK, March 4)

LUKASHENKO ORDERS MORE MONEY FOR LOCAL PRESS

On March 1 Lukashenko signed a decree "On State Support for the Regional Press." The document particularly appropriated 110bn BR from the state budget to support the regional media. The decree, according to Mikhail Padhayny, the chairman of the State Press Committee, is a "real breakthrough". The total circulation of the local periodicals today is about 1million copies. The decree will help improve the local media's financial situation and considerably raise its circulation. (BBC, March 3)

--BROTHER SLAVS --

RUSSIA: NO NUKES IN BELARUS

There is no pressing need to deploy either tactical or strategic Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus these days, military diplomatic sources in Moscow told Interfax on February 26. They were commenting on Lukashenko's statement that in the current situation nuclear weapons should be re-deployed in Belarus. (Interfax, February 26)

LUKASHENKO: DID I SAY ANYTHING?

On February 26, speaking to Itar-Tass just before leaving Moscow, Lukashenko expressed indignant surprise that "some Russian mass media circulated appalling information on February 25, which was really a surprise to me, that Belarus allegedly asked for a return of nuclear weapons. Those statements of mine were fabricated." (ITAR-TASS, February 26)

BELARUS, YUGOSLAVIA SCRAP VISAS, SEE MILITARY DEAL

On March 4, the Belarusian and Yugoslav Foreign Ministers signed an agreement waiving mutual visa requirements for their citizens and announced that the two Slav countries should consider a military agreement. "This is an example of the openness in the relations, thoughts, and ideas of the citizens of our countries," Zivadin Jovanovic, Yugoslav Foreign Minister, said after signing the visa agreement with Ural Latypov, Belarusian Foreign Minister. Jovanovic said the two countries were discussing a military agreement but declined to give details. (Reuters, March 5)

POLISH PREMIER CRITISEZES DEVELOPMENTS IN BELARUS

Poland disapproves of the recent actions of the Belarusian authorities, Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek said in Kiev on February 25 in connection with the arrests of the 16 members of the Central Electoral Committee. Buzek said that during his visit to Ukraine he had discussed the latest developments in Belarus but denied allegations that he suggested severing contacts with the Belarusian authorities and President Lukashenko. (PAP, February 25)