OPPOSITION LEADER GENNADY KARPENKO DIES

Gennady Karpenko, deputy chair of the Supreme Soviet, or parliament, and head of the opposition’s shadow cabinet, died April 6 in intensive care in Minsk. He had not regained consciousness after hospitalization on March 31 with cerebral hemorrhage and an unsuccessful operation April 1. Karpenko was an outspoken opponent of President Lukashenko for many years. He refused to recognize the results of the controversial 1996 referendum, or to join the new legislature handpicked by the President, facing constant persecution by the authorities. Karpenko was elected deputy chair of the United Civil Party and member of the Coordinating Council of Democratic Forces of Belarus. He worked hard to unite the democratic forces in Belarus, chairing the Congress of Democratic Forces in January 1999. Major political parties in Belarus, the including pro-Russian Liberal Democrats, expressed their sorrow and condolences on his death. Condolences were also sent by the International League for Human Rights.

MIKHAIL CHIGIR ARRESTED

On March 30, the Belarusian authorities brought criminal charges against Mikhail Chigir, ex-Prime minister of Belarus and an opposition candidate for the presidency, under Article 91 of the Belarusian Criminal Code ("large-scale embezzlement"). Dmitry Parton, an Interior Ministry official, told Reuters that Chigir is accused of making a dubious loan in 1994, when he headed a branch of the Agro-Industrial Bank. Chigir denies any wrongdoing and says the charges are politically motivated. "This persecution is not criminal but political, initiated on the very day of my registration as a presidential candidate in the opposition presidential elections. I am innocent, but in Belarus there are lots of people kept in custody without trial," Chigir told Itar-Tass. Chigir is currently being held in the pretrial detention center of the Interior Ministry in Minsk. (Reuters, Itar-Tass, March 31)

…FOR ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT

Police Colonel Aleksey Lavrinyuk, head of the Interior Ministry’s special division for fraudulent loans, told Belarusian State Radio: "The Prosecutor's Office has indeed launched criminal proceedings against Mikhail Chigir, a former chairman of the Agro-Industrial Bank, under Article 91, part 4 of the Criminal Code, for large-scale embezzlement. This action is taken in response to an illegal transfer of funds, totaling US $1 million, to a Canadian firm for the construction of an office building for the Agro-Industrial Bank. So far the Canadian firm has done no work on the site, has supplied no equipment or building materials to Belarus, nor has it paid back the money. Meanwhile, the work which was supposed to be done by the Canadian firm has been completed by a Belarusian construction company [it was not clear from his statement whether the Belarusian company was paid separately for the building --Ed.]. Moreover, there is some evidence concerning other questionable loans authorized by Chigir. Those credits were extended to various companies, firms, and commercial structures and have not yet been repaid. The delay in bringing criminal charges has been caused by the necessity to carry out a scrupulous audit of the bank’s operations." (BBC, April 2)

…WHILE AUTHORITIES LACK EVIDENCE TO ACCUSE CHIGIR

"The authorities lack evidence to accuse Mikhail Chigir," Yury Zakharenko, former Minister of Internal Affairs, who claims to have seen material collected against Chigir, told reporters on March 31. Referring to sources within the KGB and police, Zakharenko said that the ex-premier's arrest had been ordered by Lukashenko. Under Article 91, part 4 of the Criminal Code, if convicted, Chigir may be sentenced to a prison term from 8 to 15 years, his property may be confiscated, and he may lose the right to occupy certain positions and engage in certain activities for a period from 3 to 5 years. According to Zakharenko, however, it is not possible to apply Article 91 to Chigir. "At best his actions could be placed under Article 167 (exceeding authority)," he said. Zakharenko pointed out that the authorities had already considered bringing charges under Art. 167 against the former prime minister, but failed to find enough evidence to sustain them. Now, Zakharenko believes, there is an order from above to unearth the case. (April 1)

LEAGUE URGES RELEASE OF CHIGIR

On April 1, Catherine Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the International League for Human Rights, sent a letter to the Prosecutor-General and the President of Belarus, requesting the immediate release of Mikhail Chigir. "The League fears that Chigir’s political views may have been the real motivation for his arrest, since he was a vocal critic of the government in the independent press. Free expression of views is guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other local and international guarantees. Chigir has been repeatedly been subjected to pressure and threats. Given that the accusations against Chigir deal with economic crimes and are not related to crimes against persons, the League urges that he be released from custody, that he be allowed access to lawyers, and that the trial be held in accordance with the law of the Republic of Belarus and international norms." (ILHR, April 1)

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT CONDEMNS CHIGIR ARREST

The U.S. State Department called for Chigir’s immediate release, noting increased intimidation of opposition supporters in recent weeks and calling on the government to engage in dialogue to resolve the constitutional impasse which followed the contested 1996 referendum. The full text of the State Department statement follows:

"On March 30, 1999, Belarusian authorities detained Mikhail Chigir, Belarus’ ex-prime minister and now a prominent leader of the opposition to the authoritarian regime of President Lukashenko. The arrest of Mikhail Chigir in the context of increased intimidation of opposition supporters in recent weeks appears designed to stifle independent thought and action in Belarus.

"The United States is deeply concerned over these developments in Belarus. We again call on Belarus to adhere to its international commitments, including respect for freedom of expression, OSCE principles, and other internationally recognized rights. It is also particularly important that the authorities in Belarus engage in a dialogue with the opposition toward resolving the constitutional impasse following the illegal 1996 referendum.

"We call for an immediate release of Mikhail Chigir and for the Belarusian authorities' engagement in a constructive and equitable dialogue with the opposition and other elements of society advocating democracy and human rights to improve the political situation in the country for the benefit of all its citizens." (U.S. Department of State, March 31)

OSCE AMG ON CHIGIR ARREST

Many of the OSCE member states regard the arrest of Mikhail Chigir as a politically motivated act directed against the opposition, Hanspeter Kleiner, deputy head of the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus, told Belapan on March 31. In Kleiner’s view, such acts may adversely affect Belarus' recent attempts to overcome international isolation. On March 31, the AMG sent a letter to Foreign Minister Ural Latypov stating that the arrest might have negative consequences and recommending that Chigir be released from detention. The AMG also requested assistance from the Foreign Ministry in obtaining permission to visit Chigir

in jail. On March 30, Kleiner said that the AMG sent an urgent report to Knut Vollebaek, OSCE Chairman-in-Office. (Belapan, March 31)

OSCE CHAIRMAN CONCERNED BY ARREST

Knut Vollebaek, Norwegian Foreign Minister and current OSCE Chairman-in-Office, said that he is very concerned by the arrest of Mikhail Chigir. His statement released on April 2 by the OSCE AMG in Minsk calls the arrest "an unjustified political maneuver against the opposition, which was taken to suppress its attempt to hold the presidential election." Vollebaek stressed that it is important to settle as soon as possible "the grave constitutional conflict between the government and the opposition in Belarus" and urged the Belarusian leadership to immediately release Chigir. (Interfax, April 2)

INTERIOR MINISTRY READY TO FIGHT CORRUPTION

On March 31, the Interior Ministry issued the following statement: "By directive of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, agencies and units of the Ministry have accelerated efforts to fight economic crimes and irregularities in the banking sector in an effort to collect loans which had been illegally extended to economic entities and individuals. The Investigation Committee of the Ministry is conducting an inquiry in connection with criminal proceedings instituted by the Prosecutor-General's Office with regard to the embezzlement of U.S. $1 million at the Agro-Industrial Bank under Article 91, part 4 of the Criminal Code. The former chairman of the board of the Agro-Industrial joint-stock commercial bank, Mikhail Chigir, has been detained as a suspect." (Belarusian Interior Ministry, April 1)

LUKASHENKO URGES KGB TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON "EXTREMIST ACTIONS"

On March 31, during his meeting with the KGB chairman Vladimir Matskevich, Lukashenko urged him "to devote the maximum of attention to extremist actions of well-known political provocateurs and to prevent the destabilization of the political situation in the country." Lukashenko also directed the KGB to accelerate efforts to combat corruption and organized crime. During the meeting, Matskevich gave the president an update from KGB intelligence units and reported on the results of special operations which had been successfully conducted recently". (Belapan, April 1)

OPPOSITION GOES AHEAD WITH ELECTION PLAN

On March 31, opposition leaders organized a symbolic ceremony to register two candidates in an alternative presidential election. It was held on the steps of Minsk downtown Oktyabrskaya Hotel located some 150 feet from President Lukashenko’s office. On behalf of Mikhail Chigir, who was arrested the day before, the certificate was received by Vasily Shlyndikov, chief of Chigir’s election campaign team. Zyanon Paznyak, leader of the Belarusian Popular Front, who was forced to seek political asylum in the U.S in 1996, was represented by Sergei Papkov, a Front deputy chair. "The absence of the candidates and even Chigir's imprisonment should not be an obstacle to the elections as long as the Belarusian people themselves are willing to vote," opposition activist Anatoly Lebedko told Reuters. Several KGB agents videotaped the whole event. (Reuters, April 1)

OSCE WILL MONITOR THE APRIL 4 LOCAL ELECTIONS

On March 31, Hanspeter Kleiner, deputy head of the OSCE AMG in Belarus, told Belapan that Adrian Severin, deputy chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and a group of OSCE and Council of Europe experts are going to visit Belarus from April 2 to April 6 to monitor the local elections. The group will submit its conclusions to the OSCE Democratic Institution and Human Rights (ODIHR) Bureau in Warsaw. Adrian Severin is expected to meet members of the 13^th Supreme Soviet on April 3, visit some polling stations on April 4, and hold a news conference on April 5. (Belapan, March 31)

LUKASHENKO SLAMS OPPOSITION

In his interview to a Vilnius TV station on March 31, excerpts of which were shown on the Belarusian State TV as well, Lukashenko said that "it would be a betrayal not to hold the next presidential elections in 2001." In Lukashenko’s opinion, only "thieves" need a presidential election in Belarus in 1999. "Our so-called presidential candidates in an illegitimate election demand support from the West, but the West cannot get involved in this because any trace of legitimacy is manifestly missing. Why do they [opposition] need it? Take many of the names that are heard everywhere today. They have stolen millions of dollars from the state. How could he [ex-prime minister Mikhail Chigir—Eds.] save himself? All he could do was go into politics and run for the presidency," Lukashenko said. (USIS, April 1)

BELARUS RAISED AT UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

On April 1, the situation in Belarus was strongly criticized at the UN Commission on Human Rights session in Geneva. Making a statement on behalf of the European Union, the German Ambassador said that "the European Union is concerned with serious deficiencies in the legal and judicial systems of Belarus. We condemn the state interference in trials, the pressure imposed on judges, the long terms of pre-trial detention, and we are especially concerned with the conditions of imprisonment. We call on the government to eliminate restrictions on the freedom of speech and peaceful assemblies and to solve the current conflict between the Government and opposition in a democratic way." Harold Koh, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Labor, and Human Rights, stressed that "the government of President Lukashenko is suppressing the opposition that resists his authoritarian regime." Statements made by other countries were also critical of the Belarusian authorities. Andrei Sannikov, the League representative at the UN and Charter 97's international coordinator, also delivered a speech on the human rights situation in Belarus. (Charter 97, ILHR, April 2)

THOUSANDS MARK ANNIVERSARY OF BELARUSIAN POPULAR REPUBLIC

On March 28, about 8,000 representatives of the Belarusian Democratic Forces rallied in Minsk, marking the 81^st anniversary of the Belarusian Popular Republic, the first independent Belarusian state, and protesting against Lukashenko’s regime. Demonstrators objected to the Russia- Belarus Union, waving posters "Spring! Independence! Freedom!", "‘No to Russia- Belarus Union!", and "No to Nuclear Weapons in Belarus!". The marchers were headed by Lyavon Barshchewski and Yury Belenky, leaders of the Belarusian Popular Front, and Prof. Stanislav Bogdankevich, chairman of the United Civic Party. The demonstrators protested against possible re-deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, a proposition which has been recently advocated by some Russian and Belarusian politicians following the NATO attacks against the Serbian military. (Belapan, March 28)

FIFTEEN DETAINED AND FINED

Fifteen demonstrators were detained by the police shortly after the March 28 rally. First, the police detained four Belarusian Popular Front members when they were packing up sound equipment; they were soon released. Another 8 members of the Malady Front (Youth Branch of the BPF) were taken to the Sovetsky District Police Station. Stas Gerashchanka, Dmitry Bounchuk, Ales Miksovich and Ales Serko, all minors, were released the same evening. Julia Liskovskaya (who was badly beaten up), Yevgeny Afnagel, Vladimir Antonov, and Alesia Sovalopa were placed in the Okrestina Street Detention Center and kept there until the next day. Leonid Abramovich, another juvenile member of the Malady Front, was also arrested and released the same day. On Mach 29, Julia Liskovskaya, Yevgeny Afnagel, Vladimir Antonov, and Alesia Sovalopa, were brought to court. They were found guilty of using "unregistered symbols". The court fined each of them 5 million BRB (about US$15) for waving the forbidden national white-red-white flags during the rally (Charter 97, March 29, 31)

POLICE HARASS MEMBERS OF OPPOSITION ELECTION COMMISSION

On March 27, a police team stormed a private apartment where representatives of the Mogilev local opposition Electoral Commission were holding a private meeting. The police, who did not produce any search warrants, disconnected the telephone, and ordered the people who were in the apartment not to move. After the brief search they issued a report regarding the confiscation of printed materials which, in the police's opinion, had a direct connection to the forthcoming presidential elections. On the same day, three election campaign activists were brought to court. They were found guilty of violating the election law and fined one minimum wage, 500,000 BR (about U.S. $1.50). (Belapan, March 29)

MORE HARASSMENT

The press center of the opposition Central Electoral Commission (CEC) released new data about the harassment of its members. On March 29, Iosif Naumchik, vice chairman of the opposition CEC, was detained as a witness in the criminal proceedings instituted against Viktar Hanchar, chairman of the CEC. Naumchik was interrogated by the Prosecutor’s Office in the town of Lepelsk and subpoenaed to appear at the Prosecutor’s Office in Vitebsk on March 30. After the interrogation, Naumchik received yet another subpoena on March 31. Lilia Sazanovets, an opposition CEC member, was detained at the bus station in Lida. She was also interrogated and subpoenaed by the Prosecutor’s Office on March 31.

On March 26, Pavel Klimovich, chairman of the Gomel local opposition electoral commission, was formally warned against his involvement in the organization of the opposition presidential elections. The same day Anatoly Poplavsky, an opposition activist, was detained while collecting signatures in support of Zyanon Paznyak. He was charged with an administrative offence and will have to stand trial. (Charter 97, March 29)

On March 22, Ivan Kazarez, chairman of the Mogilev local opposition electoral commission, was subpoenaed by the Prosecutor’s Office and warned about his involvement in the presidential election campaign. He was told that he could be indicted under article 61, part 1 of the Criminal Code, punishable by imprisonment for up to 12 years. (Spring 96, March 25)

On March 5, 38 activists of the Grodno branch of the Youth Anti-Fascist Committee were detained and transported to the Police Department, where they were photographed. Andrei Pachobut, one of the detainees, was imprisoned for a few days merely for requesting an explanation for their detention.

On March 18, the office of Pukhovichi (Minsk region) local opposition electoral commission was searched. As a result, printed materials and personal belongings were confiscated. (Assembly of Belarusian Democratic NGOs, March 29)

BELARUSIAN EMBASSY PICKETED IN PARIS

French citizens picketed in front of the Belarusian Embassy in Paris on April 1. The picket was organized by French youth associations opposed to the Lukashenko’s policy and by the Brussels office of the Charter 97. The picketers passed out leaflets and Charter 97 bulletins. The Belarusian Consul was handed a petition demanding the immediate release of all political prisoners, the holding of presidential elections without delay, and a polling station to be opened at the embassy. The Consul promised that the rule of law and democracy in Belarus would be gradually introduced. (Charter 97, April 1)

MORE SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS

On March 29, Charter 97 received 27 signatures from MPs of the Czech Republic expressing their solidarity with Andrei Klimov and Vladimir Koudinov, two arrested deputies of the 13^th Supreme Soviet who were imprisoned for political motives. Earlier, two senators and a vice-speaker of the Czech parliament had sent a letter demanding the release of Klimov and Koudinov. The total number of European Parliament members who have taken part in this campaign is approaching 800. (Charter 97, March 31)

UNPLEASENT SURPRISE FOR LUKASHENKO

The football match between Belarus and Switzerland which took place on March 27 in Minsk, ended in mass detentions of football fans who had come to the stadium with white-red-white flags forbidden by the Belarusian authorities. A few dozen young people across the stadium attempted to shout: "Long Live Belarus!" The police responded swiftly and harshly, since President Lukashenko was present at the stadium. Some of the detained fans were released just beyond the stadium, others were taken to police station first and then released. (Charter 97, March 29)

FLOODS CARRY CHERNOBYL CONTAMINANTS

Flood water, contaminated by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear explosion, and now affecting many parts of Belarus, may pollute rivers flowing into the Baltic and Black seas, President Lukashenko warned on March 26. The water will carry radioactive particles and cause them to "migrate" to "Ukraine, the Black Sea, Turkey and beyond," he said. About 200 towns and villages in 28 regions of Belarus are affected by the floods. (ITAR-TASS, March 26)

BELARUS SUSPENDS COOPERATION WITH NATO, SENDS AID TO BELGRADE

Belarus has suspended all contacts with NATO in reaction to the alliance's air strikes against Yugoslavia and will send humanitarian aid to the Balkan country. Nikolai Borisevich, Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman, told Interfax that Minsk has recalled its permanent mission from the NATO headquarters in Brussels and will suspend its participation in the NATO-led Partnership for Peace program. Belarus has also stopped bilateral military negotiations with the United States and other alliance members. Borisevich said Belarus will supply Yugoslavia with humanitarian aid from its state reserves as well as encourage public organizations and private individuals to donate goods. Borisevich said the country will not, however, offer Yugoslavia any military assistance. (Interfax, April 1)

BELARUS AND RUSSIA TO COORDINATE AID TO YUGOSLAVIA

On March 30, Boris Yeltsin and Alexander Lukashenko agreed to coordinate aid to Yugoslavia, the Belarusian president’s press service reported. "In a telephone conversation the sides agreed to coordinate activity with regard to providing the necessary aid to Yugoslavia and the victims of the NATO missile and bomb strikes," the statement said. Yeltsin and Lukashenko also reviewed progress on closer integration between their countries. (Reuters, March 31)

RUSSIA’S MOVE TO END STRIKES LOSES; MARGIN IS A SURPRISE

In a victory for the United States and NATO on March 26, the Security Council rejected, 12-3, a Russian resolution demanding an immediate end to NATO's air attacks on Yugoslavia. Voting in favor of the measure were two of its sponsors, Russia and China, and Namibia. While the resolution was almost certain to be defeated, the scale of Russia's defeat surprised many diplomats and was described by several as politically significant. Sergey Lavrov, the Russian representative, refused to acknowledge the defeat. In his speech seeking support for the resolution, which was also sponsored by India and Belarus, Lavrov argued that the military action was a "flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter" because it disregarded Yugoslavia's sovereignty. Peter Burleigh, the American representative, said the allegation that the military action violated the UN Charter "turns the truth on its head." (NYT, March 27)

RUSSIA-BELARUS UNION TREATY: ANOTHER PLEDGE OF ETERNAL FRIENDSHIP?

The Treaty on the Foundation of the Union of Sovereign Republics (USR) has been prepared for the consideration of the Parliamentary Assembly of Russia and Belarus. It establishes a joint bicameral parliament and a government of the Union. However, instead of a President of the Union, the collective leadership will be carried out by the Supreme Council, composed of the presidents, the heads of the parliaments and the heads of the governments of two parties. The decisions of the Supreme Council are to be made on the principle of "one state-one vote." The Treaty basically repeats the Union Treaty that was prepared for signing in 1997 but was scrapped at the last minute by Yeltsin. There was no immediate comment from the Russian side concerning its willingness to sign the Treaty in the present version. (Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta, April 2).

--INTERNATIONAL NEWS--

UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CONTINUES DEBATE ON DEVELOPMENT

On April 1, several developing countries requested increases in development aid, more extensive relief for debt-burdened nations, and stronger emphasis on development issues by the international community. Stanislav Ogourtsov, a Belarusian diplomat who was reportedly fired by Lukashenko last year but has somehow managed to remain in Geneva, said that Belarus has paid "much attention to the implementation of the concept of development: it was considered as part of a comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process directed at the constant improvement of the well-being of the whole society and of each person." (M2 Press-Wire, April 1)

A FORMER BELARUSIAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN WWII WAR-CRIMES TRIAL

On April 1, Belarus-born Anthony Sawoniuk, 78, was sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of murdering two Jewish women during the German occupation of Belarus in 1942. The judge at London’s Old Bailey court commented that the former British Rail worker from southeast London had been convicted on "clear evidence". The jury of eight men and three women unanimously found Sawoniuk guilty of killing an unnamed Jewish woman during an incident in which three Jews were shot in the back of the head and pushed into an open grave. He was also found guilty by a majority verdict of 10-1 under a second charge of murdering an unknown Jewish woman, also in his home town of Domachevo, Belarus. The defendant had pleaded not guilty to the murder of two Jewish women during the Nazi occupation of Belarus, when he served as a policeman. The murder charges against Sawoniuk are only the second of their kind in British legal history and the first to come to trial. (AFP, April 1)