Vol. 2, No. 23

June 1999

IN THIS ISSUE:

-- STAMPEDE TRAGEDY --

SURVIVORS TALK

More than 50 people, mainly teenage girls, were trampled to death in a stampede at a festival in Minsk. At least 1,000 drunken revelers out of a 2,500-strong crowd tried to take refuge in a nearby metro station on the evening of May 30 as a torrential hailstorm suddenly set in. It is thought that the tragedy began as girls in high-heeled shoes fell on the slippery marble steps into the Nemiga metro station while the crowd behind them pushed to get in.

"People kept arriving until there was almost no space and then the whole mess started. There was no escape. The people surging in from behind just left the others lying and walked over them," one of the survivors told Russian television.

"About 300 people were lying here, one layer on top of another," a policeman told President Lukashenko, who visited the scene on May 31 to lay a bouquet of red carnations on the stairs. "We were carrying out the top layer of people and they were still alive. Those in the bottom layer were either dead or injured." Two policemen were caught in the crush and also died as they tried to rescue those who had fallen. Another officer was badly hurt and is in the hospital. Police brought victims to hospitals, while the dead were taken to the morgue.

"Within two hours the passage had been emptied and washed clean," said another witness of the stamped. "Distraught relatives crowded around the door of a local hospital, desperately calling out the names of their family members in an effort to find out if they were alive. Others anxiously scanned pictures of the dead posted outside the morgue." More than 150 people were taken to 10 hospitals in Minsk as doctors battled through the night to save the lives of the victims in the tragedy. Most of the victims suffered broken bones and multiple bruises. Nearly all of those who died suffocated under the pile of people lying on top of them. 60 ambulances were needed to evacuate survivors to four nearby hospitals.

As of June 3, 7-8 victims of the tragedy are still in critical condition. One girl had both legs amputated, some others had their ears and noses amputated. (The Daily Telegraph, June 1; Charter 97, June 3)

OFFICIAL DEATH TOLL INCORRECT?

The official number of people killed on May 30 varies from eye-witness reports. According to the authorities, 52 people died in that incident. However, a women told RFE/RL that she did not find the names of her two friends on the official list of those who died. She also claimed to have seen a dead 10-year-old boy in the metro passageway who was not included on the official list. (RFE/RL, June 4)

THE NUMBER OF INJURED RISES

There is a growing number of people who have requested medical assistance in connection with the May 30 stampede. On June 2, according to the Ministry of Health, there were 107 persons in hospitals, including 12 in intensive care. Physicians explain that the number of injuries reported is growing since many people, having overcome the initial shock of the incident, realized that they were in need of medical assistance. By the same token, the declared government compensation to the injured (35 mln rubles or about US$70) may partially explain the growing number of people seeking assistance. (Belaruskaya Delovaya Gazeta (BDG), June 4 )

MEMORIAL SIGN WILL BE MOUNTED

Lukashenko ordered that a memorial sign be mounted to commemorate the stampede victims. The Movement for Christian and Spiritual Revival also came up with an initiative to build an Orthodox chapel near the scene of the tragedy. (Radio 101.2, June 3)

COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE TRAGEDY SET UP

On May 31, Lukashenko set up a special government commission headed by Prime Minister Sergei Ling to investigate the tragedy. The commission includes Mikhail Myasnikovich, head of the Presidential Administration, Victor Sheiman, secretary of the Security Council, Yury Sivakov, minister of Internal Affairs, Vladimir Yermoshin, mayor of Minsk, representatives of law enforcement agencies and the Ministry of Health. Prosecutor-General Oleg Bozhelko is charged with the implementation of the commission's resolutions. (Belapan, June 1)

BHC: INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION REQUIRED

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) urged authorities to include independent public observers into the special commission established by the government to investigate the tragedy. If this does not happen, the Committee will proceed, autonomously or in cooperation with other NGOs, with an independent investigation. BHC leaders are concerned that officials explained the tragedy as "an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances." (Radio 101.2, June 3)

TRADE UNIONS DEMAND RESIGNATION OF OFFICIALS

On June 1, the Trade Union of Workers of Automobile and Agricultural Equipment Industry, the largest industrial trade union in Belarus, issued a statement blaming the incident on the government. The leaders of the trade union believe that Yury Sivakov, Victor Sheiman, and Vladimir Yermoshin should resign because of their failure to ensure people's safety during the festival. The statement says that the commission investigating the accident should include independent experts and representatives of NGOs. (Belapan, June 2)

LUKASHENKO TURNS DOWN MINSK MAYOR'S RESIGNATION REQUEST

On June 2, Lukashenko turned down Vladimir Yermoshin’s petition for resignation. The Mayor had wished to take responsibility for the tragic stampede. (BBC, June 4)

… BLAMING DEMOCRACY

Lukashenko blamed the tragedy not on poor crowd control or ill luck but on democracy. "Why did it happen? It is all because of our recklessness," he said. "We treat all this democracy too freely - go where you want, do what you please. Tragedies happen when there is no order." Some independent journalists suggested that the incident will be used by the authorities to further restrict the freedom of assembly. (The Independent, June 3)

HOSTAGES OF POOR MANAGEMENT

"Could this absurd tragedy have been prevented? Yes. Provided municipal authorities and city police kept to the norms and rules, which are in wide use not only in western countries but also among our eastern neighbors. During mass actions, municipal services are obliged to block the traffic flow, put police cordons all around the site and get medical personnel and firefighters ready. None of these measures were undertaken. Belarusian policemen are taught how to break up demonstrations instead of ensuring that they proceed peacefully. All of us have became hostages of poor management," Nikolai Khalezin wrote in the independent newspaper Naviny. (Charter 97, June 3)

-- HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION NEWS --

US AMBASSADOR TO OSCE CONCERNED ABOUT DEMOCRACY

On June 3, in a statement to the Permanent Council of the OSCE, U.S. Amb. David Johnson expressed the United States' condolences on the deaths of more than 50 people at a rock concert and beer festival in Belarus. He also used the occasion to express concern over "the continued detention, fully nine weeks after his arrest on trumped-up charges of embezzlement, of Belarusian opposition presidential candidate Mikhail Chigir." Ambassador Johnson's message follows:

"Mr. Chairman. First, we would like to extend our sincere condolences to the people of Belarus, following the tragic loss earlier this week in Minsk of 54 lives -- mostly young people. We all hope that such tragic, inexplicable events never occur. Our sympathies go to the many bereaved families.

Second, I would like to return to another disturbing occurrence, one I have raised before -- the continued detention, fully nine weeks after his arrest on trumped-up charges of embezzlement - of Belarusian opposition presidential candidate Mikhail Chigir.

We, and others -- including yourself -- have repeatedly called upon Belarus to end Mr. Chigir's detention. We will continue to do so, Mr. Chairman, until Mr. Chigir is released, and until the practice of keeping in detention and out of sight those who would oppose the present

government will be discontinued. The United States will continue to give strong support to the ideals of democracy and human rights in Belarus, and will continue to urge Belarus to return on the path of democratic development it entered upon gaining its independence. (Belapan, June 3)

FORMER BELARUSIAN PREMIER TO REMAIN IN JAIL

On June 2, the Minsk District Court rejected Julia Chigir’s appeal that her husband be released from jail. The court explained its refusal by saying that if released, Mikhail Chigir might flee Belarus in order to avoid investigation. (Belapan, June 3)

AI CALLS ON LUKASHENKO TO STOP HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

On May 28, Amnesty International adopted a statement on the human rights situation in Belarus.

"A further round up of opposition party members in Belarus in the past two weeks shows yet again the government’s intolerance of those who dare to speak out against it. We have repeatedly raised our concerns about the treatment of the country’s opposition by the authorities. However, we are not aware of any steps taken by the government or the Belarusian President to stop the arrests of members of the opposition who choose to peacefully oppose the government," reads the statement.

Amnesty International has called on Lukashenko to allow citizens to peacefully exercise the right to freedom of expression without the fear of being arrested or ill-treated by law enforcement agencies. The human rights organization has also urged Lukashenko to recognize that torture and ill-treatment are strictly prohibited under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Belarus is a party. (M2 Communications, May 28)

NORTH ATLANTIC PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY ON BELARUS

On May 31 the Standing Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Warsaw adopted a declaration on Belarus. The full text of the declaration follows:

"Sharing the opinion that the 1994 Constitution is the legitimate supreme law of Belarus and the 13^th Supreme Council, which was elected according to this Constitution, is the only legitimate legislative body of the country;

"Regretting that the situation with human rights has deteriorated during Lukashenko's presidency, and as a result Belarus is among countries which are rude violators of human rights in the world;

"Condemning restrictions of freedom of the press and constant threats to non-state newspapers as well as lack of access of the opposition to the state-controlled mass media;

"Taking into consideration attempts of international organizations (OSCE, Council of Europe) directed at getting Belarus out of deep constitutional political and economic crisis, the North Atlantic Assembly:

"Urges President Lukashenko and his government to restore democracy and to ensure human rights and freedom of mass media;

"States that on July 20, 1999, the term of office of President Lukashenko expires and after that date he cannot be considered a democratically elected head of state;

"Urges the countries of the North Atlantic Assembly to use every opportunity to influence Belarusian authorities to make them observe Belarus’s commitments in the sphere of human rights and to return to the legally supported constitution;

"Insists on the immediate release of Mikhail Chigir, a Belarusian opposition leader, as well as of other political prisoners. (Charter 97, June 2)

BHC: POLITICAL PRISONERS TORTURED

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee has sent a letter to the UN Committee on Torture describing the treatment of Vasily Starovoitov, ex-chairman of the Rassvet collective farm, Vasily Leonov, ex-Minister of Agriculture, Vasily Hilko, ex-head of Sberbank, and Tamara Vinikova, ex-chair of the National Bank who disappeared from her apartment on April 8, as torture by international standards. "Law-enforcement and judicial agencies are guided by political motives, acting under the direct pressure of the head of state; they do not comply with the law in their treatment of prisoners. Detention turns into an instrument of pressure on defendants," reads BHC’s letter. (Belaruskaya gazeta, June 1)

SHOW TRIAL

Vera Stremkovskaya, Starovoitov's lawyer, is sure that the trial of her client, who is considered by many to be a political prisoner of Lukashenko’s regime, was a "show trial." She has already appealed the court’s decision [2 years imprisonment plus the confiscation of property] to the Mogilev Regional court. In the opinion of Judge Nadezhda Chmara, there was no political intrigue behind the case. "Some people wanted to stick a political lining into this case," Chmara said. Some participants in the trial believe that the authorities will try to convince Starovoitov to appeal to Lukashenko for pardon. (Belapan, May 31)

NINE CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST CHIGIR

Nine criminal charges have been launched against former Prime Minister Mikhail Chigir, all of them concerning unreturned loans to Belagraprambank, a commercial bank once headed by Chigir. This was reported by Leonid Gluchovski, chairman of the Investigative Committee of Ministry of Interior. Gluchovski denied any political motivation in the charges, arguing that the campaign of returning the unpaid loans started long before Chigir's arrest, and was initiated by bankers themselves. He also reported that as many as 415 criminal investigations have been launched in connection with unpaid loans. Forty people have already been arrested. "We will continue this work," Gluchovski declared. (BDG, June 4)

ARREST OF EDUARD EIDIN

Belarus authorities have detained Eduard Eidin, president of Independent Consulting Group, an official from an agency which deals with financial crimes said on Friday. "Eidin is in custody," said the official at the government's Financial Investigations Committee (FIC). He is accused of the unlicensed trade of MAZ trucks that cost the treasury 125 billion rubles, or about US$250,000. Eidin masterminded Belarus's "socially-oriented economy" which maps out its development until 2010. He also authored plans of mutual debt cancellations between Russian and Belarusian producers and of replenishing the Belarusian hard currency reserves. He is also responsible for coining the term 'market socialism', widely used by Lukashenko. His activities were carried out under the patronage of the National Security Council, so that even the Prime Minister was unaware of the many plans and projects undertaken by Eidin. His arrest may be a sign of the weakening position of Viktor Sheiman, chairman of the National Security Council, who is regarded as the second most influential person in the government. (Reuters, BDG, June 4).

YOUNG OPPOSITION ACTIVIST’S TRIAL CONTINUES

A Minsk district court continues hearing the case of Evgeny Skochko, deputy chairman of the Youth Front. He is charged under article 186, paragraph 3 of the Belarusian Criminal Code [organization or active participation in mass actions violating the public order] for organizing and coordinating the unauthorized rally "Belarus to Europe!" held on February 14 in Minsk. Skochko has already been sentenced to administrative detention for the same violation. However, after he had spent 10 days in jail, more criminal charges were brought against him. Since the hearings began on May 20, about 20 witnesses have been questioned. Their testimony pictured a peaceful action without any serious violations of public order. (Radio 101.2, June 1)

BPF LEADERS ASSESS POSITION AFTER PRESIDENTIAL POLL

On May 31, the Soim (Council) of the Belarusian Popular Front held a session in Minsk to discuss the situation inside the movement after the opposition presidential election. It was announced that the OSCE AMG in Belarus had invited Lyavon Barshchewski, acting BPF Chairman, to take part in the OSCE hearing on Belarus, which will soon be held in Bucharest with the participation of the government and the opposition. The Soim decided to accept the invitation.

In his address to the Soim, BPF Chairman Zyanon Paznyak, suggested that the BPF should take part in another presidential election, which the opposition Central Electoral Commission (CEC), plans to hold this summer, but only if Victor Gonchar, the currect chairman of the opposition CEC, resigns. Paznyak also called on the BPF leadership to revive the campaign promoting Belarusian Popular Republic citizenship and to proceed with creating a "public parliament" which would adopt an electoral law providing for majority and proportional representation, set up a new CEC, hold parliamentary elections under the new law and the 1994 constitution and form a new cabinet. (Belapan, May 31)

POWER CUT OFF AT BPF OFFICE IN MINSK

On June 1, the local Minsk electric department cut off electricity to the headquarters of the Belarusian Popular Front "for the failure to pay their electricity bill." These allegations were dismissed by BPF spokesman Valery Buyval, who insisted that "payments were made regularly…This has been done by authorities in response to our initiative to set up an independent commission to investigate the stampede tragedy as we are confident that the current officials are responsible for it," Buyval suggested. He also reiterated that power was first cut off on the eve of the opposition presidential campaign. "It has become a common practice to harass the opposition by cutting off their utilities," he added. (Belapan, June 2)

KGB INTERROGATES KOSTKO

Valery Kostko, head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee’s Minsk branch, was questioned by the KGB as a witness in a criminal case launched in connection with the publication by the opposition press about a government's plan to thwart the opposition's presidential election campaign. The plan provided for a number of measures to suppress the opposition under the guise of the fight against extremism. Earlier, the KGB questioned a correspondent of the Naviny newspaper on the same issue. (Belapan, June 3)

DEPUTY INTERROGATED, GOES UNDERGROUND

On June 1, Pavel Znavets, a deputy of the 13^th Supreme Soviet, was arrested at the site of the stampede tragedy, where he and Alexei Shidlovsky, a correspondent of the independent newspaper Naviny, arrived to lay flowers. After the deputy put down the bouquet, two young men came over from the stairs where they had been sitting among other adolescent mourners, gripped his hands tight, and dragged him to a nearby police vehicle. The next day, Znavets called his wife to say that he had been interrogated as part of a criminal case against him and that he was released after giving written consent not to leave the country until the trial. Reportedly, he has ignored his pledge and fled to avoid politically motivated charges. (Charter 97, June 3)

"RE-REGISTRATION’S AIM IS TO REGISTER OPPOSITION MEMBERS"

Narodnaya Hramada, the Belarusian Social Democratic Party, will go through the re-registration procedure, as required by Lukashenko’s decree. The party’s Central Committee issued a statement saying that the decree "aims to reveal members of opposition political parties and crack down on political opposition in the country." At the same time, Belarusian social democrats believe that they would lose the possibility to engage in legal political work if they refuse to re-register. According to Sergei Inazemtsov, the chairman of the National Council of Youth organizations, only one out of thirty-three Council member organizations had been re-registered as of June 1. (Radio 101.2, June1, BDG, June 4).

BELARUSIAN WOMEN HOLD FIRST FORUM

From June 3 to June 5, the first forum of Belarusian women took place in Belarus. The Belarusian Women’s Foundation of Saint Efrosiniay of Polotsk, in cooperation with the Kiev branch of the International Association of Independent Environmentalists and the Belarusian branch of USIS, organized the event. Representatives of various women's associations from Belarus, Britain, Italy, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, US and Ukraine discussed Belarus' future, Chernobyl-related issues, environmental law, and the rights and status of women in Belarus. (Belapan, June 3)

JEWISH GRAVE VANDALIZED IN BREST

A monument to the Second World War victims of a Jewish ghetto was vandalized in Brest. Unidentified individuals painted a nazi swastika on the monument with chalk. Arkady Blyakher, director of the Holocaust Educational Center, suggested that teenagers are the most likely suspects. Police visited the scene and recorded an act of vandalism. (Radio 101.2, June 2)

HUMAN RIGHTS FILM WINS PRAGUE FESTIVAL

The documentary film 'Fear', which describes human rights abuses in Belarus, won the grand prize at the 'One World' film festival in Prague. The film-makers, Leonid Mindlin and Vladimir Andronov, also participated in another famous documentary, 'Ordinary President.’ (BDG, June 4)

MILITARY SERFDOM APPROVED

The Belarusian House of Representatives ratified a decree by President Lukasheko which bans early retirement for military officers before reaching the 'limit age' (normally 45 years of age). The decree was issued in an attempt to stop the wave of retirement from the chronically underpaid Belarusian army. Average wages of company commanders do not exceed US$40 per month. (BDG, June 4).

--BELARUSIAN ECONOMY--

STUCK IN A SWAMP

According to data released by the Belarusian Ministry of Statistics and Analysis, people's real income dropped by 14 percent in the first quarter of 1999, compared with the same period last year. Monthly wages fell by 13.3 percent and pensions by 28 percent The average Belarusian now earns the equivalent of US$33, while pensioners struggle to survive on US$12 to US$14. Lukashenko recently scolded the government for what he called "rocketing prices" and urged it to regain control over the situation, which he characterized as a "swamp." (RFE/RL, June 1)

GRAIN SHORTAGES IMMINENT

Belarus is facing poor grain and forage harvests, an agriculture ministry official said on Thursday. Vyacheslav Gerasimovich, deputy head of the ministry's plant-growing department, told Reuters that Belarus was unlikely to boost forage crop output to 8.2 million tons (up from last year's 7.1 million tons), which the government had earlier forecast. Forage crops are vital for cattle-breeding. The number of cattle has fallen to 4.1 million from 4.3 million in the same period last year. Grain output is also likely to be low this year. Belarus, which had a disastrous crop of 5.9 million tons of grain last year, is likely to harvest only 6.3 million tons this year, way below initial forecasts of 7.3 million tons. (Reuters, June 3)

--BROTHER SLAVS--

STEPASHIN IN MINSK…

Russian Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin arrived in the Belarussian capital on Friday, June 4, to attend the meeting of the council of heads of government of the CIS. Stepashin refused to answer reporters’ questions about the Balkan crisis, saying that he was now in Belarus. He gave most attention to the coming meeting of the council of heads of government. (Itar-Tass, June 4)

…PLEDGING SUPPORT FOR RUSSIA-BELARUS UNION

Stepashin stated on Friday that the government will make all efforts to prepare a draft of a comprehensive treaty with Belarus in the shortest possible time. Commenting on Russian-Belarusian relations, he emphasized that the new government he heads will fulfil all the earlier bilateral accords. The two countries intend to settle, within a month, all their differences in the fuel and energy sector and pricing, according to Stepashin. (Itar-Tass, June 4)

LUKASHENKO OPTIMISTIC ON UNION…

Lukashenko told reporters that Minsk has no problems regarding the prospects of preparing the comprehensive union treaty. He expressed hope that Russia will have no problems on this account either. (Itar Tass June 4)

WHILE ECONOMIC AGREEMENTS FALTER

Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko expressed perplexity that a common approach to the creation of a free trade zone was not reached during a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Minsk on Friday. He said this when receiving Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. Lukashenko expressed the hope that the problem will be settled during the meeting of the Council of the CIS heads of state opening on Saturday. Ivanov, going along with the Belarussian president, said the difficulties will most probably be overcome by heads of state. (Itar-Tass, June 4)

UKRAINE TO JOIN THE GANG?

The problems of integration of Belarus, Russia, and the Ukraine are to be discussed at the first interparliamentary conference of the three countries in Chernigov on June 11. This will be the first such meeting involving Ukraine. It is planned to subsequently hold such meetings on a regular basis, an official in the Federation Council Committee on CIS Affairs told Itar-Tass. Delegations at the conference will be headed by the heads of national legislatures, among them Speakers Yegor Stroyev of the Federation Council and Gennady Seleznyov of the State Duma. A Yugoslav Federal Assembly delegation has been also invited to attend the conference. The conference will work in panels dealing with economic cooperation and the drawing of the respective national legislations closer together. Participants in the third panel are to discuss the results of the formation of the Russia-Belarus Union and to reveal the possibility of the Ukraine's accession to the union in the economic sphere. (Itar-Tass, June 4)