On June 11, Sergei Solodkevich, a 19-year-old college student, died of injuries he received in the May 30 stampede. As of June 14, 66 people who suffered injuries as a result of the stampede still remain in hospitals. One of them is in critical condition. (Charter 97, June 14)

VASIL' BYKAU TURNS 75

On June 19, the Belarusian writer Vasil' Bykau will celebrate his 75th birthday. About six months ago, Bykau moved to Finland as a result of the unfavorable political situation in Belarus. He currently lives in Helsinki.

AUTHORITIES REJECT DIALOGUE WITH OPPOSITION

From June 11 to June 13, twenty representatives of the Belarusian opposition took part in a high level diplomatic conference held in Bucharest under the auspices of the OSCE. "The participants were gathered by the parliamentary and executive branches of the OSCE to investigate common ground for free and fair elections that all political forces in Belarus could participate in and which all could subsequently recognize," reads the statement issued by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on June 14.

Adrian Severin, head of the Working Group of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and Hans-Georg Wieck, head of the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group (AMG) in Belarus, Spencer Oliver, Secretary General of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and Wolfgang Berhendt, rapporteur of the Political Committee of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, and other Western politicians participated in the talks.

"We have started a discussion on finding a common denominator that could bring together a consensus for political participation in democratic elections. I believe this was a highly successful effort," said Adrian Severin.

However, the Belarusian authorities ignored the meeting, saying such negotiations should not be held abroad. Out of nine representatives of the government and the National Assembly invited to Bucharest, only France Vitko, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU), was present at the talks. Vitko stressed during the meeting that the BFTU could not be regarded as a governmental organization.

"The absence of representatives of the National Assembly, the Constitutional Court and the Central Commission for Elections and National Referenda showed the European community that there is no separation of powers in Belarus," Anatoly Lebedko, chairman of the the13^th Supreme Soviet's Committee on International Affairs and deputy chairman of the United Civic Party, told Belapan upon his return from Bucharest. "Neither the House of Representatives nor the Chair of the Constitutional Court, nor the Chair of the Central Commission for Elections and National Referenda are formally subordinate to the Presidential Administration. But their absence in Bucharest shows clearly that only one man, Lukashenko, makes decisions in Belarus," he added. (Belapan, June 14-16)

SUPREME COUNCIL CALLS UPON LUKASHENKO AND HIS GOVERNMENT TO QUIT

Deputies of the 13^th Supreme Soviet intend to call on President Lukashenko and his government to step down from their offices on July 20. Semyon Sharetsky, the speaker of the 13^th Supreme Soviet, called upon Belarusian citizens to disobey orders not only from Lukashenko but also from all officials appointed by him. According to the 1994 Constitution, their term in office expires on July 20 as well. Sharetsky denied rumors that he is in the process of forming an opposition cabinet, presumed to be headed by A. Lashkevich, a businessman and Communist. He said that no government except the current one is legitimate before July 20. (RFE/RL, June 21).

SHARETSKY TO FORM GOVERNMENT IN EXILE?

Meanwhile, rumors are circulating about Sharetsky’s intention to propose Viktor Gonchar as first deputy speaker at the June 23 session of the Supreme Soviet. This decision is likely to split the Supreme Soviet, as many deputies oppose this candidacy. The idea of establishing a government in exile headed by Sharetsky is also being discussed. According to the supposed plan, after Sharetsky becomes acting president on July 21, he forms a government in exile while political parties carry out opposition activities within Belarus. Most opposition leaders oppose the idea of a government in exile, arguing that "we already have experience in managing the opposition via fax" (referring to the leadership style of Zianon Paznyak, chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF), who emigrated from Belarus in 1996). (Belapan, June 21).

OPPOSITION PARTY FAVORS DIALOGUE WITH AUTHORITIES

On June 18, Stanislav Bogdankevich, chairman of the United Civic Party (UCP), said that the UCP would like to initiate a dialogue between the government and the opposition as soon as possible. "It is important for the authorities and the opposition to begin talks before July 20 regarding free and fair democratic presidential elections," Bogdankevich said. In his opinion, talks between the opposition and the government should produce an election law that would rule out any possibility of fraud. "People should have the opportunity to choose their leader in a free and fair election," he stressed. (Belapan, June 18)

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHES REPORT ON BELARUS

On June 17, Amnesty International (AI) published its Annual Report. The following are excerpts from the section on Belarus.

"Hundreds of peaceful demonstrators were detained, including prisoners of conscience. Many were beaten by police during their arrest and while in pre-trial detention. At least 84 people were reportedly under death sentence and 33 people were reportedly executed.

"President Lukashenko continued to exercise total control over most aspects of government. The main law enforcement bodies - the Committee for State Security (KGB) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) – were both answerable to the President.

"Political unrest, in the form of protests and demonstrations, increased during the year. Police responded with violence, forcibly breaking up peaceful opposition demonstrations.

"Military service remained compulsory. There are no provisions for conscientious objection in the Constitution.

"Human rights lawyers and advocates were persecuted by the authorities."

AI called for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience, including any demonstrators detained solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of assembly. It urged prompt and impartial investigations into allegations of ill-treatment and for anyone responsible to be brought to justice.

The organization called on the authorities to stop the apparent practice of censuring and silencing human rights lawyers by taking away their licenses, including the attempts to disbar Vera Stremkovskaya. AI called on the authorities to reinstate all human rights lawyers, including Nadezhda Dudareva and Gary Pogonyailo, who were disbarred solely because of their human rights activities.

HELSINKI FEDERATION REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN 1998

PUBLIC COMMITTEE IN SUPPORT OF MIKHAIL CHIGIR ESTABLISHED

On June 16, the Committee in Support of Former Prime Minister Mikhail Chigir, who has been detained since March 30, held its an organizing meeting in Minsk. Alexei Karol, vice-chairman of Narodnaya Hramada, the Belarusian social democratic party, was elected to be chairman of the committee. (Charter 97, June 16)

VLADIMIR NEKLYAEV DECIDES NOT TO RETURN TO BELARUS

Vladimir Neklyaev, chairman of the Belarusian Writers’ Union, currently visiting Warsaw, told journalists on June 20 that he is not going to return to Belarus. Neklyaev went to Warsaw to participate in an international seminar of writers. He said a friend had warned him the previous week about a possible provocation by the government. However, this was not the main reason for Neklyaev’s decision. He said that after five years he has finally understood that dialogue with President Lukashenko is impossible because people from the presidential team do not care about the fate of the Belarusian language, culture and literature. (Belarusian Association of Journalists, June 21)

POLICE "CLUELESS" ABOUT ZAKHARENKO'S DISAPPEARANCE

On June 14, Yury Sivakov, Minister of Internal Affairs, told reporters that the police "are doing everything possible" to find Yury Zakharenko, the former Minister of Internal Affairs and a prominent opponent of President Lukashenko, who disappeared on May 7. "The investigation into the disappearance is being carried out in line with all the procedures, but is progressing very slowly," the minister said. "It is impossible to find any clues into the disappearance. Today we have neither any evidence nor any witnesses that would allow us to work out a plan to search for him," Sivakov added. A month earlier, the Public Committee on Zakharenko’s Disappearance reported that it had found several people who had witnessed the kidnapping. (Belapan, June 14)

MINSK AUTHORITIES BAN ANTI-FASCIST MARCH

On June 15, the Minsk Executive Committee refused to authorize a march against war, fascism, and dictatorship, which Belarusian democratic parties planed to stage in Minsk on June 20. The Minsk City Executive Committee reportedly justified its refusal to authorize the demonstration as due to the "unstable moral and ethical situation in the city following the May 30 stampede tragedy, uncertain weather conditions, and the need to ensure the safety of the population and the normal functioning of public transportation." The Minsk authorities suggested that the march be postponed until July 11 and staged on Bangalore Square, far from the center of the city. This refusal constitutes more evidence that the May 30 tragedy in Minsk is being used by the authorities to further restrict the freedom of assembly. (Charter 97, June 16)

OPPOSITION WILL OPPOSE BAN IN COURT

On June 18, Anatoly Lebedko, deputy chairman of the United Civic Party, told Belapan that his party, together with the Belarusian Social Democratic Party and the Belarusian Popular Front, intend to file a complaint with the local court regarding the . (Belapan, June 18)

KLIMOV CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLEMENT AND LOAN EXTORTION…

On June 14, an indictment against Andrei Klimov, the jailed deputy of the 13^th Supreme Soviet, and eight other employees of his construction company, was submitted to the prosecutor’s office. Klimov is charged with grand larceny, known as large-scale embezzlement (Article 91, Paragraph 4 of the Belarusian Criminal Code), loan extortion (Article 150, Paragraph 2), procedural irregularities in conducting entrepreneurial activities (Article 151, Paragraph 2), and forgery (Article 171). Under Article 91, Klimov faces from 6 to 15 years imprisonment with confiscation of property. He continues to plead "not guilty" and has refused to participate in the investigation. Meanwhile, according to Tatiana Klimova, his wife, Col.Alexander Kuzhel, the former prosecutor on the case, revealed during a meeting with Hans Georg Wieck, head of the OSCE AMG, that the prosecution lacks any evidence of Klimov’s guilt. (Charter 97, June 15, Belaruskaya Delovaya Gazeta (BDG), June 21)

…WHILE HIS WIFE DENIED MEETING AGAIN

Tatiana Klimova was once again denied a meeting with her husband in jail. The investigator who is handling the Klimov case replied, in response to Klimova’s petition for a meeting, sent to Oleg Bozhelko, Prosecutor-General, that "he does not recommend bothering the prosecutor-general with this request." (BDG, June 21)

LOCAL BHC LEADER FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES

On June 17, the Gomel Central Court started hearing the case of Evgeny Murashko, chairman of the Gomel branch of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC). 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 the meeting of Victor Gonchar, chairman of the opposition Central Electoral Commission, with local voters last February. Murashko has already been sentenced to 10 days of administrative detention for participation in the opposition presidential elections. Now he faces up to 3 years imprisonment. (Charter 97, June 17)

LOCAL BPF LEADER FINED

On June 16, Vladimir Pleschenko, chairman of the Vitebsk branch of the Belarusian Popular Front, who had just been released after seven months in pre-trial detention, was fined 51 million BR (about $120) for his active political involvement in 1997-1998. If he fails to pay the fine, he faces 15 days in jail. "It will take me several years to pay off this exorbitant fine," commented Pleschenko. (Charter 97, June 17)

BNF TO HOLD CONVENTION JULY 31^st

The Sojm, or council of the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF) decided on June 20 to hold its convention on July 31^st, after Lukashenko’s term in office expires. The upcoming convention is going to be a tense one, as a struggle is expected between two factions, one led by BPF leader Zianon Paznyak and the other by BPF deputy Yury Khadyka. Khadyka publicly denounced Paznyak’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race in May, and called upon BPF members to disobey their leader’s orders and to continue with the presidential campaign. Since then, Paznyak has called for Khadyka’s removal from the BPF leadership and suggested establishing a de-facto one-man rule in the party. The board of the BPF appears to be deeply divided between the two factions. (RFE/RL, June 21)

UNITED CIVIC PARTY STAGES CITIZEN DAY IN VITEBSK

On June 13, the Vitebsk branch of the United Civic Party organized Citizens’ Day. The participants passed out a new issue of the party’s newspaper The Citizen, other printed materials, and UCP badges. Festivities were supported by a local folk-rock band. (Charter 97, June 15)

SOCCER FANS ARRESTED FOR CARRYING NATIONAL FLAGS

A few soccer fans were arrested by police for carrying white-red-white flags to a game held on June 17 in Lida. Following the game against Molodechno, a small orchestra composed of musical students marched along the streets of Lida. Numerous fans with national flags joined the procession. After a short while, the crowd was stopped by policemen, who tried to forcibly disperse it. Some people, including a leader of the "Youth Front," were taken to police stations. After reports were filed on them, the detainees were released. (Charter97, June 18)

LANGUAGE SOCIETY CONCERNED

The Belarusian Language Society (BLS) has sent an open letter to Sergei Ling, Belarusian Prime Minister, to express its concern about the status of the Belarusian language in the country. "The government has paid little attention to the development of the Belarusian language in the past few years. The Belarusian language has been a target of humiliation and elimination under the guise of the consolidation of the nation. Pupils studying in classes with instruction in Belarusian have been transferred to classes with instruction in Russian and people speaking Belarusian are subject to discrimination," reads the letter. The BLS asked Ling to report on the destiny of the government's 1991 language development program. (Belapan, June 18)

NINE BELARUSIAN NGOs DENIED RE-REGISTRATION

As of June 16, 390 out of 2,554 NGOs registered with the Belarusian Ministry of Justice, have applied for re-registration, Elena Korotkova, deputy head of the Directorate of Public Organizations and Associations of the Belarusian Ministry of Justice, told Belapan. 179 NGOs have already been re-registered, and nine have been denied re-registration. Some were advised to re-register as economic entities or religious organizations; others were told to re-register at the regional level instead of the national level. As the majority of NGOs have not yet applied for re-registration, the deadline has been extended to July 1. Those groups which fail to apply before July 1 will be subject to liquidation after July 15. (Belapan, June 16)

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE RE-REGISTERS LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY

The Belarusian Ministry of Justice has re-registered the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus. The LDPB is the first large party to make it through the re-registration procedure. The LDPB has issued a statement saying that the party's strategic priority is to come to power through free and fair elections monitored by the OSCE, the European Parliament, and other international organizations. (Belapan, June 14)

BELARUSIAN PEASANTS’ PARTY REFUSES TO RE-REGISTER

The Belarusian Peasants Party (BPP) has refused to apply for re-registration. BPP leader Mikhail Antonenko believes that Lukashenko’s decree violates Article 101, Paragraph 2 of the Belarusian Constitution. (Charter 97, June 15)

42% OF MINSK RESIDENTS THINK LUKASHENKO’S TERM EXPIRES IN 2001

During a public opinion survey conducted by the Zerkalo polling service run by the Belapan news agency from June 10 to June 13, Minsk residents were asked to respond to the question "When do you think Lukashenko’s office term expires?" Forty-two percent of the respondents said that it expires in 2001, 38 percent said it expires in 1999, and 19 percent failed to respond. When asked to answer the question "Whom would you vote for if presidential elections in Belarus were held today?" 23 percent of respondents said that they would give their votes to Lukashenko. (Radio 101.2, June17)

BELARUSIANS FEAR ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS, CRIMINALITY, NATO
In the same Minsk poll, 44 percent of the respondents said they are afraid of being unable to buy food and necessities because of price hikes. Thirty percent are afraid of becoming a victim of criminal activities, while 26 percent fear a "NATO intervention in Belarus' affairs and the repetition of what is taking place in Yugoslavia." (RFE/RL, June 17).

WORLD BANK RESTORES TIES WITH BELARUS
Paul Siegelbaum, director of the World Bank's department for Ukraine and Belarus, said on June 18 that the bank will re-establish a permanent representative in Belarus after an absence of some 10 months. On June 21, Sergei Kulyk, a Ukrainian national and career diplomat, assumed the position discontinued by the World Bank last September in protest against Belarus's refusal to speed up privatization, remove price controls, and introduce a single exchange rate. "Belarus is a place where it is possible to make many unusual decisions," Kulyk said in Minsk on 18 June. Meanwhile, restoration of ties does not mean automatic extension of World Bank loans to Belarus. According to Paul Siegelbaum, the head of World Bank department on Belarus and Ukraine, the bank appointed its representative in order to continue dialogue and to try to persuade the Belarusian authorities of the necessity to engage in market reforms. Siegelbaum confirmed that the Bank is not ready to extend loans to Belarus in the foreseeable future. (RFE/RL, BDG, June 21).

PARLIAMENT INCREASES PENALTIES FOR OBSTRUCTION OF "JUSTICE"

On June 15, the House of Representatives of the Belarusian National Assembly passed amendments to the Administrative Offenses Code which increase the liability of both individuals and officials for obstructing KGB investigations. The new amendment, Art. 166, par. 13 sets out charges for not allowing KGB officers to enter the premises of a [legal] entity, or not informing the KGB about violations relating to state security. Officials failing to comply with these provisions may be fined up to 30 times the minimum wage and individuals up to 10 times the minimum wage. The article also sets out the liability of officials for failing to allow audits to be conducted, as well as for the unjustified refusal to provide information, including access to information systems and data bases. These actions may be subject to fines of 10 to 30 times the minimum wage. The bill also restricted penalties for illegally entering facilities guarded by the KGB. (Belapan, June 16)

BELARUS TO MODERNIZE DEFENSE CAPABILITY

Assisted by Russia, Belarus is urgently modernizing its anti-aircraft defense capability. Victor Sheiman, secretary of the Belarusian Security Council, declared that before 2001, the military might of the country will be doubled. There is no doubt that the decision was prompted by events in Yugoslavia, where the local anti-aircraft defense could not adequately cope with the NATO air raids. (BDG, June 14)

LUKASHENKO MEETS WITH BRITISH AMBASSADOR

At diplomatic meeting in Minsk on June 18, President Lukashenko urged the new British ambassador Jan Kelly to avoid repeating the mistakes of other EU ambassadors, who, as the President noted, kept strong contacts with representatives of opposition parties. He emphasized that an ambassador has to be a true and objective channel of information to its own leadership of the situation in the country he is involved in. "Provided an ambassador indulges in no political gambling he can do a lot." noted Lukashenko. (Charter 97, June 19)

CONSUMER PRICES DOUBLED IN MAY

According to the Belarusian Ministry for Statistics and Analysis, consumer prices in the country rose by 100 percent in May compared to May 1998 with the corresponding monthly wage decreasing. The most difficult situation arose in the Brest region. The average April wage there was 11.2million BR (about $26), while farmers there generally make about 6 million BR (about $14). (BBC, June 18)

FEAST IN THE TIME OF PLAGUE

Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta reported on large-scale preparations for Dazhynki, the annual harvest festival, to be carried out in September in President Lukashenko’s hometown of Shklou. The list of new construction sites and renovations includes a new bridge, shopping centers, a hotel, school, public bath, casino, and replacement of the asphalt surface of the main street with brick pavement. The total cost for these preparations is estimated at close to the annual budget of a regional center (such as Vitebsk or Mogilev). Meanwhile, the performance of the collectivized agricultural sector leaves little cause for celebration: thus far, the actual procurement of animal feed stands at 23% of planned targets, the livestock of cattle has decreased, and the grain harvest is expected to be well below the 5 million tons planned. (BDG, June 21)

LUKASHENKO TO MAKE WEST BUY BELARUSIAN PRODUCTS
During his visit to the Khimvalakno Chemical Fibers Plant in Mogilev on 17 June, President Lukashenko stressed that his country's main problem is finding ways to sell its products abroad. "The main thing is to sell, because we have a fight going on today," Belarusian Television quoted him as saying. He noted that Russia had opened its borders and could now buy its fibers from countries other than Belarus. President Lukashenka added that Belarus can make the West buy Belarusian products. "If they do not buy our goods, we will keep them out [of Belarus]," he said. At the same time, he pledged to "sort things out" with Poland, Germany, and Turkey, and to "react appropriately" to the anti-dumping taxes imposed by these countries on Belarusian goods, including chemical fibers. (RFE/RL, June 18)

--BROTHER SLAVS--

LUKASHENKO REITERATES OFFER TO YELTSIN TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA-BELARUS

President Lukashenko confirmed that his offer to Boris Yeltsin to take over the presidency of the Russia-Belarus Union remains in force. He mentioned this to journalists during a working tour around the Mogilev region on June 17. (Interfax, June 17).

LUKASHENKO CONSOLES MILOSEVIC

On June 17, during a working trip to Mogilev region, Lukashenko said that Russia should have deployed more troops in Kosovo. "They should have brought a contingent [of troops into Kosovo] simultaneously. There have been no final decisions there. The bandits have not been disarmed," the Belarusian leader said. "Today the humanitarian catastrophe which NATO talked about so much in regard to the Albanians has enveloped the Serbs. Half a million Serbs, who were forced out of Bosnia, Herzegovina and other countries as a result of the first war are a heavy burden for Serbia. This is a real catastrophe. That is why my attitude to the peace plan proposed by NATO is extremely negative," Lukashenko added. The Belarusian president also said that he felt sorry for Milosevic because the Yugoslav president "had no alternatives." (Belapan, June 18)

BELARUSIAN EMBASSY KNEW ABOUT RUSSIAN MOVE INTO KOSOVO

Personnel of the Belarusian embassy in Belgrade learned of the plans of the Russian airborne forces to invade Kosovo a day before it happened. This was made evident following a June 16 phone conversation between Interfax and Vladimir Chuschev, counselor of the head of the diplomatic mission to Yugoslavia. Chuschev added that "such things are not kept secret from everybody." (Charter97, June 17)

LUKASHENKO APPROVES OUTCOME OF ECONOMIC FORUM

During his meeting with Prime Minister Sergei Ling, President Lukashenko approved of the results of the work of the Belarusian delegation at the Third St. Petersburg Economic Forum. The Belarusian President called for maximum use of the potential of such forums for expanding business relations, distributing objective information about the situation in the country and protecting the economic interests of Belarus. Mr. Ling also briefed the President on the results of his meetings with Michel Camdessus, IMF Executive Director, Sergei Stepashin, the Russian Prime Minister, and Vladimir Yakovlev, the Governor of St. Petersburg. In August, Yakovlev is expected to visit Minsk to sign an agreement on economic cooperation between Belarus and St. Petersburg. (Radio 101.2, June 21)

BELARUS DEFMIN GROUP TO TAKE PART IN RUSSIA'S EXERCISES.

In accordance with the plan for bilateral cooperation between the Defense Ministries of Belarus and Russia, an operational group of the Belarusian Defense Ministry will take part in strategic command-post exercises of the Russian Armed Forces, the Zapad (west)-99, which begin on Monday. The exercises are to take place on the territories of the Leningrad and Moscow military districts as well as on the operating territories of Russia's Northern and Baltic Fleets. (June 21, Itar-Tass).

RALLY TO SUPPORT TRIPARTITE SLAVIC UNION

Late last week, a rally in support of the union between Russia, Belarus and Yugoslavia and against NATO took place at the Officers’ Assembly building in Minsk. About forty people – representatives of the Belarusian Officers’ Union, Slavonic Castle, White Russia, and other left-wing parties vowed to head to Moscow and continue their action. On route, the organizers plan to visit Vitebsk, Smolensk, Vyazma, and Berezino. A small meeting under red flags took place in Minsk before the start of the rally. Demonstrators read aloud an appeal to the people of Belarus, Russia, Yugoslavia and other countries of the world, in which they called for the revocation of the resolution of the International , which declared Slobodan Milosevic a war criminal and urged criminal proceedings to be launched against Bill Clinton, Madeleine Allbright, Jose Salana and Wesley Clark. The participants of the meeting once again blamed "venal democrats" and the "mendacious mass media" and called for a union between Russia, Belarus and Yugoslavia and a collective security treaty among these countries. (Radio 101.2, June 21)