INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
BELARUS UPDATE
Edited by Victor Cole
Vol. 2, No. 32
August 1999
IN THIS ISSUE:
-- HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION NEWS --
LUKASHENKO BLAMES RUSSIA
At an August 4 briefing in Minsk, Alexander Lukashenko announced that he would run for re-election in 2001, expressing confidence that he would win again over "the weak and fragmented opposition." "You will have Lukashenko for two years until 2001, and then Lukashenko again for another five years," he added. Rejecting accusations that he was installing a dictatorship, Lukashenko admitted that "there are some elements of authoritarianism present…They are needed because all processes in a transition economy such as Belarusian cannot take care of themselves," he explained, "I have worked out tough but universally understood rules of the game."
Lukashenko reproached Russia for not considering his opinion on key foreign policy issues. He reminded reporters that he had advised his Russian counterpart Boris Yeltsin not to pull Russia's nuclear weapons out of Belarus hastily. Fulfilling its international treaties, Russia removed the last strategic nuclear missile from Belarus in November 1996. The Belarusian leader said that at that time he had been under considerable pressure from both Clinton and Yeltsin. "There were no military ambitions underlying this advice to Yeltsin, but I was sure that as soon as the nuclear weapons were taken out of Belarus, the Eastern European states would join NATO," Lukashenko said. "Real life has shown that this is exactly what happened," he added. Russia also did not respond to his appeals to adopt a joint policy toward NATO, Lukashenko said. "The result was military intervention by the alliance in the Balkans."
Expressing his frustration at Russia for dragging its feet on unification, Lukashenko said that he feared Moscow might turn away from him in favor of the Belarusian opposition just as it turned away from Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. "Maybe tomorrow they will invite Semyon Sharetski to Moscow as they have done with Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic? Where are the guarantees that this will not happen?" Lukashenko said, referring to the August 2 visit to Moscow of pro-Western politician Djukanovic, Milosevic's leading opponent. The visit was interpreted as a sign that Russia was shifting its political support from Milosevic to the Yugoslav opposition, or at least introducing a more balanced approach. Lukashenko has been demonstrably supportive of Milosevic both during and since the end of the Kosovo crisis. (Interfax, August 4)
OPPOSITION WORKS OUT COMMON APPROACH TO DIALOGUE
On August 3, representatives of eight major opposition parties and the 13th Supreme Soviet met in Minsk to discuss their position on a possible dialogue with the government. Participants at the meeting decided to establish a coordinating council to work out a common approach. Stanislav Bogdankevich, chairman of the United Civic Party, told Belapan that the opposition is ready to begin informal talks with the authorities, but the government should fulfill certain conditions, in particular, grant the opposition access to the state media. The next round of consultations has been scheduled for August 12. (Belapan, August 3)
BPF DENIES OPPOSITION SECRET DEAL WITH GOVERNMENT
The Belarusian Popular Front has denied rumors that the opposition has agreed to take
part in the 2000 elections for the Belarusian National Assembly and not to raise the issue of political prisoners at possible talks with the government. "We consider it impossible for the BPF to take part in any electoral campaigns that would legitimize institutions established by the regime, including the so-called National Assembly," reads the BPF's statement. In an interview with a Belapan correspondent, Vintsuk Vyachorka, BPF Deputy Chairman, dismissed reports about the opposition's secret deals with the government as "absolutely groundless". According to Vyachorka, other opposition parties also plan to make statements to deny the allegations. (Belapan, August 3)
OPPOSITION POLITICIAN FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES
The Executive Committee of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party has issued a statement objecting to the recently initiated criminal prosecution of its chairman, Nikolai Statkevich. On July 27, Statkevich was arrested and sentenced to 10 days of administrative detention for organizing an unauthorized demonstration to mark the anniversary of the Declaration of Sovereignty adopted by the Supreme Soviet of Belarus in 1990 and to protest against Lukashenko’s regime. In response, the Prosecutor's Office has instituted criminal proceedings against him. He is charged with the "organization of and/or active participation in group actions violating public order." If convicted, he may face up to 3 year of imprisonment.
The BSDP believes that the criminal case against Statkevich was launched for purely political reasons. "The authorities' actions leave no doubt that the regime still relies on brutal force and suppression of fundamental political and civil freedoms. Under these circumstances, any negotiations with Lukashenko on settling the present political impasse make no sense and are counterproductive," reads the statement. The BSDP appeals to democratic parties, the governments of European countries, and international organizations for assistance in the campaign for releasing Nikolai Statkevich and all Belarusian political prisoners. On August 4, Statkevich was interrogated by Valery Koranev, investigator of the Minsk prosecutor’s office, Radio 101.2 reported. During the interrogation, Statkevich refused to testify, saying that after July 21 the current authorities and governmental agencies can not be considered legitimate. Attorney Vera Stremkovskaya, who was present at the interrogation, noted that the Sovetsky District Court found no grounds for criminal prosecution of Statkevich. However, on the day when Statkevich was tried on administrative charges, the prosecutor’s office brought a criminal action against him. According to Stremkovskaya, this case is a classic example of double jeopardy forbidden by the Constitution. Statkevich was released on his own recognizance after signing a written statement not to leave the country. (Radio 101.2, August 5)
OSCE IS CONCERNED ABOUT STATKEVICH
Gert Weisskirchen, Chairman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights, and Humanitarian Issues, has sent an open letter to Lukashenko, in which he expressed concern about the arrest and criminal charges brought against Nikolai Statkevich. "As I am aware, Statkevich and his party were exercising their civil rights to freedom of assembly on the national Independence Day, by taking part in a peaceful march together with 5,000 people," reads the letter. Weisskirchen called on Lukashenko "to do his best to stop the repression of democratic forces in Belarus." He said that attempts to establish links between Belarus and the international community are in danger while human rights, respected by all Europeans, are not observed in Belarus. (Belapan, August 4)
CHIGIR REFUSES TO WRITE CONFESSION LETTER TO LUKASHENKO
Julia Chigir, wife of the former Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Chigir arrested on the charges of large-scale embezzlement, told Belapan that in late July she met a representative of Lukashenko. He recommended that Chigir should write "a letter of remorse" to Lukashenko, admitting that he had been involved in the "outlawed" presidential elections in May. In addition, Chigir should promise not to take any attempts to run for Belarusian presidency in the future. In exchange, the presidential aide promised that the conditions of Chigir’s detention would be improved. "I passed this proposals to my husband; he categorically refused to write such a letter," Mrs. Chigir said. Chigir believes that the authorities use such "tricks" in order to break their political opponents and to dishonor them. After refusal to write such a letter, Chigir’s detention in custody was immediately extended by two months. (Belapan, August 4)
TWELVE DIFFERENT CASES FILED AGAINST CHIGIR
Twelve different cases, three of which are still being investigated, have been filed against Mikhail Chigir, Interior Minister Yuri Sivakov told national television on August 2. He noted that "politics are not involved here," adding that the investigators are probing into "elementary abuse of power and thefts of loans." The minister declared that the press, international organizations and influential statesmen "are trying to put pressure on the investigation." (Itar-Tass, August 3)
LUKASHENKO DENIES POLITICAL MOTIVES IN CHIGIR CASE
At an August 5 briefing in Minsk, Lukashenko denied that charges filed against Mikhail Chigir are politically motivated. Citing Oleg Bozhelko, Belarusian Prosecutor General, Lukashenko said that Chigir was accused of stealing $10 million. "Concrete documents prove this," the said, adding that Chigir's arrest "has absolutely nothing to do" with the fact that he became an opposition activist after being dismissed as prime minister. "What do politics have to do with this?" Lukashenko said. "Let those who've stolen money return it, and we'll consider releasing them from custody." (Interfax, August 6)
KLIMOV’S TRIAL POSTPONED
Court hearings in the case of Andrei Klimov, 13th Supreme Soviet deputy, continued on August 2. Klimov’s lawyers filed several motions requesting additional time for studying his case and ordering medical examination of the defendant. Public defender Garry Pogonyailo also requested to forward the case for further investigation and release Andrei Klimov because the Supreme Soviet has never sanctioned his arrest as required by the Constitution. The Supreme Soviet deputies, who attended hearing, requested to permit deputy Anatoly Lebedko to act as Klimov’s public defender. Justice Vera Tupik satisfied Klimov’s request to give extra time for studying his case file, rejecting other motions. The hearings were postponed until August 6. (Radio 101.2, August 3)
OPPOSITION LEADER ACCUSES WEST OF FUNDING LUKASHENKO’S REGIME
On August 2, in an interview to the Belaruskaya Gazeta weekly, Victor Gonchar, deputy chairman of the 13th Supreme Soviet, said that the West supports Lukashenko financially through IMF loans to Russia. "As a result, great amounts of cash go straight into the pockets of Belarusian leaders and are spent on nothing but preservation of the regime," Gonchar said. (Belapan, August 2)
DEADLINE FOR RE-REGISTRATION EXPIRES
The deadline set for political parties, trade unions and other public organizations to submit documents for re-registration to the Belarusian Ministry of Justice expired on August 1. As of August 1, 1,537 out of 2,502 public organizations which were registered before have applied for re-registration. So far, re-registration has been denied to 17 organizations. (Belapan, August 2)
BPF IN LEADERSHIP CRISIS
From July 31 to August 1, the Belarusian Popular Front held its sixth congress in Minsk. Its current president, Zyanon Paznyak, who resides in the United States as a political asylee, presented a report to delegates, outlining his main views on the BPF's tactics and strategies for the future. Paznyak believes that Belarusian sovereignty is threatened not only by Lukashenko, but also by the "nomenklatura opposition" and "the so-called young reformers and their supporters in Moscow." He called on participants in the Congress to adopt a resolution demanding Lukashenko's resignation and access to the state-controlled media. Other leading members of the party have attacked Paznyak for his anti-democratic leadership style, arguing the party should be governed from Minsk rather than from abroad. It was announced at the Congress that the delegates did not elect a chairman since neither of the two candidates--Vintsuk Vyachorka and Zyanon Paznyak—received the majority of votes. Vyachorka was supported by 152 delegates and opposed by 160. Paznyak was supported and opposed by 156 votes. Delegates voted to hold another congress in September or October to settle the leadership question. On August 2, Paznyak told RFE/RL's Belarusian Service that since he won more votes than Vyachorka, he remains the legitimate BPF chairman. (Agence France Presse, July 31- August 1 - RFE/RL, August 3)
LUKASHENKO CALLS BPF’s CONGRESS "PROVOCATION"
On August 5, commenting on the BPF’s Congress, Lukashenko said that he plans to publish a verbatim record of the forum. "Let the people read what was being discussed at that congress," he said. "Insurgents gathered together to turn Belarus upside down. But we looked on calmly because we knew that this attempt would likely fail." (Interfax, August 6)
PROFESSOR ARRESTED IN GRODNO
Galina Bandazevskaya, wife of Yury Bandazevsky, Professor and ex-Rector of the Gomel State Medical University arrested on July 13 on bribery charges, sent an open letter to several state and independent newspapers. She believes that her husband was arrested in connection with his scientific research, which has raised doubts about the safety of low-dose radiation. In her opinion, if her husband's position was accepted, the government would have to evacuate people living areas contaminated by the 1986 Chernobyl accident, which would require "enormous amounts of money." Mrs. Bandazevsky urged the medical community to take note that a prominent scholar has been imprisoned without charges. (Belapan, August 3)
LAWYER BARRED FROM CLIENT
Aleksandr Baranov, attorney for Prof. Yury Bandazevsky, told reporters that the authorities have prevented him from properly defending his client, who was indicted on bribery charges August 4. On August 6, Baranov attempted to meet with Prof. Bandazevsky in prison but was told that he was no longer there. When an attempt to see his client failed again on August 9, Baranov filed an inquiry with the local prosecutor as well as the Gomel Regional Prosecutor's Office regarding his client's whereabouts. Gomel Regional Prosecutor Vladimir Gavrilchik told Belapan that Prof. Bandazevsky may have been taken to Mogilev, where some of his students are known to reside. If so, says Baranov, the investigators violated regulations requiring them to inform the lawyer about all their actions involving his client. In Baranov's opinion, the police are trying to avoid him, which makes him concerned about the investigative methods which may be applied to his client. (Belapan, August 9)
YOUNG BUSINESSMAN TRIED FOR PICKETING PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION
On August 4, entrepreneur Konstantin Reznichek, 21, staged an unsanctioned picket near the building of Lukashenko’s administration in Minsk, waving two posters: "15 Days Without Lukashenko" and "Lukashenko! Games With Belarusian People Are Hazardous to Your Health". Reznichek and photo correspondent Vladimir Shlapak, who observed the picket, were brought to the nearest police station. It was Reznichek's second arrest. On July 23, he came to the presidential administration building with posters saying "Lukashenko! Enough! Go Away!", and was subsequently sentenced to the three days of administrative detention. Leninsky District Court subsequently sentenced him to 15 days in jail under Article 167 of the Belarusian Administrative Code. (Radio 101.2, August 5)
FREE CHIGIR COMMITEE OBJECTES TO DETENTION EXTENSION
The Freedom For Chigir Committee issued a statement objecting to the recent extension of Mikhail Chigir, alternative presidential election jailed on suspicion of embezzlement, accusations which his colleagues deny, and have characterized as "spurious". Chigir’s case is "yet another link in the chain of political persecution waged by Lukashenko’s regime over the past five years," said supporters. "Thousands of dissidents have passed through farcical trials. The Lukashenko regime has lost its legitimacy, and is stepping up political repression against opposition leaders and activists in an attempt to retain power," reads the statement. The Committee urged the immediate release of all political prisoners in Belarus. (Belapan, July 23)
MALADY FRONT ACTIVIST SEEKS POLITICAL ASYLUM IN POLAND
Vladimir Antonov, a 20-year-old activist of Malady Front, has asked for political asylum in Poland. On July 22, Antonov was released from police custody. He was charged with malicious hooliganism under Article 201 of the Belarusian Criminal Code for graffiti calling on Lukashenko to note the expiration of his term. Antonov said that police officers who arrested him beat him with truncheons. They later tortured him at the police station in an attempt to force him to admit his guilt. Antonov was arrested twice for his participation in opposition protest actions and was expelled from the Belarusian State University. (Belapan, August 4)
BELARUSIAN LAWYER RECEIVES RIGHTS AWARD FROM AMERICAN BAR
The American Bar Association has honored a prominent Belarusian lawyer, Vera Stremkovskaya, with its annual human rights award, the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights reported on August 10, in a statement applauding the honor. The award was announced by the Section of Litigation at the annual meeting of the ABA in Atlanta. In a letter announcing the award, the ABA recognized Ms. Stremkovskaya's "extraordinary contributions to the causes of human rights, the rule of law, and promotion of access to justice." She has been on the front lines of protecting rights in Belarus, as one of the only lawyers willing to represent political dissidents, student demonstrators, and other clients unpopular with the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko."
"This award recognizes the extreme risk lawyers like Ms. Stremkovskaya face when standing up for fundamental rights," stated Robert O. Weiner, Director of the Lawyers Committee's Protection Program. "Lawyers like her are essential because they use law to force government to meet their obligations to protect all their citizens." Ms. Stremkovskaya has been subjected to harassment, reprimands, and a criminal libel investigation in retaliation for her outspoken support for her clients. "Belarusian officials should be put on notice by this award that the world is watching their behavior. Lawyers like her have the support of their American counterparts, who are willing and able to help them. Further attacks on lawyers are not acceptable," stated Weiner. The award is granted each year by the more than 60,000 trial lawyers, judges, and others that make up the Section of Litigation, the ABA's largest division. For more information, visit http://www.lchr.org/ngo/l2lmain.htm.LITHUANIAN MP URGES HELP FOR BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION
Lithuania should strengthen its links with the Belarusian democratic forces, Rimantas Dagys, a Lithuanian Social Democratic party MP, said at a news conference on August 2. Dagys noted that Lithuania's official relations with Belarus were becoming rather awkward after Alexander Lukashenko's stay in office lost its legality. "The factual head of state is Lukashenko whether we like this or not. We must maintain normal relations with him as we do with all our neighbors," Dagys said. However, the MP said, Lithuania should not compromise its principles and its stance on Belarus, which is a non-democratic country. He thinks that Lithuania should support the weak and fractured Belarusian democratic forces, trying to strengthen the links between various opposition groups. (Baltic News Service, August 2)
--AT HOME IN BELARUS—
LUKASHENKO MEETS TOP KGB OFFICIALS
On August 5, in an interview to Interfax, the Russian news agency, Lukashenko confirmed that for the first time in his five-year term, he recently held meetings with all top security and criminal investigation officials. Explaining why he met KGB chief Vladimir Matskevich, Lukashenko said he needed a report on the effects of an opposition action on July 20 and on the international community's stance on his presence in office after that date. (Interfax, August 6)
ONE MORE CRIMINAL AMONG DIRECTORS?
The Gomel Region KGB has launched a criminal investigation into Vladimir Zhabinsky, director of a Gomel-based engine plant. He is charged with abuse of power under Article 166 of the Belarusian Criminal Code. The KGB press office confirmed that Zhabinsky has signed a written statement not to leave the country while under investigation. Meanwhile, Vitaly Kozlov has been appointed as the new director of the plant. (Radio 101.2, August 5)
KARATE CHIEF SHOT DEAD
A top sport official in Belarus was assassinated in Minsk, a police spokesman said on August 4. On August 3, Fyodor Volchek, president of the national karate federation, died after being shot four times in the head by several attackers near his apartment building in Minsk. Volchek's murder is the latest in a series of apparently professional killings of high-profile sports officials in Belarus. Earlier this year, six men were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for the 1997 contract killing of the head of the Russian ice hockey federation. (Reuters, August 4)
--BELARUSIAN ECONOMY—
ECONOMIC CRISIS THREATENS EASTERN EUROPE
The political stability of the new democracies in former Soviet republics and elsewhere in Eastern Europe is being threatened by widespread poverty, rising unemployment and declining growth rates, according to a report by UNDP, the development agency. The 113-page report, which focuses primarily on 25 countries in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, points out that the gains in freedom have been accompanied by the loss of many of the basic economic and social rights that the population had come to enjoy and expect over the course of the decades. The UNDP study says that the political transition from authoritarianism to multiparty democracy has "literally been lethal for a great many people." The study also notes that corruption has become a customary means of carrying out political and economic transactions. "The black-market has become the only source of income for many of the region's unemployed." (Inter Press Service, August 2)
The League notes that the information in the report is based on the countries' own assessments, and is lacking a second opinion in the form of independent research on the reliability of certain statistics. For example, male alcoholism has increased, says the report, but since it uses statistics dating back to 1980, it is unclear why the report claims the upsurge in alcoholism is due to economic reforms, which began in 1992 for many post-Soviet nations. UNDP officials have advocated increased participatory democracy and better governance as a solution to the erosion of social and economic rights, rather than a return to Soviet-style socialism. (ILHR, August 9)
--BROTHER SLAVS—
BELARUS PRETENDS TO BE RUSSIA
Four regions of Belarus, Minsk, Gomel, Vitebsk, and Mogilev, have been included in the Central Russia Interregional Association for Economic Cooperation on July 30. So far, this has been the most radical step toward integration of the two countries since March 1996, when the Russia-Belarus Union Treaty was signed. Leonid Kozik, Belarusian First Vice Premier, has confirmed that the Belarusian government approves the Belarusian regions’ joining the Association. From now on, Lukashenko can bravely demand that Moscow charge inter-Russian tariffs for oil and gas, since four regions of his state have become part of "Central Russia". (Izvestia, July 30)
RUSSIA, BELARUS, YUGOSLAVIA PREPARE FOR NEW UNION
Parliamentarians from Russia, Belarus, and Yugoslavia have agreed to set up a joint commission to prepare for Belgrade to join an existing loose union between the other two states. The commission would hold its first meeting in early September. It would be made up of 10 members -- four from the Yugoslavian parliament, two each from the Russian and Belarusian parliaments and two from the Interparliamentary assembly. The commission would meet at least once a month in a different country, working on resolving practical issues on the admission of Yugoslavia. (Tanjug, July 31)
EARLY MISSILE WARNING STATION DEPLOYED IN BELARUS
An early missile warning station in Baranovichi (the western part of Belarus) is planned and commissioned, and "in 2000 will be put on full battle alert," Vladimir Yakovlev, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces, announced on August 2 during his trip to Baranovichi. "The station in Baranovichi is needed not only to restore the undivided radio location screen in the western and northwestern directions following the dismantling of the analogous station in Skrunda (Lithuania), but also to make the screen more effective and reliable," Yakovlev added. (Segodnya, August 3)
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Belarus Update is a regular news bulletin of the Belarus Human Rights Support Project of the International League for Human Rights. The League, now in its 58th year, is a New York-based human rights NGO in consultative status with the United Nations and ILO.
The Belarus project is a part of Human Rights Defenders' Project, originally launched in 1982 to defend individuals and groups who suffer reprisals for promoting human rights in their societies. Among those the League defended were Andrei Sakharov, Kim Dae Jung and Jaime Castillo Velasco.
The Belarus project was established to support Belarusian citizens in making their cases before the U.S. government and public and international fora and intergovernmental organizations regarding President Alexander Lukashenko's wholesale assault on human rights and the rule of law in Belarus.
For more information e-mail mailto:belarus@ilhr.org
or call (212) 684-1221 or fax (212) 684-1696 or visit our web site at www.ilhr.org.