INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

BELARUS UPDATE

Edited by Victor Cole

Vol. 2, No. 39 September 1999

-- HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION NEWS --

PINOCHET-STYLE DISAPPEARANCES IN BELARUS

Victor Gonchar, vice-speaker of the 13th Supreme Soviet which was disbanded in 1996 by Alexander Lukashenko, and Anatoly Krasovsky, head of the Krasika Publishing House, have been missing since September 16 (see Belarus Update No. 38). In attempting to locate her husband, Gonchar's wife Zinaida has contacted city law enforcement agencies, local hospitals, and morgues. However, her efforts have not lead to any new information. On September 19, Gonchar was supposed to address a session of the 13th Supreme Soviet regarding the composition of the opposition delegation to the OSCE-mediated talks with the government. He was also to meet with Daniel Speckhard, the U.S. ambassador to Belarus, on September 20. Two other well-known opponents of Lukashenko, former Central Bank chair Tamara Vinnikova and former Minister of the Internal Affairs Yuri Zakharenko disappeared earlier this year. Disappearances seem to be the latest and most brutal tactic of Alexander Lukashenko, putting him on par with the most notorious Latin American dictators. (Belapan, September 19, Charter 97, September 20)

RELATIVES AND FRIENDS LAUNCH INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION

Zinaida Gonchar said that the day after her husband’s disappearance she and her friends went to the sauna where Gonchar and Krasovsky were last seen by an attendant at 10:45 p.m. on September 16. Around the corner, they found some glass that appeared to be from the headlight of Krasovsky's Jeep, blood stains on the ground, and other signs of a struggle, including matted grass and a fallen tree. They also found distinct marks left by car tires and red paint on the bushes near the road. In their opinion, Krasovsky's vehicle may have been intercepted by an unidentified red car. According to Zinaida Gonchar, police took all the evidence for examination, warning her that it may take several weeks. The Belarusian state television has on several occasions reported that "police are taking all necessary measures to determine Gonchar’s and Krasovsky’s whereabouts." Lukashenko reportedly demanded that he be updated every hour on the investigators' progress. On September 20, the Minsk Prosecutor's Office launched a criminal investigation. On September 22, an investigator from the Minsk Prosecutor's Office questioned Zinaida Gonchar and Irina Krasovsky, wives of the two missing men. Gonchar's secretary Yekaterina Antonik and his driver were also interrogated. Despite these efforts, Gonchar's wife doesn't believe that the official investigation will be fruitful. (Belapan, September 21 - Charter 97, September 22)

LUKASHENKO: LOOK FOR GONCHAR ABROAD

On September 17, U.S. Ambassador Daniel Speckhard stressed that the West is carefully following the investigation of Gonchar's disappearance. German Ambassador Horst Winkelman likewise expressed deep concern over the authorities’ reluctance to promptly investigate the incident. On September 18, commenting on Gonchar’s disappearance, Lukashenko told Western ambassadors to look for Gonchar in their own countries. "Recently certain domestic as well as foreign politicians have been seeking to destabilize the situation in Belarus, to destroy this little island of independence and peace. That is how provocations usually originate. These conspirators had no ethnic or religious issue at hand, they failed to crush us economically, and now they are trying to depict us as a totalitarian state in the center of Europe, a country where people disappear en masse. I would advise the West to look for those disappeared in their own countries before making such clamorous statements," he said. (BBC, September 20, Charter 97, September 22)

OPPOSITION CALLS FOR HELP

On September 19, deputies of the 13th Supreme Soviet called for international help in the search for Victor Gonchar and Yuri Zakharenko. They also asked foreign governments and international organizations to "use their influence to urge the release of former Prime Minister Mikhail Chigir, as well as deputies Vladimir Koudinov and Andrei Klimov." (Agence France Presse, September 19)

THREE LINES, JUST THREE LINES

On September 23, Valentin Potapovich, head of the police team investigating the disappearance of Gonchar and Krasovsky, told journalists in Minsk that the team has three versions of what might have happened to Gonchar. He said that Gonchar and Krasovsky could have "become victims of an ordinary street crime," could have "decided to disappear themselves," or perhaps "their disappearance was linked to the financial activities of Krasovsky." Nikolai Lopatik, head of the Department of the Criminal Investigation at the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs, said that police were searching everywhere to find the Jeep Cherokee that Gonchar and Krasovsky had been driving prior to their disappearance. Stressing that Gonchar and Krasovsky probably disappeared on their own initiative, he said that a good technician could disassemble the car in about three hours. According to him, Gonchar's driver Yevgeny Lychev told investigators on September 22 that Gonchar's friends had found the Jeep but he refused to give details. Later this information was denied by friends and relatives of the disappeared.

Nikolai Lopatik also hinted that the law enforcement agencies are aware of Vinnikova’s possible whereabouts. "I am 90 percent certain that Vinikova is not in Belarus," he said. He refused to provide any further details though, saying that Vinnikova "has enough money to live wherever she chooses." Commenting on the disappearance of Yuri Zakharenko, Lopatik confirmed that the police had not received any information about what happened to Zakharenko despite "enormous" efforts to find him. He cast doubt on statements made by the Public Commission on Zakharenko’s Disappearance that there had been witnesses to Zakharenko's disappearance. "Our examination showed that there were no witnesses," Lopatik said. "Our search is being conducted properly," he added. On September 21, the Procurator General's Office launched a criminal investigation into the case of Zakharenko's premeditated murder. (Belapan, September 23)

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT CONCERNED ABOUT GONCHAR’S DISAPPEARANCE

"The United States is greatly concerned about this pattern of disappearances of opponents to Lukashenko's continued rule in Belarus. We call upon the Government of Belarus to do everything in its power to locate Mr. Gonchar, Ms. Vinnikova, and General Zakharenko as well as

to ensure their safety," reads the State Department press release issued on September 21. (Belapan, September 21)

DEPUTIES URGE AUTHORITIES TO INTENSIFY INVESTIGATION

On September 20, a group of the 13th Supreme Soviet deputies including Sergei Kalyakin, Gennady Terenya, Valery Shchukin, Stanislav Bogdankevich, and Alexander Dobrovolsky, organized an unauthorized picket near Lukashenko’s residence, demanding that the authorities search for Gonchar and Krasovsky more actively. When deputies, carrying a sign saying, "Lukashenko, Give Gonchar Back," started to march toward the building in an attempt to submit a petition entitled "Demands to the Executive and the Procurator General's Office," the riot police blocked their path. After an initial clash, the petition was handed over to Mr. Bystritski, chief of the Administration's security service. Later the picketers went to the Prosecutor General's office and submitted another copy of the petition. In particular, it stressed that "disappearances of prominent Belarusian citizens have become systematic." The petitioners demanded that the government "meet its public commitments to ensure the safety of Belarusian citizens." They have also notified the authorities about the formation of an independent commission, led by retired Police General Vladimir Savichev, to investigate the disappearance. The deputies were warned by Svyataslav Kurel, deputy chief of the Minsk Directorate of Internal Affairs, that their actions could be considered an unauthorized meeting. (Belapan, September 20, Charter 97, September 21)

PETITIONERS TO LUKASHENKO STAND TRIAL

On September 22, Gennady Terenya, acting chair of 13th Supreme Soviet, and Sergei Kalyakin,

His deputy and a leader of the Belarusian Communist Party, stood trial in Minsk for organizing an unsanctioned meeting on September 20 near the presidential residence. The deputies were accused of "violation of public order," an offense punishable by fines of 20-150 minimal wages or 3-15 days of administrative arrest. At the hearing, the defendants presented evidence of their innocence: Vladimir Yalovik, Sergei Kurtov, and Igor Radkevich, police officers from the Leninski police station, testified that the defendants did not violate public order. They revealed that they learned about the picket only after the fact. Judge Elena Tereshkova dismissed the complaint against Kalyakin and Terenya. After listening to her verbal admonitions, they were released. Stanislav Bogdankevich, Alexander Dobrovolsky, and Valery Shchukin are still to stand trial. (Charter 97, September 23)

HRW URGES LUKASHENKO TO LOCATE MISSING OPPOSITION LEADER

In an open letter to Lukashenko, Human Rights Watch expressed extreme concern at the disappearance of Victor Gonchar and Anatoly Krasovsky. "Human Rights Watch urges you to use all available means to locate Gonchar, Krasovsky, Vinnikova, and Yuri Zakharenko and to ensure the safety and security of all those living in Belarus, regardless of their political affiliations," reads the letter. (HRW, September 21)

AI AND COE ALARMED

Amnesty International has expressed its concern about the disappearance of Gonchar and Krasovsky. "Amnesty International fears that they may be in incommunicado detention, where they would be at risk of torture, ill-treatment, or possible killing," reads a statement issued by Amnesty International.

Walter Schwimmer, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Lord Russel-Johnston, President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, have also expressed grave alarm. During a September 20 meeting with Anatoly Lebedko, chair of the 13th Supreme Soviet Committee on International Affairs, who is attending a regular session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Walter Schwimmer pointed out that the Council of Europe could not remain indifferent to disappearances of people in the center of Europe. Lord Russel-Johnston said that arrests and disappearances of opposition politicians in Belarus create a bad climate for possible negotiations between the government and the opposition. He said that the arrests and disappearances have made Belarus's joining of the Council of Europe problematic.

On September 22, Bronislaw Geremek, Polish Foreign Minister, sent a letter to the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, asking about the fate of Gonchar, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported. (AI, September 20, Belapan, September 21, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, September 22)

UNITED CIVIC PARTY ISSUES STATEMENT

The United Civic Party believes that the disappearances of Zakharenko and Gonchar "are all part and parcel of a campaign launched against the political opposition and aimed at the moral suppression and the physical destruction of its leaders." "Political terror and lawlessness thrive in Belarus," reads the statement issued by the UCP. (Belapan, September 21)

GONCHAR'S DISAPPEARANCE – BLOW FOR OPPOSITION

In the opinion of Valery Shchukin, a deputy of the 13th Supreme Soviet, Gonchar's disappearance was a "knockdown blow" for the opposition. "The Supreme Soviet has lost its leaders," Shchukin said. "Gonchar disappeared, Sharetsky went to Lithuania and has turned into a symbol. Acting chair Gennady Terenya needs some time to revive important links that have been lost," he said. (Belapan, September 21)

GOVERNMENT: GONCHAR'S DISAPPEARANCE SHOULD NOT HINDER DIALOGUE

Mikhail Sazonov, Lukashenko’s aide and head of the coordinating group for promoting a nationwide dialogue, expressed hope that Gonchar’s mysterious disappearance would not block an opposition-government dialogue. In a letter addressed to Hans-Georg Wieck, head of the OSCE AMG in Belarus, Sazonov wrote that Alexander Lukashenko "is extremely worried about what has happened to Gonchar," and has ordered the chiefs of the KGB and the police to take all necessary steps to find him. "There are forces that are interested in breaking the emerging dialogue. We believe that whoever organized and carried out Gonchar’s disappearance, did so with this goal in mind." Sazonov wrote. "I hope, Mr. Ambassador, that despite the deplorable events, you will not allow the dialogue to collapse," concludes the letter. (Belapan, September 21)


NO DIALOGUE WITHOUT PROPER INVESTIGATION

On September 18, another session of 13th Supreme Soviet was held in the Pobeda (Victory) movie theatre in Minsk. Soon after the session started, however, electricity in the building was turned off. The delegates had to move to the United Civic Party headquarters, where the meeting continued. Deputies approved the list of delegates to represent the opposition at the OSCE-mediated talks with the government. The delegation will include Stanislav Bogdankevich and Anatoly Lebedko from the United Civic Party, Yuri Belenky and Vintsuk Vyachorka from the Belarusian Popular Front, Sergei Kalyakin and Elena Skrigan from the Belarusian Communist Party, Nikolai Statkevich and Mechislav Gryb from the Narodnaya Hramada (the Belarusian Social Democratic Party), Alexander Bukhvostov and Leonid Lemeshonok from the Belarusian Party of Labor, Stanislav Shushkevich and Oleg Trusov from the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada, and Valentina Polevikova from the Nadzeya Women's Party. At the proposal of Semyon Domash, deputies passed a special provision, in which they pointed out that genuine talks are impossible until the authorities prove that the disappearances of Gonchar, Krasovsky, and Zakharenko are being efficiently investigated." (Belapan, September 19, Charter 97, September 22)

$100,000 OFFERED FOR SHARETSKI'S ASSASSINATION?

On September 23, Lithuania's Veidas weekly published an interview with a person claiming that he was offered $100,000 for Sharetsky's assassination. The sniper with a nickname "Monk" said that he had rejected the offer. The weekly notified the Lithuanian State Security Department, which reinforced Sharetsky's guard and launched a formal investigation. (BNS, September 23)

HANDS OFF INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST!

On September 20, Reporters without Frontiers urged the Belarusian authorities to stop harassment of Irina Khalip and to comply with international conventions on human rights and freedom of expression. The criminal proceedings against Khalip were launched in connection with one of her publications in the Imya independent newspaper in which she analyzed corruption among the country's top officials. (Charter 97, September 22)

STATE SECURITY COUNCIL VS. INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER

On September 16, Victor Sheiman, secretary of the Belarusian State Security Council, filed a libel suit against journalist Sergei Anisko and the Naviny independent newspaper, in connection to an article published in Naviny about the real estate owned by Sheiman. Pavel Zhuk, Naviny’s editor-in-chief, considers the suit politically motivated. "After reading the truth, he decided that we had insulted his dignity," deputy editor Ekaterina Vysotskaya said. "Nowhere in the article did we overstep the boundaries of the law." Sheiman is suing the newspaper for 10 billion BR (about $31,000) and the author of the article for 5 billion BR (about US$15,000). He announced that if he wins the case, he will donate the money to the Belarusian Association of Veterans. Vysotskaya believes that although Sheiman is the plaintiff, the order to shut down the paper and bring the editors to court came from Lukashenko. On September 17, the newspaper's bank accounts were frozen despite the fact that the suit has not yet been filed. On September 20, a court official visited Pavel Zhuk’s apartment and the newspaper's editorial office, trying to take an inventory of the their property. Zhuk did not open the door and journalists with video cameras forced the court officer to leave. The newspaper has no property of its own because it leases equipment from various private persons. Vysotskaya said that the newspaper, which operates out of a private apartment, continues operation but is ready to start publishing under a new name, Nasha Svaboda. She believes that the attack on the newspaper and Gonchar's disappearance are responses to the recent unification of the opposition. (Belapan, September 20, Charter 97, September 22)

EDITION OF NARODNAYA VOLYA SEIZED

On September 17, the Saturday edition of the Narodnaya Volya independent newspaper was seized. The reason for it was a publication of information concerning the March of Freedom scheduled for October 17. Iosif Seredich, Narodnaya Volya’ editor-in-chief, received a phone call from BelPost, which is responsible for distribution of the newspaper. A man, who didn't identified himself, said that all copies were confiscated from the storehouse. Neither Ivan Pashkevich, head of the President's Administration, nor Mikhail Podgainy, head of the State Press Committee, could provide any explanation. However, the incident was quickly settled when Seredich received a call from Pashkevich, who said that the seized edition will be forwarded to its subscribers on Monday.

Seredich believes that this decision was made after authorities realized that in that particular issue of Narodnaya Volya a press-release from the OSCE mission was published. (Charter 97, September 22)

AUTHORITIES BAN UNIONS FROM STAGING MARCH IN MINSK

The Minsk City Council banned the Belarusian Federation of Trade Unions from holding a march on September 30 to protest against the government's socio-economic policy. Up to 50,000 workers from Minsk's largest industrial enterprises were expected to march to Independence Square and Oktyabrskaya Square and stage a rally there. The city government only agreed to authorize a rally on the Bangalore Square, on the outskirts of Minsk. The authorities linked their ban to "the deterioration of the situation in Russia." "I don’t think that the domestic situation in Russia should influence the right of Belarusian citizens to exercise their right of assembly," Sergei Antonchyk, head of the republican striking committee told Belapan. "Workers’ protest will be held under any circumstances," Franz Vitko, deputy chair of the BFTU, said on September 21 after BFTU’s session. "We can’t stop workers from protesting in the places they prefer." Last week, activists of the Committee of Freedom for Chigir and Belarus were denied permission to stage pickets for the same reasons, Charter 97 reported. (Belapan, September 21, Charter 97, September 22-23)

WOMEN FACING MORE INEQUALITY SINCE FALL OF COMMUNISM
Women are facing increasing inequality across Eastern and Central Europe and the former Soviet Union, since the Communist bloc crumbled, according to the "Women in Transition", a UNICEF report released on September 21. "Women across the region are facing higher unemployment and lower real income than men, reductions in childcare, increasing violence, and deteriorating health.
With national autonomy restored and cultural traditions revived, a re-emergence of pre-communist patriarchal values threatens to stifle the voices of women rather than liberate them. Fundamentally sexist values hold sway. By taking the lid off the past, the transition has exposed the dramatic failure of the communist system to promote a lasting culture of real sexual equality," reads the report. (AFP, September 22)

--AT HOME IN BELARUS--

BELARUS SUFFERS WORST HARVEST SINCE 1901
Belarus has suffered its worst harvest since 1901, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Popkov told a press conference on September 23. "The total harvest was 57 percent lower than expected. We need to find at least $100 million to pay to import food," he added. He blamed the extremely dry weather. Disappointed by this year's poor crop, Lukashenko cancelled the annual celebrations of the harvest. (AFP, September 24)

LUKASHENKO MEETS PUTIN, SAYS FAREWELL TO RAISA GORBACHEV
On September 23, Lukashenko had a meeting with Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister, to discuss the development of economic cooperation and matters aimed at formalizing the Russia-Belarus Union Treaty. Lukashenko also attended the funeral of Raisa Gorbachev, wife of Mikhail Gorbachev, who died this week from cancer. (Itar-Tass, September 23)

-- CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS --

September 30 - The Federation of Trade Unions will hold a nationwide protest

October 17 - Freedom March in Minsk

************************************************************************

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 belarus@ilhr.org or call (212) 684-1221 or fax (212) 684-1696 or

visit our web site at www.ilhr.org