IN THIS ISSUE:

-- HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION NEWS --

BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS VISIT US
From November 15 - 17, Anatoly Lebedko, chairman of the 13^th Supreme Soviet Committee of the International Affairs, and Pavel Zhuk, editor-in-chief of the Naviny newspaper, visited the United States at the invitation of the International League for Human Rights. They had meetings with U.S. State Department officials and representatives of the Belarusian diaspora, were interviewed by the Washington Post and New York Times and held a briefing at the U.S. Congress. "Lukashism" – a term which has come to embody the dictatorial theory and practice of Alexander Lukashenko – threatens both the democratic transformations across Eastern Europe and the security of the continent as a whole. That was the message the two leaders of the Belarusian opposition delivered during an RFE/RL briefing on Capitol Hill. They described the current regime in Belarus as a blend of neo-fascism, communism, chauvinism, and populism that could easily become the main export commodity from Belarus to Russia, Ukraine, or Moldova. Lebedko stressed that the West had made a mistake by concentrating its efforts solely on the removal of nuclear weapons from Belarus in 1992, rather than investing some resources in democratic and market reforms in the country. Now, the costs of resuscitating Belarusian democracy will be much higher, and failure to act now could drive those costs higher still. Congressman Sam Gejdenson (D-CT), one of the sponsor’s of the event, replied that the West had been right to help remove nuclear weapons from Belarus because "Lukashenko with nuclear weapons would have been worse, but Belarus without Lukashenko would be better" - a conclusion both Lebedko and Zhuk heartily endorsed. (ILHR, RFE/RL, November 18)

US CONGRESS MAY ADOPT JOINT RESOLUTION ON BELARUS
On November 16, Congressman Sam Gejdenson introduced a resolution concerning the grave political and economic situation in Belarus. "I believe it's time for Congress to express strong opposition to the continued egregious violations of human rights and the lack of progress toward the establishment of democracy and the rule of law in Belarus and call on Alexander Lukashenko to engage in negotiations with the representatives of the opposition and to restore the constitutional rights of the Belarusian people. While the U.S. and Europe are marking the ten-year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Lukashenko is building a new wall between Belarus and the democratic world, trying to isolate Belarus by using old Soviet and Stalinist tactics of misinformation and intimidation. Lukashenko has created a climate of fear in Belarus, along the lines of Hitler's regime, which he admires. He has targeted the opposition, NGOs, and the independent media. Opposition figures have disappeared, independent newspapers are fighting for survival, and those Belarusians who are brave enough to criticize Lukashenko’s rule publicly, get thrown into prison on fabricated charges. We in the U.S. Congress have a moral responsibility to promote democracy in Belarus," Gejdenson said. The resolution condemns the current Belarusian regime and calls for immediate dialogue between Lukashenko and the Consultative Council of the Belarusian Opposition and the restoration of a democratically-elected government in Belarus, based on the rule of law and an independent judiciary. The resolution urges Lukashenko to hold free parliamentary elections in 2000 and presidential elections in 2001 and respect the human rights of all Belarusian citizens, including those members of the opposition who are currently being illegally detained in violation of their constitutional rights.

OSCE SUMMIT ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON BELARUS

The final declaration of the Istanbul OSCE summit, which was adopted on November 19, contains the following provision on Belarus: "We strongly support the work of the Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus, which has been working closely with the Belarusian authorities as well as with opposition parties and NGOs, trying to promote democratic institutions and compliance with the OSCE commitments, thus facilitating a resolution of the constitutional controversy in Belarus. We emphasize that only political dialogue in Belarus can pave the way for free and democratic elections through which the foundations for real democracy can be developed. We would welcome early progress in this political dialogue with the OSCE participation, in close cooperation with the OSCE PA. We stress the necessity of removing all remaining obstacles to this dialogue by respecting the principles of the rule of law and the freedom of the media. Such a neutral provision apparently satisfied the Belarusian official delegation because it did not mention human rights abuses, political prisoners and particularly disappearances. (Belapan, November 19)

LUKASHENKO ATTENDS OSCE SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL
On November 17, before his departure to the OSCE summit in Istanbul, in an interview to the Belarusian state TV, Lukashenko announced that his prime goal is to represent Belarus "with dignity." "Belarusians should not worry that the situation has been deliberately blown out of proportion, especially by our opposition, which was simply trying to get publicity. They were not allowed to go to Turkey directly from Belarus, so they are trying to get there via America, to stifle the atmosphere there," he said (This was a reference to Anatoly Lebedko, who was unable to get a Turkish visa in Minsk, and was later able to secure one in Washington while visiting the U.S.). The Belarusian official delegation also included Foreign Minister Ural Latypov, Victor Sheiman, Secretary of the Belarusian State Security Council, and Pavel Shipuk, chairman of the Upper House of the Belarusian National Assembly. On November 19, speaking at the OSCE summit, Lukashenko expressed support for the Russian military operation in Chechnya, Belapan reported. He said that the OSCE "should at least understand if not support" the Russian people. Speaking about the Russia-Belarus Union, Lukashenko said that the union is not directed against other countries. He called the position of Poland’s President Kwasnewski and Lithuania’s President Adamkus, who had shared their worries over the human rights situation in Belarus, "wrong and false." With regard to neighboring Lithuania, Lukashenko said that this country has its own "political prisoners, old people, who present no danger to society." He was alluding to the convicted former leaders of the Lithuanian Communist Party Mykolas Burokyavichus and Yubzas Yermolavichus. On November 19, Lukashenko had a short talk with President Clinton, Belapan reported. (Belapan, November 16-19)

…AND IS SATISFIED WITH RESULTS

Lukashenko himself was quite satisfied with his meetings with other heads of states during the summit. In his interview to Interfax, he said that he met with the U.S. President twice as well as with the German Chancellor and French President. He also said that he and Clinton "liked each other." "I invited Clinton to visit Belarus before his presidency expires," said Lukashenko, "I told him a joke; ‘if you cannot do it before the end of your term, then all you will have to do is to extend it.’" (Charter 97, November 19)

SHANGHAIED IN ISTANBUL?
Before the Istanbul summit, Western leaders indicated that the rules of international diplomacy dictated that Lukashenko could not be disinvited to the OSCE meeting - a move that some human rights groups such as the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights had advocated. But Western officials had assured concerned human rights activists that European and North American leaders would not meet with Lukashenko, or even speak to him informally. The idea was that a "vacuum" would appear around the Belarusian leader as a tacit form of protest against his abusive policies. On the eve of the summit, Belapan reported that only Turkey, Armenia, Ukraine, and some other CIS members would meet with Lukashenko and his delegation.

Thus it came as a shock for human rights groups when Belarusian state television began to crow about Lukashenko's impromptu meeting with U.S. President Clinton, claiming the two had even had a "few minutes" of conversation.

State department officials contacted by the League gave a different account. "Clinton was shanghaied," said one official, using an American slang word defined as "putting by trickery into an undesirable position," a reference to the old unscrupulous practice of procuring sailors for trips to the Orient. As he walked down the hallway toward the signature ceremony, Clinton was apparently taken by surprise from behind by Lukashenko. "There was no meeting, and no conversation," U.S. officials claimed. (ILHR, November 19)

ILHR PROTESTS CONTINUED HARASSMENT OF FREEDOM MARCH PARTICIPANTS

In a November 21 letter to Alexander Lukashenko, Catherine Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the International League for Human Rights urged the Belarusian President to 1) drop all charges currently pending against Ales Belyatsky and Nikolai Statkevich and against anyone else who still faces administrative or criminal liability for their participation in the Freedom March; 2) to reinstate the Public Legal Assistance Association’s license so that they can continue to provide legal defense to those whose rights have been violated; 3) to investigate the role of the police in the violence during the March and take corresponding disciplinary action. (ILHR, November 21)

NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON BELARUS

Mechislav Grib and Anatoly Lebedko, deputies of the 13^th Supreme Soviet, participated in the fall session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, held on November 2-15 in Amsterdam. The Belarusian deputies informed the NATO Parliamentary Assembly leadership about the current political situation in Belarus and the recent negotiations between the authorities and the opposition. On November 15, the Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution, condemning the repressive government in Belarus and expressing the Assembly's concern for disappeared political opponents of Alexander Lukashenko. The Assembly appointed a special Rapporteur for Belarus, who will compile materials for the spring session of the OSCE PA. The Belarusian deputies also met with Yan Marinus Wiersma, the head of the EU delegation for Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova, who expressed his solidarity with the democratic movement of Belarus and his readiness to support it. (Charter 97, November 16)

ACCESS, WHAT ACCESS?

AUTHORITIES INTIMIDATE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
On November 18, Ales Belyatski, head of the Spring-96 Human Rights Center, was briefly detained in Minsk. He was summoned to the Frunzensky police station to get back the equipment which was illegally confiscated from the Center during a police search on October 4. At his arrival, however, he was told that he was under arrest for his role in the organization of the Freedom March on October 17. Nevertheless, he was released shortly thereafter and his trial, originally scheduled for November 19, was postponed until November 23. (Charter 97, November 18)

MINSK POLICE DENY BEATINGS OF FREEDOM MARCH PARTICIPANTS
The Public Legal Assistance Association has received an official reply to its inquiry filed in connection with the numerous instances of riot police brutality during and after the Freedom March last month. "The extensive internal investigation has not revealed any violations of the basic rights and freedoms of Belarusian citizens. Those arrested were detained for violating public order. No facts relating to police brutality have been discovered so far," wrote Lieutenant-Colonel Rodionchik from the Minsk City Main Directorate of Internal Affairs. On behalf of twelve people arrested for their participation in the Freedom March, the Association’s lawyers have filed complaints with district prosecutors about mistreatment in custody. Eight detainees have managed to secure reports from their physicians, stating that their injuries were likely sustained as a result of being beaten. The Association has also filed a complaint with the UN Committee on Torture, the OSCE, and other international human rights organizations. A statement issued by the Association on November 12 says that "twenty citizens claim that they have been beaten, and forensic expertise prove their testimony, but the chief of the Minsk City Main Directorate of the Internal Affairs prefers to believe his officers and fails to explain how the detainees were injured. If the beatings were confirmed, the authorities would have to institute criminal proceedings against the police officers involved," reads the statement. (Charter 97, November 16)

OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS SUMMONED FOR INTERROGATION

On November 16, Ludmila Gryaznova and Dmitry Bondarenko, representatives of Charter 97, were summoned to the Minsk Prosecutor’s Office as witnesses in a criminal case opened following clashes between the police and the opposition during the Freedom March. (Charter 97, November 16)

OSCE AMG: HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN BELARUS UNSATISFACTORY
After monitoring the human rights situation in Belarus, the OSCE AMG found it unsatisfactory, Hanspeter Kleiner, deputy head of the OSCE AMG in Belarus, said in his speech at an international human rights conference in Minsk on November 12. Kleiner believes that the human rights situation in the country is unsatisfactory not only because the police beat demonstrators, but also because the media, most of which are under the government's control, do not make human rights violations public. Kleiner believes that better conditions for the independent media would make it possible to improve the human rights record and hold free and fair elections. Kleiner said that the Belarusian Helsinki Committee should not only register instances of human rights violations but also remind officials about their duties and inform them about human rights abuses. (Belapan, November 12)

BHR: BELARUS FACES POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS
Tatiana Protko, president of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, said in an interview with Interfax that Belarus continues to violate the three basic principles of the international community: democracy, rule of law, and human rights. Protko believes that a large majority of Belarusians are deprived of comprehensive and unbiased information about current events in the country and abroad. She said that Belarus faces a deepening political, economic, and constitutional crisis and international isolation. By stepping up its integration with Russia it endangers its national sovereignty. (Interfax, November 16)

LAST ISSUE OF NAVINY COMES OUT
The last issue of Naviny, a leading Belarusian independent newspaper, came out on November 16. Two hundred thousand copies of the issue were printed abroad. Naviny went bankrupt after it lost a libel suit in which the court ordered the newspaper to compensate Victor Sheiman, Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council, with nearly $50,000 for moral damage. On December 1, the Naviny staff plans to put out the first issue of Nasha Svaboda (Our Freedom) newspaper, which is to follow in the traditions and democratic spirit of Naviny and Svaboda. Nasha Svaboda will print articles in Russian and Belarusian. (Belapan, November 16)

BREST OPPOSITION PROTESTS AGAINST UNION TREATY
The Brest branches of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party, the United Civic Party, and the Belarusian Popular Front have issued a joint appeal to Brest's residents, protesting against plans to sign a new union treaty with Russia. The statement says that the public discussion of the draft union treaty was not democratic. "The results of the discussion do not reflect public opinion about the draft treaty," says the appeal. "We are being drawn into the country that is constantly in war, where criminals dominate in the political and economic spheres," says the appeal. "Russia seeks to re-deploy its nuclear missiles in our country, and Belarusian soldiers may be sent to fight for somebody else's interests." The appeal stresses that Brest should not be allowed to turn into "the Russian empire's outpost." (Belapan, November 18)

…WHILE AUTHORITY ORGANIZE SUPPORT

CONGRESS OF BELARUSIAN OFFICERS ELECTS NEW LEADER

On November 14, an annual general meeting of the Congress of Belarusian Officers was held in Minsk. The organization was founded by General Yury Zakharenko, former Minister of Internal Affairs who disappeared under unknown circumstances in May of this year. The main goal of the organization is to defend the rights of former servicemen and policemen. Dmitry Borodach, a friend of Zakharenko and former commander of a special military brigade, was elected as the new leader of the Congress. (Charter 97, November 16)

November 24- Hour of Sorrow and Solidarity demonstration in Minsk to commemorate the victims of the Lukashenko regime and display solidarity with the political prisoners;

March 22 - Democratic Trade Unions to stage nationwide protest

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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 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.