To: Alexander Lukashenko
Republic of Belarus
FAX: 011 375 172 26 06 10

February 14, 2001

Dear Mr. Lukashenko,

The International League for Human Rights, a non-governmental organization with consultative status at the United Nations, is concerned about the arrests of Alexander Chigir, a son of former Prime Minister Mikhail Chigir, and Vasily Bykov, nephew of the well-known Belarusian writer by the same name, and Sergei Koleda.

The three men were arrested at a car marketplace on February 10, 2001, after stolen car parts were allegedly found in their garage. Since the moment of their arrest, the police have not allowed any contact between the arrested men and their relatives.

This is not the first time Mikhail Chigir and members of his family have been harassed and persecuted, evidently in retaliation for his political opposition. On March 30, 1999, Mikhail Chigir was arrested on charges of "financial mismanagement" while he was the head of Belarusian Agricultural Industrial Bank (Belagroprombank). On May 19, 2000, after a long trial, Chigir was sentenced to three years of imprisonment with a two-year suspension. Last year, his eldest son, Alexi, applied for political asylum in Germany after he found a box of ammunition planted in his car.

Considering that Mikhail Chigir is a possible candidate for the upcoming presidential elections, the League is gravely concerned that his son's arrest could be politically motivated and could be designed to discredit Mikhail Chigir as a worthy candidate. Furthermore, we are concerned by the reports from local sources that the police search of the garage where the stolen parts were allegedly found was conducted with no independent witnesses present, and that undercover video tapes related to this case are apparently being broadcast on television. Since the charges do not involve allegations of a violent crime, we urge that Alexander Chigir, Vasily Bykov, and Sergei Koleda be immediately released on their own recognizance pending trial, and given their right to seek counsel of their choice, while an impartial investigation of their alleged offense is conducted.

Thank you for your attention. We await your response.

Sincerely,

Catherine Fitzpatrick
Executive Director

Cc: Victor Sheiman
Fax: 011 375 172 23 53 81