INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

BELARUS UPDATE
Edited by Victor Cole

Vol. 3, No. 5
January 2000

IN THIS ISSUE:

-- HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION NEWS --

WORSE THAN STALINISM
The International League for Human Rights received a letter from the Mogilev Human Rights Center, describing how the local authorities are trying to impede the opposition activities of Sergei Obodovsky, director of the Center and lawyer of the Mogilev Branch of the Free Trade Union, by persecuting his children. The persecution started after Obodovsky was elected to the opposition electoral committee of the presidential election last spring. His older son, Dmitry, 26, was immediately arrested and charged with rape. He has already spent six months in pre-trial detention. The court hearing is scheduled to be held in February. According to Obodovsky, when the prosecution realized that there was no evidence to substantiate the rape charge, they got Dmitry's cellmate to agree to a plea bargain, which contained a confession of larceny allegedly perpetrated with Dmitry. Interestingly, the authorities searched Obodovsky's apartment in connection with the alleged theft on July 20, 1999. Another son was forced to seek (and recently obtained) political asylum in Poland. Most recently, the Belarusian authorities have charged Obodovsky's youngest son, 20, who is a student at the Mogilev State University, with computer hacking. The League urge those concerned to write a letter of protest against this deliberate pattern of persecution to the Prosecutor General and to the Prosecutor of the Mogilev region (Anatoly Dudkin, fax: 375-222-257-355), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and to the regional Mogilev branch (Svyataslav Kurel, fax: 375-222-395-101), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to the Belarusian Embassy. [The title of this article was prompted by a reference to Stalin, who announced in the 1930s that the son should not be punished for his father's deeds.] (Mogilev Human Rights Center, January 28)

BELARUS: SETBACKS FOR THE RULE OF LAW
The United States condemns the Lukashenko regime in Belarus for the persecution of its political opponents and continued repression, said James Foley, Deputy State Department Spokesman, on January 24. He cited legal proceedings and other forms of repression against several people -- including former Prime Minister Mikhail Chigir and former Minister of Agriculture Vasily Leonov -- whose "only real offense was disagreeing with the policies of the Lukashenko regime." The following is the text of Foley's statement:

"Recent developments in Belarus continue a pattern of growing repression and further set back the prospects for resolving the constitutional and political crisis facing the country. Legal proceedings resumed on January 19 against former Prime Minister Mikhail Chigir. Politically motivated charges against Chigir, who was unjustly imprisoned for nine months, were brought against him in March 1999 only after he declared his candidacy for president. On January 14, former Minister of Agriculture Vasily Leonov, who had languished in detention for two years, was sentenced to four years imprisonment on fabricated charges. Like Chigir, Leonov's only real offense was disagreeing with the policies of the Lukashenko regime.

Other recent developments include: the continuing political trial of deputy Andrei Klimov, who was brutally beaten by prison guards on December 13; the conviction of young democratic activist Evgeny Osinski for taking part in a demonstration against the regime; and the failure of the authorities to investigate human rights lawyer Oleg Volcheck's formal complaint against police officers who beat him at an anti-Lukashenko rally on July 21, 1999.

The U.S. Government condemns this growing repression and expresses its strong support for those seeking to promote democratic reform in Belarus. We urge the Lukashenko regime to cease its persecution of political opponents. Such action is essential if the OSCE-sponsored dialogue process is to have any chance of success. (USIA, January 24)

U.S. CALL ON BELARUSIAN AUTHORITIES TO STOP PERSECUTING OPPONENTS
On January 27, the United States condemned the persecution of political opponents by the government of Alexander Lukashenko. In a statement to the OSCE Council in Vienna, U.S. Ambassador David Johnson said that recent developments involving former Prime Minister Mikhail Chigir and former Agriculture Minister Vasily Leonov -- both of whom were imprisoned -- represent "a continuing pattern of growing repression" and that their "only real offence" appears to be disagreeing with the policies of the Lukashenko government. The following is the text of his statement:

"Recent developments in Belarus represent a continuing pattern of growing repression and further set back the prospects for resolving the constitutional and political crisis facing the country. On January 19, the trial of former Prime Minister Mikhail Chigir began. The politically motivated charges against Chigir, who had been unjustly imprisoned for nine months already, were brought against him in March 1999 only after he declared his candidacy for president. On January 14, the former Minister of Agriculture Vasily Leonov, who had been detained for two years, was sentenced to four years of imprisonment on what appear to be fabricated charges.
Like Mr. Chigir, Mr. Leonov's only real offence appeared to be disagreeing with the policies of the Lukashenko government.

The U.S. condemns this growing repression and expresses our strong support for those who seek to promote democratic reform in Belarus. We urge the government to cease its persecution of political opponents, and to work with them through an OSCE-sponsored dialogue. For this dialogue to advance, the authorities must halt their actions and take concrete steps to dispel the climate of fear and find a way to engage the opposition in a genuine and meaningful dialogue,
including the framing of a new and effective election law. (USIA, January 27)

COUNCIL OF EUROPE URGED TO CONSIDER SITUATION IN BELARUS SERIOUSLY
On January 25, Amnesty International issued a statement in which it welcomed the January 26 discussion by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe of the situation in Belarus and urged it to consider seriously the persistent violations of human rights in the country. The discussion was based on a report submitted by Wolfgang Behrendt, the Belarus Rapporteur of the Political Affairs Committee. The report condemned the persecution of dissidents and the disappearances of political opponents, stressing the fact that Belarus remains the last country in Europe that continues to enforce the death penalty. "The report echoes AI's concerns about the treatment of opposition figures, independent lawyers, trade unionists, and journalists under the Lukashenko regime since late 1996," reads the statement. "As the silencing of opposition continues unabated, Lukashenko must be held to account by the Council of Europe," AI said. The human rights organization has repeatedly called on the Belarusian authorities to stop the execution of prisoners in Belarus. Information about the death penalty is classed as a state secret and even after a prisoner is executed the relatives are not informed of the date or place of execution. Twenty-nine people were reportedly executed in the first seven months of the year. (Amnesty International, January 25)

PACE: BELARUS FALLS SHORT OF DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS
On January 26, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe expressed its profound concern that Belarus continues to fall seriously short of the Council of Europe standards with respect to pluralist democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. The Assembly discussed a report on the situation in Belarus by Wolfgang Behrendt and decided that there can be no change regarding the suspended status of Belarus. It recalled that following the November 1996 referendum, the Assembly Bureau suspended the special guest status of the Belarusian Parliament in January 1997 and, in December 1998, the application procedure for membership in the Council. The PA held out the prospect of renewing special guest status to Belarus if it creates a "parliament worthy of the name," Behrendt told the Assembly. "If by a year from now the country gets itself a parliament worthy of the name, the Council of Europe will consider again its status of special guest, which is impossible at the moment," he said.

The parliamentarians condemned in the strongest terms the executions in Belarus (Belarus being the only country in Europe where the death penalty is enforced) and the persecution of the current regime's opponents. They expressed deep concern at the disappearance of political opponents in the country, and said that the exercise of freedom of expression, assembly and association there was severely restricted and that neither the independence of the judiciary nor of the bar was guaranteed.

The Assembly stressed that the Belarusian government institutions' legitimacy can only be restored through political dialogue between the authorities and the opposition culminating in democratic elections. It welcomed the agreement to begin negotiations on resolving the crisis and called on political forces in the country to start them as soon as possible. The parliamentarians urged the Belarusian authorities to declare an immediate moratorium on executions, release all political prisoners and end political persecution, clarify what happened to those who disappeared, guarantee the opposition fair access to the electronic media and ensure full respect for freedom of expression, assembly and association. They also urged Belarus to take measures to establish the independence of the judiciary and the bar, cooperate in good faith with the opposition and international organizations, and draft an electoral law to hold free and fair elections. The Assembly stressed that the Council of Europe should be more involved in efforts to resolve the crisis in Belarus and lend its support to the democratic forces in the country. It asked the Committee of Ministers to urgently study how the Council can contribute to the success of political negotiations, to support the drafting of an electoral law, set up programs to strengthen human rights and fundamental freedoms, civil society and the independent media in Belarus, and to make arrangements for a Council of Europe representative to be present in Minsk. (Council of Europe, January 26)

LUKASHENKO IRKED BY PACE DECISION
On January 27, Alexander Lukashenko reacted sharply to the decision by the PA of the Council of Europe not to restore the status of special guest for Belarus. "I am not going to comment on this idiocy," Lukashenko told reporters in Minsk. "These are all political squabbles. I will say frankly, the West will fail to create an opposition to me with my own hands. We will not tolerate double standards. As for human rights, I have said thousand of times - our people have no fewer rights than those who live in the member-states of the COE." "It seems that the West would prefer to have another president and parliament in Belarus, but I was elected by the Belarusian people," he said. (Itar-Tass, January 27)

NEW ELECTORAL CODE LACKS KEY OSCE PROPOSALS
On January 24, the National Assembly, Lower House of the Belarusian Parliament, whose members have been appointed by Alexander Lukashenko, adopted a new Electoral Code. Deputies voted unanimously for the bill, which Anatoly Krasutski, Chairman of the Assembly's Commission on Constitutionalism, called the first Belarusian law including "most of the OSCE's suggestions." Yet, western diplomats said that it contained too few improvements to ensure credible elections later this year. They stressed that while the new code was undoubtedly more democratic than its predecessor it nevertheless lacked key elements suggested by the OSCE to make it more friendly to opposition parties. The Belarusian authorities failed to include key OSCE proposals, including some proportional voting by party lists to balance first-past-the-post constituency voting, rebalancing the powers of the parliament and the presidency, and including opposition representatives on regional election commissions. Krasutski admitted that the opposition had submitted a completely separate draft bill rather than suggestions for parliament's version. "We consciously drew out the length of time for passing the code so that all interested parties could familiarize themselves with it and take part in drawing it up," he said. "However, we received no suggestions from the opposition," he added. He insisted that the code paves the way towards democratic parliamentary elections, while the opposition says that elections under the new law will still be undemocratic because it bans dissidents with court convictions from standing as candidates. (Reuters, January 25)

...AND CONTRARY TO DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
"Belarus' new Electoral Code falls short of OSCE commitments," reads a statement issued by the OSCE's Warsaw-based Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. In the opinion of its experts, "the Code is poorly written." It is organized in a manner that makes it difficult to locate subjects and can require review of numerous articles, scattered throughout the draft, when examining only one subject. The Code contains several internal inconsistencies and contradicts the 1996 [Lukashenko] Constitution. It fails to provide for multi-party or pluralistic representation on the Central Electoral Commission and local election commissions and grants to the executive branch a monopolistic hold on all election commissions. The experts believe that the Code does not provide clear and specific provisions ensuring transparency in the work of election commissions and a uniform appeal process for review of their decisions. "The Code regulates campaign activities to such a degree that it stifles robust and vigorous campaigning and limits the right of free speech and expression. The Code provisions that govern candidate registration and verification of signatures in support of candidates are impractical and will prevent legitimate candidates from participating in the elections," reads the statement. The experts made a conclusion that this excessive campaign regulation is contrary to democratic principles and the freedom of expression article of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. (Charter 97, January 26)

OFFICIAL: OSCE RECOMMENDATIONS REQUIRE CHANGES IN CONSTITUTION
The new Electoral Code makes free and fair parliamentary elections possible in Belarus, Lydia Yermoshina, chairwoman of the official Central Electoral Commission, told reporters in Minsk on January 25. She said that the election system whereby seats are awarded to candidates who win a majority of the vote in single-mandate constituencies is traditional for Belarus and that the OSCE's proposal that a part of the seats be awarded on party lists would require changes in the Belarusian Constitution. Yermoshina admitted that the last version of the Electoral Code fell short of satisfying the OSCE's three fundamental requirements. One of them is the opposition's access to the government-controlled media. Yermoshina stressed that the Electoral Code did not include the term "opposition" but rather the term "candidate" to whom it guarantees equal conditions. The Commission plans to put into operation an electronic vote counting system before the 2000 parliamentary election and launch its web page on the Internet. (Belapan, January 25)

LUKASHENKO AMENDS CRIMINAL CODE BY DECREE
On January 24, Alexander Lukashenko issued a decree allowing district judges to hear cases on charges carrying a maximum prison sentence of up to 10 years without en banc hearing. The decree excludes cases against suspected juvenile offenders. Under the current law, individual judges may hear cases entailing up to five years in prison (or if the accused pleaded guilty or agreed to the examination of their case by a single judge) without convening a panel. This provision was included in the Criminal Code, which was adopted recently by the Belarusian National Assembly. The Belarusian leader endorsed the Code, with the exception of several clauses that would introduce the position of a court bailiff and require courts to hear some cases in the presence of a jury. The changes proposed by Lukashenko to the Criminal Code were rejected by the House of Representatives of the Belarusian National Assembly last fall. Therefore, the president decided to bypass the National Assembly and introduce his amendment by decree, which has the force of the law. Both the decree and the new Criminal Code will take effect on July 1, 2000. (Belapan, January 24)

IPU COMMITTEE DISCUSSES SITUATION WITH DEPUTIES RIGHTS IN BELARUS
On January 24, the session of the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union discussed the civil rights of the 13th Supreme Soviet members. The session was attended by Ludmila Gryaznova, a deputy of the 13th Supreme Soviet. The House of Representatives of the Belarusian National Assembly, which was hand-picked by Alexander Lukashenko in late 1996 to replace the dissolved 13th Supreme Soviet, was represented by Leonid Glukhovsky, who also heads the Investigative Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The IPU is concerned with the imprisonment of 13th Supreme Soviet members Andrei Klimov and Vladimir Koudinov and the "traceless" disappearance of Viktor Gonchar, Deputy Chairman of the 13th Supreme Soviet. IPU officials visited Belarus last November and submitted a special report to the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians. (Belapan, January 25)

SENTENCED FORMER MINISTER TRANSFERRED TO HIGH-SECURITY PRISON CAMP
Vasily Leonov, a former Minister of Agriculture, was transferred from a detention center in Minsk to a high-security labor camp in Orsha, where he will serve the remainder of his term. On January 14, the Supreme Court sentenced Leonov to four years for embezzlement and accepting bribes. He had spent more than two years in pre-trial detention by then. Public defenders Boris Zvozkov and Svetlana Vlasova, Leonov's daughter, believe that none of the elements of his criminal case have been proved. (See Belarus Update Vol.3, No. 2,3). (Belapan, January 26)

AUTHORITIES FAIL TO INVESTIGATE POLICE BRUTALITIES
Despite the authorities' denial to renew its license for providing legal services, the Public Legal Aid Association continues to insist on the prosecution of police officers who severely beat and abused protesters during and after the opposition-staged Freedom March in Minsk on October 17, 1999. (See Belarus Update Vol. 2, No. 43). On January 7, the Assistant Prosecutor of Partizanski District in Minsk turned down the complaint filed by the Association's lawyers against the police officers on the ground that it did not contain sufficient allegations with respect to the offense. The official based his conclusion on the officers' testimony. Oleg Volchek, the director of the Association, said that in reply to the Association's inquiry, the Minsk Chief Internal Affairs Directorate wrote, "our investigation revealed no violations of the basic rights and freedoms of Belarusian citizens, nor of illegal acts mentioned in your statement. There is no evidence that OMON officers used physical force." (Belapan, January 28)

OPPOSITION ACTIVIST PLACED UNDER ARREST
Alexander Abramovich, the leader of the Borisov branch of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party, was sentenced to six days in jail, the BSDP press office told Belapan. Abramovich was arrested by police on January 19 for protesting against the continuous prosecution of Mikhail Chigir near the Minsk City Court, where the former prime minister stood trial that day. For three days, according to the BSDP, the police ignored inquiries by Abramovich's relatives and friends about his whereabouts. In response to their phone calls, police officers said that they had no idea where he could be. (Belapan, January 24)

INDEPENDENT TRADE UNION LEADER FINED
On January 24, Nikolai Romanov, activist of the Independent Trade Union of the Minsk Automobile Plant, was found guilty of violating street demonstration regulations and fined 330,000 BRB (about $375). Romanov denied his active participation in an unsanctioned rally near the Plant's main entrance on December 16. He claimed he had come there to distribute the Rabochy (Worker) trade union newspaper. About 200 MAZ workers took part in the rally to display a protest against the eviction of the Independent Trade Union from its office by the Plant's administration. The police and people in plain clothes used force to disperse the protestors. (Belapan, January 24)

RE-REGISTRATION DECREE STILL BITES
The infamous Decree No. 2 of January 26, 1999 "On Certain Measures Aimed at Regulation of Activities of Political Parties, Trade Unions and other Public Associations" ordered public organizations, trade unions, and political parties to re-register from February 1 and July 1, 1999 (see Belarus Update Vol. 2, No.6). By signing this decree, Lukashenko aimed to hinder the activities of opposition organizations, particularly trade unions. After a long battle and numerous appeals to international organizations, the Belarusian Free Trade Union (BFTU) was re-registered by the Ministry of Justice on July 30, 1999. However, this did not mark the end of its problems related to re-registration, because under the Decree the Union still had to re-register all of its regional branches with local executive and administrative bodies. Having failed to eliminate the Belarusian Free Trade Union from the top, the authorities are now doing their best to liquidate its organizational structures. To achieve this unstated objective, the authorities use Article 17 of the decree, which requires that every local chapter of any national public organization -- including trade unions and political parties - has a so-called "legal address" to re-register. In addition, Article 2 of the Belarusian "Law on Trade Unions" states that unions should be created and function where their members work. For a local chapter to operate at a factory or an office building, it should register there, i.e., list the official address of the enterprise as the chapter's legal address. But that can only be done with the management's consent. Currently, the BFTU is unable to meet the requirements of the decree because directors of some enterprises find far-fetched pretexts not to give their confirmation of the legal address. Subsequently, union members are told that their organization is illegal and threatened with litigation. Such instances are documented at the Mogilev Automobile Plant, Mogilev "Zenith" Plant, Tractor Parts and Units Plant in Bobruisk, Autogidrousilitel Plant in Borisov, Production Amalgamation "Khimvolokno" in Grodno, Orsha Flax Plant, Open and Joint Stock Company "Orsha-Agroprommash," Gomel Electroapparatura Plant, and others. The new legislation is a blatant violation of Article 22 (freedom of assembly) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Belarus is a party. (Free Trade Union, January 28)

--AT HOME IN BELARUS--

BELARUS-IRAN MILITARY COOPERATION
Sergei Ling, the Belarusian Prime Minister, said that Belarus is ready to export military technology to Iran and called for "closer security cooperation between the two countries," the Iranian state television reported on January 18. "Iran is one of our reliable partners in the Middle East," Ling added. In mid-January, Hassan Rohani, Iran's Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, visited Belarus at the invitation of Alexander Lukashenko. During the visit, Rohani met with Lukashenko and other high-ranking Belarusian officials. (Middle East News Items, January 24)

-- BROTHER SLAVS--

CIS SUMMIT APPOINTS PUTIN NEW CHAIRMAN
On January 24, the first post-Yeltsin summit of the CIS took place in Moscow, appointing Vladimir Putin, Acting Russian President, the organization's new chairman. The eleven heads of the former Soviet republics unanimously propelled the 47-year-old former KGB agent into the post, vacated when Boris Yeltsin resigned as Russian president on December 31. The summit opened with discussion of "the fight against international terrorism," by which Russia primarily means its military campaign against Moslem rebel fighters in Chechnya. Participants also passed a resolution to create a single CIS anti-terrorist center, and backed a broad anti-terrorism program proposed by Kazakhstan. "In some countries there is an illusion that weak points have emerged in the post-Soviet expanse where terrorism can flourish, but we shall not allow this," Putin told journalists after the end of the summit. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur, January 25)

RUSSIA, BELARUS SIGN YET ANOTHER UNION TREATY
On January 26, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko signed a treaty bringing the former Soviet republics one step closer to a full merger. The signing, the fifth between the two countries in as many years, comes after both parliaments ratified the treaty, although it does not merge the two ex-Soviet republics into one state. "Bringing this treaty into force is a historic event corresponding to not only national interests, but embodying the will to live and work for the common good," Putin said after the ceremony. "It is necessary for us to create a common legal, economic, defense and humanitarian base," he added. Lukashenko, who strongly supports a full union with Russia, said that the treaty is a "step toward the re-creation of a great country that was broken apart." Putin has said the pact will enhance Russia's military potential. (Agence France Presse, January 26)

LUKASHENKO APPOINTED FIRST CHAIRMAN OF RUSSIA-BELARUS UNION
On January 26, Alexander Lukashenko was named as the first Supreme Council Chairman of the revitalized union of Moscow and Minsk. Vladimir Putin announced the appointment at a televised ceremony in the Kremlin after the Council's inaugural meeting. The position had originally been earmarked for Boris Yeltsin before his surprise resignation on December 31. Lukashenko, who has been impatient with the pace at which the Union is being created, told the news conference in Moscow that "the union marks a strengthening, a competitor of the West, and they don't want this." Most observers say the union is little more than a bit of populism, but the treaty could have serious implications. Putin will not initially hold a formal position in the Union bureaucracy. Russia's first deputy prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov was appointed chairman of the Joint Council of Ministers, while the corruption-tarred former Kremlin finance chief Pavel Borodin became State Secretary of the Union. The Union will be presided over by a new Supreme State Council incorporating both presidents and governments and both speakers of parliament. The heads of state will take turns in chairing the Council. (Interfax, January 26)

NEW STATE SECRETARY OF UNION SUMMONED TO SWISS COURT
A Geneva court has issued an international summons against Pavel Borodin, a former aide of Boris Yeltsin and newly appointed State Secretary of the Russia-Belarus Union, in connection with allegations of money laundering, an examining magistrate Daniel Devaud said on January 27. Borodin, formerly the Kremlin property manager, is under investigation for having allegedly taken kick-backs for construction contracts, including the renovation of the Kremlin. Geneva courts have blocked several bank accounts and begun investigations into allegations of money laundering. Borodin called the summons "political provocation." He said that the source of the provocation came from inside Russia. The Swiss courts have received applications from the Russian authorities to help them with their inquiries into cases involving Russian funds. Meanwhile in Moscow, Vladimir Martynov, an Interior Ministry official, suggested Russia would not cooperate if Switzerland tried to extradite Borodin, because Russia has not signed any extradition treaties with the Swiss. (Agence France Presse, January 27)

BELGRADE HOPES TO JOIN RUSSIAN-BELARUS UNION
On January 26, in an interview to the Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Russian daily, Zivadin Jovanovic, Yugoslav Foreign Minister, repeated the calls for his country to join the Russia-Belarus Union. "Yugoslavia's participation in the Union is not only a positive development for the people of the three countries, but it is also a contribution to positive developments in Europe," Jovanovic said. The Yugoslav parliament, during the peak of NATO airstrikes last April, voted to join the Union. The Russia-Belarus treaty, however, does not mention Yugoslavia. (Agence France Presse, January 26)

YELTSIN AWARDED BELARUSIAN ORDER
On January 26, Lukashenko presented an award, the Order of Frantsysk Skaryna, to Yeltsin at the Belarusian Embassy in Moscow for his contribution to the integration of the two countries. Yeltsin accepted the award graciously. "The task of unification of the peoples of two countries has been handed over to reliable hands," he said. As they stood drinking champagne, Lukashenko said that Yeltsin "had gotten younger" since he last saw him. He invited Yeltsin to visit Belarus. The invitation was accepted. The Frantsysk Skaryna Order was instituted in 1995. Since then 27 people have received it, including 10 foreigners. In 1998, the order was bestowed upon Patriarch Alexey II of Moscow and All Russia. (Itar-Tass, January 26)

-CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS-

February 1- Free Trade Union of Entrepreneurs to stage nationwide protest.
February 14 - Malady Front to stage action of protest "Belarus into Europe!"
February 15 - Opposition to mark anniversary of withdrawal of Russian troops from Afghanistan
March 15 - Opposition to stage the Freedom March-2.
March 22 - Democratic Trade Unions to stage nationwide protest.
March 25 - Opposition to mark the founding in 1918 of the Belarusian People's Republic
April 26 - Opposition to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster ************************************************************************

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 was established to support Belarusian citizens in making their cases before the U.S. government and public and international fora and intergovernmental organizations regarding 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.

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