INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

BELARUS UPDATE
Edited by Victor Cole

Vol. 3, No. 11
March 2000

IN THIS ISSUE:

--HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION NEWS-

THOUSANDS TURN OUT FOR FREEDOM MARCH-2
On March 15 at 6 p.m., according to preliminary information from the Charter 97 press center, about 10,000 participants in Freedom March-2 gathered at the Yakub Kolas Square. Thousands more joined as the demonstrators made their way along Skaryna Avenue. By the time the march had reached Bangalore Park, the final destination, there were more than 40,000 participants, according to reports from Charter 97. At 8:45 p.m., several opposition leaders, including Anatoly Lebedko, Mikhail Chigir, Liudmila Gryaznova, and Vintsuk Vyachorka addressed the crowd. Read next week's Belarus Update for a full account of the march. (Charter 97, March 15)

PARLIAMENTARY TROIKA ATTACKS BELARUS ELECTORAL PROCESS
On March 4, a parliamentary troika consisting of members from the OSCE, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe finished a three-day visit to Minsk. The team monitored the democratic efforts of the government and opposition ahead of the October elections. European bodies have strongly criticized the Belarusian political system, warning that its next parliament will not be recognized internationally unless the electoral campaign is fair. "We would never recognize results of a parliamentary election where the opposition is not given access to the mass media," said Jan Wiersma, chairman of the Belarus group in the European Parliament. Wiersma added that he hoped immediate measures would be taken by the Belarus government to end "politically motivated harassment, arrests and detentions." The European representatives met with Alexander Lukashenko, members of eight opposition parties, independent media organizations, parliamentary deputies, and foreign ministry officials. Following the discussions, the Presidential administration announced that electoral laws may be changed as a result of the talks, without giving details. But opposition party leaders weren't optimistic. "The government has allowed us to publicize some of our opinions on state television and newspapers but it won't last. As soon as the delegation leaves, everything will return to how it was before, when all the media did was to denounce the opposition," Nikolai Statkevich, leader of the Social Democratic Party, told Agence France Presse. Opposition parties threaten to boycott the elections in protest of the corrupt electoral system. (Agence France Presse, March 4)

…AND URGES GOVERNMENT TO REOPEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH OPPOSITION
Regarding the results of their visit to Minsk, representatives of the European Parliament, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly released a statement. The full text of the statement follows.

"The Parliamentary Troika was set up by the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe to demonstrate their joint commitment in support of efforts within Belarus to restore functioning and credible democratic institutions by peaceful means. While in Minsk, with the active support of the OSCE AMG headed by Ambassador Wieck, we have conducted discussions with all the principle political forces in Belarus, including President Lukashenko and leaders of the democratic opposition, as well as with representatives from civil society.

We have been shocked by the derailment of the negotiation process that was begun last year. Nevertheless, we have been encouraged by the willingness expressed by all sides to finding an acceptable solution to the outstanding political difficulties, and this gives us some grounds for cautious optimism about the future cause of the events.

We called for a round table meeting between the authorities, the opposition and the civil society and this took place this morning in the context of the renewed national dialogue. We believe that such meetings should continue and be aimed at reviewing the electoral code, on providing pluralistic access to the media and on establishing an adequate role and level competence for the parliament. We would suggest that the appointment of an impartial and mutually acceptable person to the round table discussions would further establish confidence in the process which is urgent and must be ongoing. The OSCE AMG should continue to assist and facilitate this process.

We believe that all parties should remain involved and committed to the dialogue, which must lead to a broad consensus on the framework and conditions, which would allow fair and pluralistic democratic elections to take place in the autumn which could be recognized as legitimate by the international community. We believe that immediate measures should be taken by the Belarus authorities to bring about an improved climate of confidence for the talks, including full implementation of all agreements reached so far. Politically motivated harassment, arrests and detentions must cease, and we welcome the commitment of the authorities to respect this position. The Parliamentary troika will remain constituted until a successful conclusion of the process has been reached. We believe that a window of opportunity now exists for Belarus to rejoin the international community." (Charter 97, March 6)

LUKASHENKO WARNS EUROPE NOT TO ALIENATE BELARUS
On March 3, Alexander Lukashenko told a delegation of European parliamentarians there could be no doubt that human rights were respected in his country. "Belarus is not a country where human rights are flouted. Why, then, is Europe putting pressure on us? Does that mean there is some other reason?" Lukashenko asked the deputies. "The more injustice there is in relations with Belarus, the more you will push us away and we will be forced to seek allies outside Europe." He stressed that he was ready to discuss the problem of the Belarus-Europe partnership at "any level." In his words, "we have been always carrying on the dialogue with the European Union using the principles of equal rights, mutual non-intervention in the internal affairs, respect of the independence and sovereignty of Belarus." The OSCE has urged Lukashenko and his opponents to negotiate an end to the constitutional impasse and ensure that democratic Parliamentary elections this year will be recognized as free and fair by all sides. Lukashenko has rejected the OSCE's mediation efforts in favor of "broad" talks which would exclude the opposition. "We will do our best to deprive you of a basis for criticizing the Parliamentary elections. The elections will be prepared according to international standards," said Lukashenko to the spokesmen of the European Parliament. (Reuters, March 4)

US CONGRESS HOLDS HEARING ON BELARUS
On March 9, the Congressional Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe held a hearing: "Belarus: Stalled at a Crossroads" on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Commissioner Harold Hongju Koh, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; Ross Wilson, Principal Deputy to the Ambassador-at-Large and Special Advisor to the Secretary of State for the New Independent States; Anatoly Lebedko, chair of the Commission for International Affairs of the 13th Supreme Soviet and deputy chair of the United Civic Party; Semyon Sharetsky, Speaker of the Belarusian 13th Supreme Soviet, illegally disbanded by Alexander Lukashenko in 1996; Stanislav Shushkevich, former Chairman of the Supreme Soviet, independent Belarus's first Head of State; Adrian Severin, head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Working Group on Belarus and a Romanian Parliamentarian; former Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs (1996-97), testified to the Commission.

The key issues discussed during the hearings included talks between the authorities and opposition mediated by the OSCE, human rights, the Belarusian electoral code, and the Russia-Belarus Union. All of the speakers stressed that they see no other way to improve living conditions in Belarus except through open talks with opposition, followed by free, democratic elections.

"Democratic legitimacy can only be restored through free and fair elections in which all citizens and candidates can participate on an equal basis and by restoring the necessary checks and balances among the branches of government. The Lukashenko regime's recent announcement of plans to resume the OCSE - sponsored dialogue with the opposition must not impose pre-conditions that will make it impossible for the opposition to participate. It instead must produce real results, including agreement on an electoral code that meets OCSE standards and provides for legitimate, free and fair parliamentary elections," said Assistant Secretary Harold Hongju Koh.

Adrian Severin admitted that the Belarusian leadership refuses to fulfill OSCE commitments. "It has been numerously repeated that the U.S. and the international community are looking forward to seeing the Belarusian authorities comply with their commitments and agreements," Congressman Christopher Smith (R-NJ), presiding at the hearings, said. He added that Lukashenko has been refusing a serious dialogue with opposition, is trying to win time, violating Belarus commitments and bringing the country back to its communist past.

This time there were no Belarusian embassy representatives present at the hearings, as had always been the case before. However, they distributed a special statement of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stated that the Belarusian opposition has access to state-controlled media, that Lukashenko is ready for a dialogue with the entire spectrum of parties, that opposition leaders Vladimir Koudinov, Andrei Klimov, and Mikhail Chigir face trials for having committed criminal offenses, not for their political position.

Semyon Sharetsky said in his speech that the preservation of Belarusian independence, the salvation of its state sovereignty, the return to democracy and Belarus' re-entry into European structures are a necessary pre-condition for creating normal lifestyle for the 10 million Belarusians and for the security of Belarus's neighbors and Europe as a whole.

Anatoly Lebedko, who was granted travel documents just a few days before the event, warned the participants that the declarations and promises of the Lukashenko regime are not worth anything. This greatly worsens the prospects of any negotiations and does not guarantee the implementation of any agreements. Lebedko stressed that the U.S. in coalition with the EU is capable of effectively influencing the situation in Belarus, using the possibilities offered by Russia for this purpose. The allocation of financial assistance to Russia should be considered in conjunction with the human rights situation in Belarus. The protection of human rights must remain one of the priorities of the Western foreign policy.

Ross Wilson reiterated that the Lukashenko government long ago lost its democratic legitimacy and lacks the authority to commit Belarus to something that could diminish the country's sovereignty and independence. Next week, Wilson is expected to visit Belarus. He is expected to concentrate on the issues of dialogue, disappearances of political activists, and the unification treaty between Russia and Belarus. Wilson plans to meet with representatives of the Belarusian opposition, relatives of political prisoners and OSCE mission in Belarus. For the full texts of the speeches, see the CSCE website at http://www.house.gov/csce/030900Hearing.html (CSCE, March 9).

INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS SUBMITS APPEAL ON BELARUS
On March 8, the International League for Human Rights submitted an appeal on the situation in Belarus to the OSCE Chair-in-Office, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and to the OSCE's Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. In particular, the League believes that "tying human rights to the political process has had a damaging effect on human rights in Belarus." Further, the letter states that "it is time to call the brutal actions what they are: not obstacles to a dialogue needed for elections and an exit strategy for OSCE missions and member states, but gross, systematic, continuing, and increasingly egregious violations of human rights which prevent normal and recognizable democratic and just elections from ever taking place in the first place. Furthermore, it is time to recognize that it is not a recalcitrant or disunified opposition, or their stubborn refusal to compromise that creates the political impasse in Belarus, or their lack of support among a population deprived of information, it is rather the Government of Belarus." The League calls for a Human Rights White Paper to be issued by the OSCE AMG in Belarus and which would cover the major aspects of the human rights crisis in Belarus. For a full copy of the letter, please send requests to belarus@ilhr.org. (ILHR, March 8)

DELEGATION OF BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION VISITS SWEDEN
On March 6-7, a delegation of the Belarusian opposition visited Sweden at the invitation of the Swedish Institute, a non-governmental organization. The delegation consisted of Andrei Sannikov, Charter 97 international coordinator and former Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister, Anatoly Lebedko, Chairman of the Commission for International Affairs of the 13th Supreme Soviet and Deputy Chairman of the United Civic Party, Stanislav Bogdankevich, Chairman of the United Civil Party, Vintsuk Vyachorka, Chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front "Adradzhenne," Victor Ivashkevich, Vice-President of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, Alexei Korol, Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Social-Democratic Party, Semyon Domash, a deputy of the Supreme Soviet Presidium and Chairman of the Grodno Initiative, and Janna Litvina, President of the Belarusian Association of Journalists. During the visit Belarusians met with Anna Lindh, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anders Bjorck, Vice Speaker of the Swedish Parliament, members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency, representatives of the Swedish NGOs, journalists and informed them about the latest political developments in Belarus. The visit ended with an international seminar on Belarus held at the Olof Palme Center. (Charter 97, March 7)

BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS MEET POLISH PARLIAMENTARIANS
On March 3, Stanislav Bogdankevich, chairman of the United Civil Party, and Pavel Daneiko, deputy of the 13th Supreme Soviet, held meetings with prominent Polish politicians and parliamentarians in Warsaw. Polish Vice Premier Leshek Baltserovich assured representatives of the Belarusian opposition that democratic Belarus has always been considered by Poland its strategic partner and friendly neighbor. He said that Poland will not recognize parliamentary elections in Belarus, if they do not meet democratic standards and not involve opposition parties. (Charter 97, March 3)

PRESIDENTIAL AIDE INVITES PARTIES TO "APPLY FOR DIALOGUE"
On March 6, Vladimir Rusakevich, deputy chief of the Presidential Administration, appeared on Belarusian State Television and asked political parties and public associations to submit their applications for participation in what officials call "a nationwide political dialogue" before March 15. Rusakevich's address followed his meeting with Lukashenko earlier the same day, at which Rusakevich informed the Belarusian leader about work done in relation to the dialogue with the opposition and about the results of a visit by European parliamentarians. According to him, "the president positively received a statement issued on the results of the visit that the parliamentarian troika and was pleased to note the readiness among all sides of the Belarusian society to find acceptable solutions to political issues in the context of the renewal of a national dialogue." "Believe me, the working group will do its best so that the dialogue will be constructive, fruitful, and beneficial to our society," Rusakevich promised on TV. (Belapan, March 7)

OPPOSITION ACCUSES AUTHORITIES OF IMITATING DIALOGUE
On March 6, the Consultative Council of the Belarusian Opposition Political Parties announced that the dialogue in the way it is proposed by the government is drawing away the public attention from the main task - the securing of normal conditions for the holding of free and democratic parliamentarian elections this year. "Despite the government's publicly declared readiness for an open dialogue with 'anybody,' the state media remains inaccessible to opposition parties and most citizens," the Council said in a statement. "A major campaign has been launched to discredit the political opposition and the democratic ideas of social and governmental reform. The state-controlled media fills its news programs with propaganda about 'the only correct opinion' on all ongoing processes," reads the statement. In this regard, the opposition demands strict adherence to the government-opposition agreement reached last fall on access to the mass media and meditation of the talks between the government and the opposition by the OSCE. (Belapan, March 6)

PARTY OF LABOR TO BOYCOTT DIALOGUE IF IT TURNS INTO FARCE
The Belarusian Party of Labor has announced that it would take no part in the dialogue proposed by Lukashenko if the government "turns it into a farce." "The country's political leadership and cabinet make no conscious and realistic provisions for the future and for resolving the economic and social problems," the Party said in a statement. "The policies pursued by Lukashenko and his entourage aggravate the country's international isolation and put Belarus in danger of tough economic sanctions for flagrant violations of basic human rights." The Party stressed that the dialogue can only be effective if the government agrees to reestablish the separation of powers, to restore the unicameral Supreme Soviet to its original powers, to give up its monopoly over the state media, to work out new regulations for presidential elections jointly with the opposition, to convoke a constitutional assembly to amend the constitution, to adopt a new electoral law and to allow free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections. (Belapan, March 7)

OPPOSITION LEADERS CHARGED WITH ORGANIZING 1999 PROTESTS
On March 6, Nikolai Statkevich, leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party, and Valery Shchukin, a member of the 13th Supreme Soviet, were officially charged with "organization or active participation in group actions which resulted in violations of public order" under Article 186, part 3 of the Belarusian Criminal Code for organization of the Freedom March in Minsk on October 17, 1999, which involved clashes with the police (See Belarus Update Vol. 2, No. 42). Statkevich is also charged with the organization of the opposition protest in Minsk on July 27 1999 (See Belarus Update Vol.2, No.31). (Belapan, March 6)

THREE PROTESTERS SENTENCED TO FIVE DAYS IN JAIL GO ON HUNGER STRIKE
On March 3, Timofei Dranchuk, 18, Philip Klikushyn, 24, and Leonid Malakhov, 34, three opposition activists who staged an unauthorized demonstration near the building of the Presidential Administration on March 1 (See Belarus Update Vol.3, No.10), have been sentenced to five days in jail. Judge Elena Tereshkova of the Leninski District Court in Minsk found them guilty of violating the street demonstration regulations. In the courtroom, activists said that they did not stage an unsanctioned demonstration, but wanted to petition Lukashenko for a thorough investigation into the disappearances of opposition leaders Victor Gonchar, Yury Zakharenko, and businessman Anatoly Krasovsky. Protesting the judge's decision, the activists declared a dry hunger strike. After the court proceedings, they were driven to the Leninski police department, where they were held for 6 hours in a small cell. Then, the handcuffed detainees were forced into a police vehicle to be transferred to a special detention center. During the 6-hour "journey", drunken policemen constantly humiliated and insulted them. Timofei Dranchuk received a serious head injury, when one of the law-enforcer kicked the metal door of the car. The young man was refused medical help. The ambulance arrived 24 hours later, upon the request of Dranchuk's inmates. He was hospitalized. On March 8, Leonid Malakhov and Philip Klikushyn were released, Charter 97 reported. (Belapan- Charter 97, March 3-5)

AUTHORITIES PERMIT FREEDOM MARCH-2
On March 9, the Minsk City Council allowed Freedom March-2, which the opposition plans to stage in Minsk on March 15. The protest is supposed to be the first in a series of demonstrations through which the opposition hopes to compel Lukashenko to begin genuine talks and to allow free and fair parliamentary elections this fall. According to Victor Ivashkevich, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front "Adradzhenne," the authorities were at first reluctant to allow the march but then agreed to a compromise. The organizers originally intended to march along Skaryna Avenue and to stage a rally and a concert on Independence Square in Minsk. It was finally agreed that the rally and the concert would take place on Bangalore Square, away from the city center, where the demonstrators would march along Skaryna Avenue from Yakub Kolas Square. (Belapan, March 9)

OPPOSITION APPLIES FOR PERMISSION TO DEMONSTRATE ON MARCH 25
On March 9, the BPF "Adradzhenne," the Belarusian Social Democratic Party, the United Civic Party and some other opposition organizations applied to the Minsk City Council for permission to demonstrate in Minsk on March 25 to mark the 82nd anniversary of the proclamation of the Belarusian National Republic. The demonstration is to be staged under the slogan "Long Live Independent, Prosperous, Democratic, European Belarus!" The organizers plan to march from Yakub Kolas Square along Skaryna Avenue to Yanka Kupala Park, where they plan to stage a rally and a concert. (Belapan, March 9)

GOVERNMENT IN EXILE APPEALS TO BELARUSIANS
Ivonka Survilla, chairwoman of the Belarusian self-proclaimed government in exile, has called on Belarusians to commemorate on March 25 an anniversary of the proclamation of the Belarusian Popular Republic in 1918. In her appeal, Survilla expressed concern about Belarus' future. "Belarus is now in danger. Acting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Alyaksandr Lukashenko are trying to make Belarusians serve again the strategic interests of the Russian empire. But the only result of this corrupt policy will be the impoverishment and complete destruction of the Belarusian nation," reads the statement. (Belapan, March 6)

JUDGMENT ON KLIMOV'S CASE IS EXPECTED ON MARCH 17
Judge Vera Tupik of the Leninski District Court in Minsk has said that the court's decision on the case of Andrei Klimov, businessman and a deputy of the 13th Supreme Soviet, would be announced on March 17. The judgment was originally expected on March 9. The court session that day was attended by U.S. Ambassador Daniel Speckhard, 13th Supreme Soviet deputies Alexander Dobrovolsky and Mikhail Grushevsky, and some other opposition and public figures. "Not only my impression, but the impression of many Belarusians is that the court system is not actually independent," Speckhard told reporters after the hearing. "I think it is very important for Belarusians' sake to develop a court system where everyone feels that it is fair and independent. Too many Belarusians think that judgments are determined before the trial," he said. Commenting on the Klimov case, the U.S. ambassador expressed hope that the authorities would show some clemency after more than two years spent by Klimov in jail. "He has diabetes and some heart problems. He is a father of three children. And I think it is time for him to go home," said Speckhard.

Klimov and seven executives of his company have been standing trial since July 22, 1999. Klimov, as the head of a building company, is charged with large-scale embezzlement and forgery during the construction of an apartment building in Minsk. The prosecution suggests that Klimov be sentenced to 9 years in prison. Prosecutor Galina Radkevich demands a 5-year prison term for Leonid Volkovich, deputy director of Klimov's company, and a 3-year suspended sentence and corrective labor for Ivan Lukyanchuk, a company employee. The prosecutor demands suspended sentences for five other defendants whom she accuses of forgery. Radkevich considers it possible to acquit one defendant, Yermolovich.

Klimov, a member of the 13th Supreme Soviet, the Belarusian parliament disbanded by Lukashenko in 1996 after a controversial referendum, has been held in jail since February 11, 1998. He is among the members of the 13th Supreme Soviet who have not recognized the results of the referendum and still consider the 13th Supreme Soviet the only legitimate parliament in Belarus. He repeatedly used strong-worded statements to criticize Lukashenko. In 1996, he put his signature to an impeachment motion against Lukashenko. (Belapan, March 9)

OPPOSITION: DECISION ON KLIMOV'S CASE POSTPONED FOR POLITICAL REASONS
Vyacheslav Sivchik, deputy chairman of the BPF "Adradzhenne," believes that there are political reasons behind the Leninski District Court's decision to postpone until March 17 its judgment on the case of Andrei Klimov. "The authorities have been delaying the proceedings intentionally," Sivchik told a Belapan correspondent. In his opinion, the outcome of Klimov's trial will depend on the turnout of the Freedom March-2 scheduled for March 15 and the position of the international community. He added that the Belarusian authorities want to know the results of a hearing on Belarus in the U.S. Congress before the judgment is pronounced in the Klimov case. (Belapan, March 9)

JAILED DEPUTY TRANSFERRED TO PUNISHMENT CELL
On March 1, Vladimir Koudinov, deputy of the 13th Supreme Soviet, was transferred to a punishment cell for seven days, his wife Zoya told the Belapan news agency. She referred to an anonymous letter that she received by mail. According to the letter, Koudinov was punished for misconduct. "It is likely that with the approach of another amnesty, the administration of the labor camp, where the deputy is being kept, has been instructed to charge Koudinov with as much misconduct as possible to make him ineligible for the amnesty," reads the letter. [Koudinov has refused to appeal to Lukashenko for pardon.] Mrs. Koudinov filed an inquiry with the administration of the labor camp. (Belapan, March 5)

HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP EVICTED FROM PREMISES AGAIN
The Public Legal Aid Association was forced to move to a new office for the fourth time in the last 18 months. On March 7, Oleg Volchek, executive director of the Association, told a news conference in Minsk that the local housing authorities terminated a lease contract for the office with the NGO after receiving a letter from the Ministry of Justice. "Earlier, the ministry suspended the Association's license for providing legal services. Now it wants the association to introduce an amendment into its charter limiting legal assistance to entities only," Volchek said. He said that the organization will nevertheless continue to handle appeals and complaints from individuals about their rights violations despite the authorities' pressure. "In civilized countries, the Ministries of Justice assists human rights organizations, but the Belarusian Ministry, probably has another purpose - to hamper their activities. The Lukashenko regime does not like it when human rights violations come to light," Volchek said. (Belapan, March 7)

CHARTER 97 STAGES SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS IN MINSK
On March 4-9, Charter 97, a civic nationwide movement, staged a series of demonstrations on Bangalore Square in Minsk, demanding that the Lukashenko regime stop violating human rights and start talks with the opposition on solutions to the political and economic crisis. The demonstrations have received official permission from the Minsk City Council. (Charter, March 5-9)

ACTIVIST OF NON-REGISTERED NGO FINED
On March 3, the Leninski District Court in Minsk fined Miroslav Lozovsky, an activist of the White Legion, a right-wing organization, for distribution of the leaflets of an unregistered NGO. Lozovsky became the first person, convicted under article 167, part 10 of the Belarusian Administrative Code, which came into force in 1999 and stipulates punishment for participation in the activities of unregistered organizations. (Viasna 96, March 3)

--AT HOME IN BELARUS-

BELARUS TO OPEN EMBASSY IN IRAQ
The Belarusian Council of Ministers has issued a directive to open a Belarusian embassy in Iraq this year. The embassy is expected to have a staff of at least six people, apart from security and maintenance personnel. (Belapan, March 6)

A NUCLEAR MARCH
Alexander Lukashenko has more than once called the withdrawal of nuclear armament from Belarusian territory "a mistake." In the near future this "mistake" may well be corrected, and nuclear missiles may return to their silos located to the west of Smolensk, the Novye Izvestia Russian newspaper wrote on March 7. According to the newspaper, a principal agreement has been reached between Moscow and Minsk in this respect. Perhaps this agreement is even accompanied by a relevant protocol whose existence is kept secret. As a result, this year nuclear-tipped missiles may return to Belarus. Specialists assert that technically it is feasible to reinstall missiles on the Belarusian territory. Some military experts, however, consider it to be a strategic mistake to redeploy missiles on their former positions, because the launching sites have long been indicated on the NATO maps as priority targets in the event of a nuclear strike against Russia. Therefore, it would be more likely that Russia would deploy in Belarus mobile missile systems and strategic bombers. The possible places of deployment of the bombers are the airfields in Bykhov, Bobruisk, Baranovichi, and Machulishchi. It was there that the regiments and headquarters of two divisions of strategic aviation were stationed prior to the USSR's disintegration. As a paper's correspondent has learned, the Machulishchi airfield is already being prepared for hosting strategic bombers again. (Novye Izvestia, March 7)

--CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS-

March 15 - Opposition to stage the Freedom March-2
March 18 - Belarusian diaspora to picket the Belarusian and Russian Consulates in NYC
March 22 - Democratic Trade Unions to stage nationwide protest
March 25 - Belarusian diaspora to picket the Belarusian Embassy in Washington D.C.
March 25 - Opposition to mark the founding in 1918 of the Belarusian People's Republic, crushed by the Bolsheviks
April 26 - Opposition to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster ************************************************************************
The 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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