INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

BELARUS UPDATE
Edited by Victor Cole

Vol. 4, No. 9
March 2001

IN THIS ISSUE:

- Belarus falls severely short of meeting human rights standards
- State TV accuses U.S. of intensifying subversive activities in Belarus
- Lukashenko promises to arrest all spies
- Interior Minister plays down political disappearances
- Orsha-based public association closed down by authorities
- Editors of two local independent newspapers stand trial
- Authorities launch residential propaganda campaign in provinces
- Potential opposition candidate targeted by authorities
- Another candidate summoned for interrogation
- Ministry of Education bans seminars of People's University
- Youth organize anti-Lukashenko happenings in Minsk
- Lack of evidence delays trial of opposition leaders
- U.S. reassures its recognition of disbanded parliament
- Office of independent newspaper burglarized

--HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION NEWS-

BELARUS FALLS SEVERELY SHORT OF MEETING HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

On February 26, the U.S. State Department released its 25th annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which cover human rights situation in 195 countries around the world. According to the report, the Belarusian government's human rights record worsened significantly in 2000. The authorities continued to limit the right of citizens to change their government, and Lukashenko took severe measures to neutralize political opponents. The authorities did not account for the disappearances of well-known opposition figures. Security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained citizens, and the number of politically motivated arrests increased. Prison conditions remained poor. Prolonged detention and delays in trials were common, particularly in politically sensitive cases. Law enforcement agencies violated citizens' privacy rights and monitored closely the activities of opposition politicians. Severe restrictions on freedom of speech, the press, and peaceful assembly continued, and the authorities did not respect freedom of association. The authorities continued to impose limits on freedom of religion and restricted freedom of movement. Government security agents hindered efforts of human rights monitors. Pressures against the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches as well as societal anti-Semitism persist. Authorities continued to harshly restrict workers' rights to associate freely, organize, and bargain. The practice of hazing in the military has not abated. Trafficking in women remained a significant problem. The full text of the report can be found at: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/eur/index.cfm?docid=682

STATE TV ACCUSES U.S. OF INTENSIFYING SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES IN BELARUS

On February 28, state-controlled Belarusian Television and Radio (BTR), which maintains its monopoly as the only nationwide television station, aired a special feature of "Resonance," a notorious news commentary program, titled "KGB against CIA," reported Interfax. In the run-up to the presidential election, the American special services are intensifying their subversive activities in Belarus, claimed Resonance's host Alexander Zimovsky. Zimovsky's reports are usually heavily biased in favor of the current authorities and sharply critical of opposition politicians, said the audience. According to Zimovsky, 430 U.S. spies have operated in Belarus over the last eight years under cover of diplomatic missions. The program featured alleged CIA officers, leading columns of opposition demonstrators, and giving them instructions about which angle and positions to take photographs and make video-tape recordings. Zimovsky believes the CIA's activities in Belarus are aimed at discrediting the Belarusian government, generating discord between Belarus and the rest of the world, supporting dissidents, and generating inter-religious animosity. However, according to Zimovsky, Belarusians are not to worry. The Belarusian KGB have been giving a hard time to the American secret-service agents working undercover in the country. (Interfax, March 2)

LUKASHENKO PROMISES TO ARREST ALL SPIES

On March 1, Alexander Lukashenko reassured his compatriots that the foreign secret services will have no impact on the outcome of this year presidential election, which will be "held in accordance with the country's constitution." "We will not have any pre-election bacchanalia," the Belarusian ruler said. He warned that the Western secret services had been showing intense interest in Belarus and promised to "arrest all spies and put them all behind bars." Lukashenko once again accused "corrupted opposition" of receiving "large amounts of money from the West to overthrow his government." (Interfax, March 1)

INTERIOR MINISTER PLAYS DOWN POLITICAL DISAPPEARANCES

Belapan reported that on March 1, Vladimir Naumov, the Interior Minister of Belarus, told a press-conference in Minsk that it is "methodologically incorrect" to distinguish among more than 5,000 disappearance cases registered in the country last year. " We should not assign labels, such as political and ordinary," the Minister said. "I tend to focus on the big picture and tell my staff not to divide the missing people into political figures and ordinary citizens," he added. He also said that Yury Zakharenko, Viktor Gonchar, and Anatoly Krasovsky are simply three missing individuals among many others. Zakharenko is the former Minister of Internal Affairs, founder of an independent officers' organization critical of the Lukashenko government, and a close associate of Mikhail Chigir. Zakharenko disappeared on May 7, 1999, shortly after voting began in an opposition presidential election initiative, in which Chigir was one of the principal candidates. Viktor Gonchar is a13th Supreme Soviet deputy chair and a high profile antigovernment politician, who disappeared along with his business associate, Anatoly Krasovsky, on September 16, 1999, following a meeting earlier during that day broadcast on state television in which Lukashenko ordered the chiefs of his security services to crack down on "opposition scum". Human rights monitors believe they have been abducted and killed for their high-profile political opposition to Lukashenko. Commenting on the case of Dimitry Zavadsky, the government official could only say that the investigation was under way. Zavadsky, a cameraman for the Russian television network ORT, disappeared on July 7 at the Minsk National Airport while waiting for his colleague Pavel Sheremet, an ORT correspondent now working in Moscow. The pair were once jailed in Belarus on allegations of illegally crossing the Belarusian-Lithuanian to shoot a documentary on contraband.) "We are gathering information piece by piece and still consider a whole spectrum of versions," Naumov said. He blamed the journalists of independent newspapers for launching an independent inquiry, which "hinders" the official investigation.

…AND BLASTS CHIGIR'S SON
Naumov was much more willing to discuss with the reporters the case of Alexander Chigir, a son of Mikhail Chigir, former prime minister and a key opponent to Alexander Lukashenko, who was charged with large-scale property theft under Art. 205, par. 4, of the Belarusian Criminal Code. Totally ignoring presumption of innocence, the Interior Minister thanked the policemen who detained "the thief," adding that after his detention the criminal situation in Minsk "considerably improved." Naumov assured the journalists that he does not consider reliable the information about some masked individuals, who were seen in the vicinity of Chigir's garage shortly before his arrest and who could secretly have placed the spare parts from stolen vehicles there. When asked, why the Chigir's son case, if it is an ordinary felony, has been singled out and placed under the personal control of Leonid Glukhovsky, head of the Investigative Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Naumov said that the team of the Moskovsky District Internal Affairs Directorate, which conducts the investigation, needs the assistance of more experienced colleagues. (Belapan, March 1)

ORSHA-BASED PUBLIC ASSOCIATION CLOSED DOWN BY AUTHORITIES

Although the Belarusian Constitution provides for freedom of association, the regime continues to disrespect this right in practice. On February 21, fulfilling the order of Vladimir Zametalin, the main country's ideologist, issued back in 1999, the Vitebsk Regional Court finally closed down Filon Kmita Center for Democratic Changes, the Orsha-based public association. Established in 1997, the center kept annoying the authorities by publishing Kutseyna, a daily newspaper known for its critical reports on the Lukashenko government. In January 2000, the authorities forced the center to stop publishing the newspaper after it was denied official registration. Despite repeated appeals from foreign and domestic human rights activists, the newspaper was not registered and could not reopen. (Viasna Human Rights Center, February 22)

EDITORS OF TWO LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS STAND TRIAL

To get ready for the presidential election, the authorities undertake serious efforts to ban and censor critical thinking in provinces. On February 6, the Krichev District Court, Mogilev Region, started hearing of administrative cases filed against the editors of two local independent newspapers, reported Nasha Svaboda, an independent newspaper. Sergey Nerovny, editor-in-chief of Volny Gorod (Free City), and Nikolai Matorenko, editor-in-chief of Nash Volny Gorod (Our Free City), were accused of violating the Law on Press and Other Mass Media and participating in illegal business activities. The accusation came after the February 7 detention and search of Vadim Stefanenko, chair of the local branch of the Malady Front, who regularly delivers fresh issues of both publications from a Smolensk printer. During the search, the policemen confiscated 296 copies of Volny Gorod and 302 copies of Nash Volny Gorod. The court ordered Volny Gorod's editorial board to translate into Russian a document proving that the paper's computer equipment was provided by an American charitable foundation. (Nasha Svaboda, February 28)

AUTHORITIES LAUNCH RESIDENTIAL PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN

Ahead of the presidential election, the country's political leadership wants to make sure that the electorate in the provinces will choose Lukashenko as the most honorable of all potential candidates for the Belarusian presidency and makes any effort to limit the possibilities of any unpredictable results. Nasha Svaboda reported on February 28 that 17 pro-Lukashenko political parties and NGOs from Brest region, including the local branches of the Communist Party of Belarus, the Belarusian Patriotic Youth League, the Agricultural Party, the Public Association of War Veterans, the Union of Afghanistan Veterans, the Belarusian Women's Union, publicly expressed their support to the Belarusian authoritarian ruler and decided to set up the Coordination Council of the Patriotic Forces. The council is to unite the efforts of the local pro-Lukashenko organizations in order ensure his victory in the presidential election. (Nasha Svaboda, February 28)

POTENTIAL OPPOSITION CANDIDATE TARGETED BY AUTHORITIES

Charter 97 reported that the Mogilev authorities ordered the administration of the Tourist hotel to cancel its agreement with Semyon Domash to host his February 24's meeting with potential voters. Domash is a deputy of the 13th Supreme Soviet, chair of the Grodno Initiative and the Coordination Council of Belarusian Regions, and a potential opposition candidate to challenge Lukashenko in the forthcoming presidential election. All attempts to rent space at other city hotels failed as well. Some of the hotels' employees privately confirmed that they had received calls from the Mogilev City Council forbidding them to hold an "antigovernment gathering." The meeting finally took place in the local branch of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee. A few days later, customs officials at the border near Bruzgi, Grodno Region, searched Domash, who was on his way to Poland, for two hours, evidently looking for printed, audio, or video materials, that could "damage the economic and political interests of the country." The record of the search notes that even Domash's coat and footwear were meticulously examined. (Charter 97, March 1)

ANOTHER CANDIDATE SUMMONED FOR INTERROGATION

Nasha Svaboda reported that Col.-Gen. Pavel Kozlovsky, former Belarusian defense minister, confirmed his intention to run against Alexander Lukashenko in an election due later this year, pledging wholesale government reform. "My goal is not just to beat the president, but to change the current regime," Kozlovsky told a Nasha Svaboda correspondent. He said he wanted to make the country more open to Europe. Kozlovsky, 58, was defense minister until Lukashenko's election in 1994 but has not participated in politics since. He said he would not stand under the banner of any opposition party. Kozlovsky's eagerness to run for the Belarusian presidency did not remain unnoticed by the regime, which can not stand the thought of giving up its sweeping powers. Recently, Kozlovsky was summoned and interrogated by the military prosecutor as a potential witness in a case opened February 5 against a German company which allegedly owes $175,000 in damages to a Belarusian tank repair plant. The Belarusian authorities claim that Germans failed to fully pay Belarus for metal scrap left after destruction of military machinery done by the company under an agreement signed by Kozlovsky, then Defense Minister, in 1994. (Nasha Svaboda, February 28)

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION BANS SEMINARS OF PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY

Oleg Sluka, Deputy Minister of Education, sent out a circular ordering the heads of the educational departments of the Minsk City Council and the Regional Councils to ban the seminars held by the People's University in schools and other academic institutions, reported Viasna Human Rights Center. The University invites politically-active lecturers, independent historians, and other academics who challenge the status quo and are not afraid to deliver a lecture on politically sensitive issues, such as the current political situation in the country, and the Belarusian independence movement during the Soviet era, a theme that is seen to challenge the state's policy of integration with Russia. (Viasna Human Rights Center, March 1)

YOUTH STAGE ANTI-LUKASHENKO HAPPENINGS IN MINSK

On February 23, the National Association of Belarusian Students and the Malady (Youth) Front staged several street performances in front of some Minsk's universities and colleges on the occasion of Armed Forces Day, reported Belapan. Braving freezing temperatures, young people in military uniforms, distributed among the students plastic guns and leaflets calling on young Belarusian to enlist in the army of "the Supreme Commander Lukashenko." The back side of the leaflets said: "The Soviet empire disappeared long ago. We do not need protection from the pernicious influence of West ideology, rock music, computers, the Internet, freedom of expression, the possibility of traveling across Europe. We live in an European country and have the right to choose out own future. The election will take place this year. Do not miss your chance!" While security services maintained a strong presence, the events proceeded peacefully. (Belapan, February 26)

OFFICE OF INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER BURGLARIZED

On February 26, the office of De Facto, a Mogilev-based independent newspaper, was burglarized, reported Nasha Svaboda. The thieves stole the newspaper's printer and a computer, which contained all files on its latest and previous issues. To the surprise of De Facto's staff, the intruders ignored some other expensive equipment in the office. The February 26 raid was not the first criminal attack on the newspaper. A similar incident occurred on February 16, when the robbers broke into the office and stole a fax machine. After that, the editorial board decided to move to a safer location. There were no reports that authorities made credible efforts to investigate both incidents. Local observers believe that the robbery was perpetrated by members of the security services to paralyze the newspaper. Because the major independent periodicals are available only in Minsk, outside of the capital local non-state outlets remain the main source of impartial information about the current political situation in the country. (Nasha Svaboda, February 28)

TRIAL OF OPPOSITION LEADERS POSTPONED DUE TO LACK OF EVIDENCE

On February 22, the State Prosecutor petitioned the Minsk City Court to postpone the hearing of the case of Nikolai Statkevich, chair of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party, and Valery Shchukin, 13th Supreme Soviet Deputy, for one month, citing the lack of evidences of the defendants' guilt. Under Art. 302 of the new Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedures, which became effective on January 1, 2001, if the court does not have enough evidence of defendants' guilt, it should stop the case consideration and address the State Prosecutor with a request to launch an additional investigation. On June 19, 2000, Statkevich and Shchukin were convicted of "active participation in group actions disturbing the peace" and were sentenced to 2-year and 18-month suspended sentences, respectively for staging the Freedom March on October 17, 1999, which resulted in clashes between protestors and riot police. Statkevich also was charged with active participation in group actions disturbing the peace for an unauthorized demonstration held on June 27, 1999. According to independent observers, the trial, which began on April 24, was marked by serious violations of judicial procedure. In many instances, witnesses were unable to identify either Statkevich or Shchukin and appeared to have been coached. On August 25, 2000, the Supreme Court, citing procedural and investigative irregularities, upheld an appeal brought by Statkevich and Shchukin, vacated their sentences and remanded the case for investigation and a new trial. (Viasna Human Rights Center, February 22)

U.S. REASSURES ITS RECOGNITION OF THE DISBANDED PARLIAMENT

On February 23, in an interview to the Belarusian service of the RFE/RL, Michael Kozak, the U.S. Ambassador to Belarus, said that his country still considers the 13th Supreme Soviet of Belarus, legislature disbanded by Lukashenko in 1996, as the only legitimate Belarusian parliament until it is substituted by a parliament elected under the Constitution.

The legitimacy of the 13th Supreme Soviet has been challenged at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly by the National Assembly, the legislature elected under conditions not recognized as free and fair by OSCE. At the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on March 1, Amb. David Johnson said "The Standing Committee of the OSCE Parliamentary recently decided not to recognize the "National Assembly" as the legitimate Parliament of Belarus. This decision, we believe, reaffirms the fact that the October 200 elections, which created this body, were neither free nor fair. The U.S. continues to recognize the 13th Supreme Soviet as the legitimate Belarusian parliament. Prior to the October elections, the Belarusian authorities failed to implement the election conditions set by the OSCE Troika in May. The international community therefore should not recognize the results of these elections." (RFE/RL, February 23; U.S. Mission to the OSCE, March 2)

NEW DEMOCRATIC NGO ESTABLISHED IN BREST REGION

Svobodny Vybor (Free Choice), Regional Coordinating Council of Democratic Forces, was set up in Baranovichi, Brest Region, reported Nasha Svaboda. The new organization is to coordinate the activities of local branches of democratic NGOs and political parties ahead of the presidential election; to support a single candidate from the opposition for the presidency and to fight against the anti-democratic electoral system established by Lukashenko. (Nasha Svaboda, February 28)

BELARUSIAN ASYLEES UNITE IN POLAND

The Union of Belarusian Political Asylees was established in Poland to provide legal and financial assistance to people of Belarusian nationality, who were forced to leave Belarus for political reasons, and unite their efforts for the struggle against the Lukashenko dictatorship. According to Ian Obodovsky, chair of the founding committee, the regime takes advantage of the Polish-Belarusian agreement on legal cooperation by filing criminal charges against opposition activists, who applied for political asylum in Poland, and demanding their extradition. [The Belarusian authorities do not use forced exile, although there were credible reports that the security services threatened opposition political activists and trade union leaders with criminal prosecution or physical harm if they did not cease their activities and depart the country.- Ed.]. (PAP news agency, February 25)

-AT HOME IN BELARUS-

BELARUSIAN DICTATOR DECORATES HIS SON

On February 23, Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree #105, by which he decorated among others Captain Victor Lukashenko, his older son, for "exemplary execution of military duty, high professional skills and particular achievements in protecting state borders." (Belapan, February 24)

-BROTHER SLAVS-

WILL UNION OF TWO BECOME UNION OF THREE?

Moldova's Communist Party plans a referendum on joining the Russia-Belarus union after it scored a big victory in parliamentary election on February 24, reported Itar-Tass. Vladimir Voronin, leader of the Moldovan Communist party, ran a campaign calling for integration into the Russia-Belarus union and the establishment of Russian as an second official language. On March 2, Alexander Lukashenko added his weight to the idea, saying that would welcome Moldova's membership with all his heart and soul, fuelling fresh speculation that Moldova may reorient itself from western Europe toward its former Soviet allies, reported Belapan. (Itar-Tass, February 27 - Belapan, March 2)

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For daily updates, visit our partners' website, Charter 97, www.charter97.org with news in Belarusian, Russian, and English.

-CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS-

March 5-7- the Parliamentary Troika of the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe and the OSCE and the European Parliament is to visit Belarus ************************************************************************

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 60th year, is New York-based human rights NGO in consultative status with the United Nations.

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.

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