INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

BELARUS UPDATE
Edited by Victor Cole

Vol. 4, No. 15
April 2001

IN THIS ISSUE:

- Lukashenko Pledges To Preserve Tight State Control
- Arrested Opposition Activist Reports Police Brutality
- Son Of Presidential Candidate To Remain In Jail
- Zubr Activist Stands Trial, Some Released, Some Acquitted
- Opposition Leader Detained, Summoned For Interrogation
- Malady Front Activists Picket Okrestina Prison In Minsk
- In Regions, Freedom Day Protesters Are Fined And Interrogated
- Office Of Czech Human Rights NGO Closed In Minsk
- Trade Unions Urge Government To Follow ILO Recommendations
- Non-Orthodox Religions Given Deadline To Change Juridical Address

--HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION NEWS--

LUKASHENKO PLEDGES TO PRESERVE TIGHT STATE CONTROL

On April 10, in an annual address to his hand-picked parliament, which was broadcast by the state television, Alexander Lukashenko said he would maintain a firm hand on his country's affairs if he won re-election this year and urged state media to explain his policies more favorably, reported Belapan. In particular, he stressed that his Soviet-style economic policies and tight state control should be preserved for another five years of his presidency. "Belarus should become a powerful and prosperous state, everything has been done for this, Lukashenko said. "We should set an objective. By 2005 we need to consolidate our progress, so that war veterans are not afraid to wear their medals, a working man is always respected and the state itself is not regarded as an outcast by other countries," he said. The Belarusian leader told deputies he expected to be in power after their four-year term expired in 2004 and accused state television, radio and newspapers of failing to explain properly the advantages of his political and economic policies. "There is a glaring lack of people with sufficient creativity and political intuition in the media," he said. "Society needs clear and simple ideological directives, we need unity. We must not split our society and damage the state." Lukashenko pointed out that state media should step up its fight against "ideological enemies" from the West and from some Russian television channels ahead of the election.

The Belarusian leader accused the West of recruiting spies to inform on Belarus's plans to update its armed forces. "Every week we get reports on people suspected of espionage. They have already begun to recruit our citizens," he said. "But we are not going to let anybody meddle in our affairs. Nor are we going to make a scandal of it, however, by, say, expelling 50 diplomats," Lukashenko added, referring to a tit-for-tat spy row between Russia and the United States last month. "Spies are interested in Belarus's weapons purchases and sales. Yes, we have spent five million dollars to update our air force. We are repairing and modifying our weaponry," he said. "In the West, they are getting anxious. They want to know what Lukashenko is going to do with his army," he added. He cited the threat posed by NATO enlargement in the Eastern Europe as the reason for updating the country's armed forces, an overhaul that will be completed by 2005. "Our army will have fewer members but it will be twice as powerful as it was under the Soviet regime," Lukashenko explained.

Lukashenko reiterated criticism of foreign election observers, saying he would not allow Western aid to independent regional media and would restrict election monitoring. He said that he plans no changes to the country's election law ahead of presidential vote scheduled for next September. Lukashenko reiterated Belarus's desire to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2002-2003, adding that the country is in a position to carry out a constructive policy in support of international peace and security. He dismissed out of hand a recommendation by the OSCE that the Belarus's parliament should be given more power. "At the moment, it is unnecessary to give more power to the Parliament or the Constitutional Court. Each has enough power as it is, while the head of state simply plays the role of a coordinator," Lukashenko said. He said closer ties with Russia would remain a priority. "There are no kind uncles in the West who will help us," Lukashenko said. "We have different value systems. We Slavs are kind people who would give away even the last shirt. For them, corporate profits are the most important thing on Earth," he concluded. (Belapan, April 11)

…AND DEPLOYS DEMAGOGUERY IN PROVINCES

On April 13, during a trip to Soligorsk, a small coal mining town in Minsk Region, which is responsible for most of Belarus's hard currency reserves through export of mineral fertilizers, Lukashenko said he counts on support from its women, workers and athletes in the coming presidential election. "The opposition knows all women and athletes will vote for Lukashenko. They [opposition leaders] even wanted to nominate a woman candidate but nevertheless, all women would vote for Lukashenko because I have a complete mutual understanding with women," said Lukashenko, dressed in a miner's outfit and a helmet labeled "president." "I know the working class will not betray me, I have nobody but you; 60 percent of the bureaucrats cannot stand me and the directors just hate me," Lukashenko said. "I know you are somewhat bored with me after seven-and-half years, but be patient….another five years and that is all," he said. Lukashenko said he was also "tired of bearing the burden of responsibility for the state," but added that he was still a good candidate for the post. "I have not betrayed you. I am a defender of people….I am open, straightforward and honest," Lukashenko said. (Belapan, April 13)

ARRESTED OPPOSITION ACTIVIST REPORTS POLICE BRUTALITY

Viasna Human Rights Center reported that Nikita Sasim, a juvenile resident of Baranovichi, Minsk Region, was detained by two policeman in Minsk on the night of April 5 and taken to the Moskovsky District Internal Affairs Directorate for allegedly writing "Zubr" [name of a new nationwide opposition movement - Ed.] on a bus stop and the walls of the nearby building and a bridge. The officer on duty handcuffed the boy, brutally beat him, sprayed his hair with the paint, and threatened to shave the boy's head. Then other policemen took from the activist all his warm clothes and placed him in a very cold precinct jail cell for the whole night. The next morning, he was questioned again. In an effort to make the youth sign an affidavit, the policemen handcuffed him again, forced him down on the ground, and began shooting from a pneumatic pistol above the boy's head. This was accompanied by threats such as: "Why don't we try using electroshock on you?" At about 2 p.m., the juvenile inspector called the boy's mother to notify her about her son's detention. She arrived about four and a half hours later and was allowed to take her son home. The boy was denied food during the entire time of the detention. (Viasna Human Rights Center, April 11)

OPPOSITION ACTIVIST GIVES TESTIMONIES ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

On April 6, three prominent human rights activists gave personal testimonies about human rights abuses in Belarus, Cuba, and Sudan at a special roundtable at the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. The session, entitled "Standing Up for Human Rights," was organized by the U.S. Delegation to the Commission on Human Rights. The panelists included Vladimir Koudinov, a vocal critic of the Lukashenko regime and an elected member of the legitimate parliament of Belarus, which was dissolved by an unconstitutional referendum in 1996. Koudinov spent four years in Belarusian prisons after being arrested and imprisoned in February 1997 on trumped-up charges of bribery. He urged the Commission and the international community to continue to condemn abuses committed in Belarus by the Lukashenko regime.

"I was sentenced to seven years of prison on completely fabricated accusations. I spent four years in prison, and I was liberated only as the result of very intensive pressure from European countries, from the United States and from international democratic community," Koudinov said, adding that the campaign of arrests and detentions continues in Belarus. "Today, Belarus is at the very top of the list of countries in the world in terms of the number of people sentenced per 1000 population, he said. "All prisons and prison camps in Belarus are overcrowded, and as a result, conditions for the inmates are awful. The average amount of space provided for each inmate is one square meter. Food does not meet to any minimal medical requirement, torture is widespread." Koudinov noted the disappearances of leading opposition figures and accused the government of failing to make any real attempt to find out what had happened to them. Koudinov said that ahead of the presidential election, leaders of opposition parties, representatives of the independent media, and especially potential candidates for the Belarusian presidency are feeling very strong pressure. Excerpts from the April 6 debate and other materials related to the 57th Commission on Human Rights can be found at: http://usinfo.state.gov

SON OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO REMAIN IN JAIL

On April 11, Mikhail Chigir, former prime minister and a key opponent to Alexander Lukashenko, told a press conference in Minsk that his son Alexander would remain in custody for at least another two months, reported Charter 97. Alexander Chigir, 24, was arrested at a car market on February 10 along with Sergei Koleda and Vasily Bykov, a law student, on charges of selling spare parts from stolen vehicles [see Belarus Update Vol. 4, No. 7-8.]. On February 19, he was officially charged with "large-scale larceny committed by a group" under Art. 205 par. 4 of the Belarusian Penal Code, an offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Bykov and Koleda were released on their own recognizance under a pledge that they would not leave town without permission from authorities. At present, Alexander does have a defense attorney because on March 6, his lawyer, Alexander Pylchenko, was attacked on the street by unknown individuals and beaten, suffering a concussion and broken nose. He is now in the hospital, waiting for surgery and cannot represent his client in court. The judge has refused to allow Alexander's mother, Julia Chigir, to defend him in court. Alexander reported that during the detention he was beaten and denied adequate medical treatment. Chigirs demanded a medical examination, but its results were never revealed to them. Local observers believe that Alexander fell victim to a well-prepared provocation, carried out by the secret services to discredit his father, and he will be kept in jail and publicly slandered until the end of the presidential election campaign. (Charter 97, April 11)

ZUBR ACTIVIST STANDS TRIAL

On April 10, Judge Terekhova of the Leninski District Court of Minsk acquitted Alexander Otroschenkov, a member of the youth movement Zubr, who was arrested by the police during a soccer game between Belarus and Norway teams at the Dynamo stadium in Minsk. The game was attended by Lukashenko and the police took unprecedented security measures. At the entrance to the stadium, a policeman removed a Zubr badge from Otroschenkov's jacket. When the boy asked to return his badge, he was accused of disobedience and disorderly conduct and taken to the Leninski District Internal Affairs Directorate. The activist spent the night at the detention center and was charged with "petty hooliganism" under Art. 156 of the Belarusian Administrative Code. Later, Otroschenkov reported that the police used physical force against him while in detention and that his family was not notified of his arrest, in violation of the Administrative Offenses Code. At the courtroom, the policemen denied all allegations of the ill-treatment and testified that the activist "misbehaved." Six activists of the Malady (Youth) Front and three members of the Zubr, who were also arrested that day, for distributing opposition printed materials and Zubr badges, were released shortly.(Charter 97, April 10)

FOUR ZUBR ACTIVISTS RELEASED AFTER THREE DAYS IN CUSTODY

On April 7, Aleksey Shidlovsky, Timofei Dranchuk, Dmitry Drapochko, and Ales Apranich, all members of the youth movement Zubr, who were arrested on April 5 and charged with writing the graffiti - "Where is Gonchar? Where is Zavadsky? Where is Zakharenko?" regarding the disappearance of prominent figures on the walls of the Minsk refrigerator factory, were released from the detention center of the Minsk City Council upon signing a written pledge to appear at the police station if requested. Alexey Shidlovsky and Timofey Dranchuk were reportedly beaten at the police station. No official charges have been announced yet. As deemed by the lawyers, the charges are likely to be brought against Aleksey Shidlovsky, who has previously served jail time for political graffiti, and is also facing another action for writing graffiti on the walls of the Partyzansky District Council a few months ago. (Charter 97, April 9)

OPPOSITION LEADER DETAINED, SUMMONED FOR INTERROGATION

On April 11, Vyacheslav Sivchik, deputy chair of the BPF Adradzhenne, was detained by Mikhail Barsukov, deputy chair of the Central District Internal Affairs Directorate in Minsk, charged with participation in the Freedom Day demonstration under charges of violating Art. 167, par. 2, of the Administrative Offenses Code, and summoned to the Directorate the next day for interrogation. The activist said that he will ignore the police order and sent letter to the Directorate's chair citing numerous procedural violations of the Administrative Offenses Code during his detention. (Press service of the BPF Adradzhenne, April 12)

MALADY FRONT ACTIVISTS PICKET OKRESTINA PRISON IN MINSK

On April 11, seven activists of the Malady (Youth) Front staged a short unsanctioned picket of solidarity with the political prisoners near the Okrestina detention center in Minsk, where Vintsuk Viachorka, chair of the BPF Adradzhenne, Ales Beliatski, chair of Viasna Human Rights Center, Yuri Belenki, acting chair of the Belarusian Popular Front Conservative Christian Party (BPF-CCP), and Pavel Severinets, chair of the Malady (Youth) Front, serve their terms for participation in the Freedom Day March on March 25, reported press service of the BPF Adradzhenne. The picketers were holding banners "Freedom to all political prisoners!", "Let's swap Sasha for Pasha [Pavel Severinets - Ed.]!" and shouting "Freedom to Severinets!", "Freedom to Viachorka!", "Freedom to Beliatsky!", "Long Live Belarus!". Some of the imprisoned opposition leaders waived to the picketers from the window bars. No incidents with the police were reported. (Press service of the BPF Adradzhenne, April 12)

FREEDOM DAY PROTESTERS IN GOMEL FINED

On April 11, Vladimir Starchenko, deputy chair of the local branch of the Belarusian Popular Front Conservative Christian Party (BPF-CCP), and Alesia Katsapova, another Party's member, were fined 35 minimum wages (about $175) each for the participation in the Freedom Day demonstration on March 25 under charges of violating Art. 167, par. 2, of the Administrative Offenses Code. (Press service of the BPF Adradzhenne, April 12)

VITEBSK POLICE INTERROGATES FREEDOM DAY MARCHERS

On April 10, Vladimir Pleschenko, Olga Kladova and Petr Sarapenya, all members of the Vitebsk branch of the Belarusian Popular Front Conservative Christian Party (BPF-CCP) led by Zyanon Paznyak, were summoned for interrogation to the Oktyabrsky District Internal Affairs Directorate following their participation in the Freedom Day March on March 25. As a result, Pleschenko was charged with organizing an unauthorized demonstration under Art. 167, par. 2, of the Administrative Offenses Code and is to stand trial soon. The activist pleaded "not guilty" and did not sign a police report. The policemen were forcing Kladova to testify against Pleschenko as a key-organizer of the action, but she refused to cooperate. (Charter 97, April 11)

OFFICE OF CZECH HUMAN RIGHTS NGO CLOSED IN MINSK

The Belarusian authorities continue harassment of international NGOs working in the country.
Charter 97 reported that on April 13, the Minsk office of the People in Need Foundation, a Czech human rights NGO, was sealed and its head, Mikhal Plavets, deported. (Charter 97, April 13)

NEW RESTRICTION ON NON-STATE ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS

The Belarusian government is resorting to extreme measures to make sure that "the ideologists of the Belarusian opposition, funded by their foreign patrons, will fail to weaken the Belarusian statehood and undermine the state system." The Belarusian Cabinet of Ministers ruled that from June 1, 2001, the People's University and other non-state academic institutions will have to obtain a special permission from the authorities to hold their educational seminars or lectures. (Charter 97, April 13)

DISTRIBUTOR OF UNREGISTERED INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER FINED

Oleg Metelitsa, resident of the village of Belinichi was fined 5 minimum wages (about $250) was the distribution of Popular President, unregistered independent newspaper. In later February,
the police search the activist and confiscated 75 copies of the paper and 300 stickers Zubr. The defendant pleaded not guilty and intends to appeal against the verdict in the higher court. (Charter 97, April 10)

COURT REFUSES TO HEAR DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST DICTATOR

The Frunzensky District Court of Minsk refused to hear a defamation suit filed by Anatoly Lebedko, chair of the opposition United Civic Party, against Alexander Lukashenko because the defendant does not reside in the district. Last year, the same court considered another complaint filed by Lebedko against the Belarusian strongman, therefore, practically recognized the fact that Lukashenko officially dwells in the Frunzensky district. On October 15, while casting his ballot at a Minsk polling station, the Belarusian leader accused Lebedko of receiving $1,500 from the OSCE AMG in Belarus. The court rejected Lebedko's suit on the pretext that no one can be sued for public expression of his views during an open discussion and because it does not consider Lukashenko's statement "slanderous". Commenting on the situation, Lebedko said that either Lukashenko moved to another district or the court received a directive not to bring him before justice for libel. (Charter 97, April 12)

CHARNOBYLSKY SHLYAKH ORGANIZERS APPLY FOR PERMISSION

The organizing committee of the Charnobylsky Shlyakh-2001 applied to the Minsk City Council for permission to stage the traditional Charnobylsky Shlyakh [Chernobyl March] and a rally in Minsk on April 26 to mark the 15th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, reported press service of the BPF Adradzhenne. This year's march will be carried out under the slogan "For the Sake of Belarus's Future!" Political demands will be added to the traditional Chernobyl-related slogans. The demonstrators will demand that the government respect national sovereignty and guaranty free and fair presidential election. The demonstrators plan to gather at 5 p.m. on the Svaboda square. From there the procession will move along Skaryna Avenue towards Independence Square, where the authorities will be handed in a petition. (Press service of the BPF Adradzhenne, April 9)

TRADE UNIONS URGE GOVERNMENT TO FOLLOW ILO RECOMMENDATIONS

On April 6, the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FTUB), formerly the Belarusian branch of the Soviet Union's All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions, adopted a statement demanding from the authorities to stop violations of workers rights and to immediately start following the recommendations of the International Labor Organization (ILO), which advised the Belarusian government to improve labor legislation, reported Belapan. The FTUB accused the authorities of orchestrating a slander campaign against the trade union movement in the state media, sacking trade union leaders who are critical of the authorities, and denying registration of the new branches. Although wary in the past of challenging the authorities seriously, some FTUB leaders have become increasingly vocal in their criticism of the policies of the Lukashenko regime. In retaliation the government has accused unions of engaging in politics rather than focusing on the needs of workers and subjected some FTUB officials to threats and harassment. FTUB' chair Vladimir Goncharik is to challenge Lukashenko in this year presidential election. Charter 97 reported on April 12 that the Brest authorities ordered the administration of the local light bulb factory to cancel Goncharik's meeting with potential voters. All attempts to hold a meeting with workers in Kobrin, Brest Region, failed as well. (Belapan, April 9 - Charter 97, April 12)

-RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN BELARUS-

NON-ORTHODOX GROUPS GIVEN DEADLINE TO CHANGE JURIDICAL ADDRESS

Following the changes to the Belarusian Housing Code adopted in 1999, religious organizations whose juridical address is a private apartment have until June 1, 2001, to find an alternative juridical address and re-register if they want to preserve their legal status and avoid fines, reported Belapan. The organizations registered at private addresses that have a separate entrance in a block of apartments or at private houses are not required to re-register. Oleg Gulak, acting chairman of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, told Keston that the move was part of a targeted campaign to put pressure on non-Orthodox religious groups. Gulak does not know how many of the 3,000 registered religious groups were affected by the move, but believes that more than half might have registration at private addresses. He pointed out that by contrast, the Orthodox Church has no such problems because all Orthodox communities have their own buildings. In his opinion, it would be very difficult for religious group to find alternative juridical addresses.

The League notes that in 2000, Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree No. 36, which required permission from local authorities each time a religious organization wished to hold a religious meeting or service in a property not designed for religious use. Many Protestant churches without their own buildings have had to halt public services. In addition to the changes to the housing code and the de facto ban on religious meetings outside dedicated religious premises, the government is also planning to amend the country's law on religion. The draft is being worked out in secrecy and would not be made public until it is discussed at the next session of parliament, due to convene in the spring. (Keston, Belapan, April 6, 8)

-CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS-

April 26- opposition to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

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

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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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