INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

BELARUS UPDATE
Edited by Victor Cole

Vol. 4, No. 20
May 2001

IN THIS ISSUE:

- U.S. Congress: democracy under siege in Belarus
- BAJ dissatisfied with investigation of journalist's disappearance
- Opposition party demands information about disappeared politicians
- Opposition activist fined for demanding the truth
- Regime threatens to oust head of OSCE mission
- EU to review its relations with Belarus after presidential election
- Soviet-style National Congress opens in Minsk
- Mass detentions of CCP-BPF activists
- Opposition leader arrested in Minsk
- Malady Front activists detained in Minsk
- Four prominent opposition politicians visit Moscow
- Local independent trade union activist goes on hunger strike
- Regime continues to suppress trade union rights
- Authorities ignore journalist's hunger strike
- Ministry of Justice denies registration to Legal Aid Association
- Local activists detained for distribution of unregistered outlet
- Son of presidential candidate to remain in custody

--HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION NEWS--

U.S. CONGRESS: DEMOCRACY UNDER SIEGE IN BELARUS

The U.S. Congress appears to be increasingly concerned about recent developments in Belarus. On May 10, Sen. Ben Campbell (R-CO), Co-Chair of the Congressional Helsinki Commission, said that the Commission continues to pay close attention to events in Belarus especially those affecting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Marking the second anniversary of the disappearance of Yuri Zakharenko, the former Belarusian Minister of Internal Affairs, Sen. Campbell reminded his colleagues of the fate of Gen. Zakharenko, who was a vocal critic of Alexander Lukashenko and attempted to form a union of officers supporting democratic and independent Belarus. Sen. Campbell note that this disappearance was similar to cases of other prominent Belarusian opposition figures who have gone missing over the last few years, notably, Victor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovsky and Dmitry Zavadsky. "The Belarusian authorities have had no success in investigating those disappearances; indeed, there are indications that the regime of Alexander Lukashenko may have been involved," Sen. Campbell said, adding that the disappearances embody the climate of disregard for human rights and democracy that has persisted since the election of Lukashenko in 1994 and has intensified following his unconstitutional power grab in November 1996.

The senator expressed doubt that this fall presidential election would be able to meet OSCE standards for a free and democratic ballot. He condemned Belarusian authorities for their repeated and unlawful restrictions of freedom of assembly, despite the promises made to the OSCE, and for their harsh assault on OSCE's efforts to develop democracy in the country. The senator also expressed his grave concern that Presidential Directive No. 8, which imposes restrictions on assistance from abroad offered to NGOs for democracy building and human rights including election monitoring, could be used to block NGO activities and important OSCE AMG projects in Belarus.

The senator called upon the Belarusian authorities to conduct an open investigation of the disappearances. He urged the Belarusian government to take the following three steps necessary to ensure that the presidential election is recognized as free and democratic as outlined by the March 7 Final Statement of the Parliamentary Troika:

1) transparency and democracy in the preparation and implementation of the election, in particular, the process of registration of the candidates, the composition of electoral commissions and counting of votes;

2) equal access for all candidates to the mass media; refraining from harassment of candidates, their families and supporters;

3) freedom in carrying out their work for all those engaged in domestic election observation. (U.S. Congressional Record, May 10)

BAJ DISSATISFIED WITH INVESTIGATION OF JOURNALIST'S DISAPPEARANCE

The Belarusian Association of Journalists issued a statement condemning the failure of the government of Belarus to launch a serious investigation into the disappearance of its member, Dmitry Zavadsky, the ORT cameraman in Belarus, who has been missing since July 7, 2000, (see Belarus Update Vol. 3, No. 28-31). The journalists expressed their dissatisfaction with the results of the investigation, which were made public by Mikhail Snegir, Belarusian Deputy Prosecutor General, and Ivan Branchel, head of a team investigating Zavadsky's disappearance, during the May 10 press conference in Minsk (see Belarus Update Vol. 4, No. 19). The officials said that the investigation has enough evidence to prove the fact of Zavadsky's abduction by a gang headed by Valery Ignatovich, a former officer of the Almaz (Diamond) Special-Assignment Force, but failed to provide any information about Zavadsky's whereabouts. (Charter 97, May 15)

OPPOSITION PARTY DEMANDS INFORMATION ABOUT DISAPPEARED POLITICIANS

The United Civic Party (UCP) launched a series of protests in Minsk within the framework of the "We Want to Know the Truth" campaign, which calls on the authorities to release information about vanished opposition politicians, reported Viasna Human Rights Center. The Party activists staged protests near the KGB headquarters, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and in places the missing dissidents were last seen. They have vowed to continue their rallies even though three of the protesters had been detained by the police. Ludmila Bozhok, Leonid Malakhov, and Leonid Sadovsky, who staged an unauthorized picket in front of the Ministry of Internal Affairs holding portraits of Victor Gonchar, vice-speaker of the 13th Supreme Soviet, and Anatoly Krasovsky, head of the Krasika Publishing House, who had disappeared on September 16, 1999, were arrested and taken to the Tsentralny District Internal Affairs Directorate. The law-enforcers also took the names of the UCP activists who staged a picket at the place where Gonchar and Krasovsky disappeared. Police officers intimidated journalists and picketers, suggesting that they all should be shot. "We must admit now that in peaceful, all-tolerating Belarus a war is going on, a war with casualties and those missing in action," Anatoly Lebedko, chair of UCP, said the rally on May 16. "Belarusian people are silent because they are afraid, but once they get cornered, they will overcome the fear and become strong," he said. (Viasna Human Rights Center, May 16)

OPPOSITION ACTIVIST FINED FOR DEMANDING THE TRUTH

On May 14, the Tsentralny District Court of Minsk fined Ales Borodulya, activist of the Borisov, Minsk Region, branch of Narodnaya Hramada, a sum of 20 minimal wages (about $85) for "participation in mass actions violating public order" under Art. 167, par. 1, of the Administrative Offenses Code. On May 7, 2001, Borodulya along with Alexander Abramovich, Sergei Podsolka, Dmitry Fedorchenko, and Tatyana Yasyuk, staged an unauthorized picket near the Palace of the Republic in Minsk to commemorate the anniversary of Gen. Zakharenko's disappearance, reported Viasna Human Rights Center. They held banners saying: "Where Are Dmitry Zavadsky, Anatoly Krasovsky, Yuri Zakharenko, Victor Gonchar?", "Who is Next?" and "Hands Off Opposition!" Due to the heavy presence of the police in the area, the action lasted less then five minutes. The activists were taken to the Tsentralny District Internal Affairs Directorate for interrogation. Sergei Podsolka and Tatyana Yasyuk were verbally reprimanded and released after about three hours. Dmitry Fedorchenko was fined 20 minimal wages. (Nasha Svaboda, May 16)

REGIME THREATENS TO OUST HEAD OF OSCE MISSION

On May 17, Mikhail Khvostov, the Belarusian Foreign Minister, told journalists in Minsk that Amb. Hans-Georg Wieck, head of the OSCE AMG in Belarus, had already been "warned that the Belarusian authorities would no longer tolerate OSCE activities aimed at destabilizing the country, and that if such activities continue the government of Belarus would have to consider Wieck's expulsion," reported Nasha Svaboda, an independent newspaper. Khvostov said that the West had "practically transformed the OSCE into an instrument of control over eastern European countries." The organization is notably seeking to influence the result of the forthcoming presidential election scheduled for September, the official charged. The OSCE AMG in Belarus is mandated to help to train election officials and provide support for conferences and programs held by non-governmental organizations ahead of the presidential vote. Alexander Lukashenko earlier accused the OSCE mission of openly supporting the political opposition ahead of the election. Wieck categorically denied the charge. Khvostov also previously accused OSCE diplomats in Minsk of breaching international guidelines by getting too close with dissident groups. He claimed Wieck was financing opposition circles. On May 18, 2001, despite threats voiced by the Belarusian Foreign Minister, Amb. Wieck returned to Minsk, after taking part in the international conference titled "Belarus at the Cross-roads of East and West: 2001 - the Year of Presidential election and Convincing Victory of Democracy," held in Norway. (Nasha Svaboda, May 18)

EU TO REVIEW ITS RELATIONS WITH BELARUS AFTER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

The European Union will review all aspects of its relations with Belarus, following this year's presidential election, Timothy Summa, head of the Board of Directors of the EU's Commission on Foreign Relations, said at the meeting with Alexander Sychev, Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister, in Brussels. The meeting was part of the UN's Conference on Least Developed Countries, Pavel Latushko, a spokesman for the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, told the press. Belarus is watched closely by international society, the EU representative said, adding that a free and fair presidential election may substantially improve Belarus-EU relations. Apparently unaware of the comments made by his boss in Minsk, Sychev assured the EU official that the Belarusian government "welcomes international monitoring of the election and activities of the OSCE AMG in particular." Commenting on Decree No. 8 On Humanitarian Aid, the Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister said that it does not affect the UN, TACIS and other international programs but excludes "foreign funding of political parties, which is in full correspondence with Belarus legislation." (http://www.mfa.gov.by/eng/index.htm , May 15)

SOVIET-STYLE NATIONAL CONGRESS OPENS IN MINSK

About 2,500 delegates "elected by workers" from all over the country gathered in Minsk on May 18 for the Second All-Belarusian People's Assembly, a Soviet-style congress, which opened with a two-and-a-half-hour speech by Alexander Lukashenko, reported Belapan. He called the gathering an "open and frank talk with people, an opportunity to clarify priorities of the course that Belarus will follow in the new century and the new millenium," adding that it represents the "uttermost manifestation of democracy" in the country. In his speech, which included the traditional criticism of the West and was broadcast live on national television and radio, Lukashenko discussed the five-year program for the country's socio-economic development, a concept reminiscent of the Soviet Union's five-year plans. He criticized Moscow for dragging out the unification of Belarus and Russia. Lukashenko said the West owed Belarus and other former Soviet republics for their role in defeating the Nazis in World War II. He assured that this fall presidential election will be in compliance with international standards and once again accused the opposition of forming a fifth column in the country to subvert the existing state order. [The first such congress was convened by Lukashenko in 1996 just before holding a referendum that extended his term in office and disbanded the 13th Supreme Soviet.--Ed.].

On May 15, the Coordinating Committee of the Belarusian Democratic Forces adopted a statement reminding the authoritarian Belarusian ruler that the 1994 Constitution provides for a formal separation of powers and that the Supreme Soviet remains the only legitimate legislature.
Therefore, all decisions of the Second All-Belarusian People's Assembly, which is not a constitutional body, do not have any legal force. "The theatrical shows staged at taxpayers' expense will not save Lukashenko from defeat in the election. The people are tired of lies," concluded the Committee members. (Belapan, BPF Adradzhenne press service, May 15 - 18)

MASS DETENTIONS OF CCP-BPF ACTIVISTS IN MINSK

On May 18, about 30 activists of the Conservative Christian Party of the Belarusian Popular Front headed by Zyanon Paznyak were detained near the Palace of Republic, where the Second All-Belarusian People's Assembly has been held. The activists held the banners "Let's Defend Belarus!" "Paznyak is the Belarusian candidate" and distributed opposition leaflets. Vladimir Naumov, Minister of Interior, personally supervised the police break-up of the picket. According to CCP member Valery Buyval, during the detention some activists suffered severe body injuries including a broken arm. One picketer was hospitalized after having a heart attack. The activists were taken to different police stations, and no information has been available about the charges they face. (Radio Racyja, May 19)

OPPOSITION LEADER ARRESTED IN MINSK

Sergei Popkov, deputy chair of the Conservative Christian Party of the Belarusian Popular Front (CCP-BPF), led by Zyanon Paznyak, was arrested late on May 16 in Minsk, reported CCP-BPF press service. At approximately 9:10 p.m., about fifteen policemen broke into Popkov's apartment, when he was holding a meeting with a few other Party's members, seized the activists and conducted an unwarranted search of the apartment. During the arrest, the activists were physically and verbally abused. The policemen torn Popkov's shirt. The activists were taken to the Tsentralny District Internal Affairs Directorate, where Popkov was accused of organizing an anti-Lukashenko rally scheduled for May 18 in Minsk. However, the next day, the Tsentralny District Court of Minsk unexpectedly charged Popkov with illegally participating in Charnobylsky Shlyakh 2001 in Minsk on April 26, 2001, which marked the 15th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The hearing was postponed for a week due to the defendant's complaint about police abuses during the arrest. (CCP-BPF press service, May 17)

MALADY FRONT ACTIVISTS DETAINED IN MINSK

On May 18, Pavel Severinets, leader of the Malady (Youth) Front, youth wing of the Belarusian Popular Front, and a few other organization's members were detained by the plain-clothed agents near the Tsentralny supermarket in Minsk. The activists planned to do a skit on the occasion of Museum Day . (Radio Racyja, May 18)

FOUR PROMINENT OPPOSITION POLITICIANS VISIT MOSCOW

On May 9-11, four out of five prominent Belarusian politicians who announced their intention to challenge Alexander Lukashenko in the presidential election later this year and to unite behind the candidate with the best chances for victory visited Moscow at the invitation of Russian human rights activists. A formal purpose of the visit was to take part in the celebrations dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Moscow Helsinki Group, a human rights monitoring organization established by 11 dissidents and chaired by Professor Yuri Orlov, and to discuss the political and human rights situation in both countries. Mikhail Chigir, ex-Prime Minister and former political prisoner; Semyon Domash, a deputy of the 13th Supreme Soviet [the disbanded parliament], chair of the Grodno Initiative and the Coordination Council of Belarusian Regions; Sergey Kalyakin, leader of the Party of Communists of Belarus (PCB) in opposition to the government; and Pavel Kozlovsky, former Defense Minister; came to the Russian capital to meet with the State Duma deputies, officials of the Presidential administration, important Russian politicians, human rights activists, and representatives of the independent and state media.

"The Lukashenko regime created a few myths about itself. The first one is that Alexander Lukashenko enjoys the support of the majority of the Belarusian population. The second myth is that the country prospers under his ruling, and the third one is that the current Belarusian leader is the only politician able to ensure the integration between the two Slavic states," Semyon Domash told a press conference in Moscow. "We hope that our visit helped to dispel them," he said. Sergey Kalyakin said that the coverage by the Russian media of their visit helped to break an information vacuum created by the regime and makes him believe that their trip was productive.

Visibly irritated, Lukashenko commented on the opposition politicans' trip to Moscow: "You know, they should not go to Moscow, because Yuri Luzhkov [Moscow Mayor] won't support them anyway. If Luzhkov decides to side with someone in Belarus, he will choose Lukashenko." Making one of his typical preposterous claims, Lukashenko remarked, "Instead, they better give $5-10M out of $800-900 million promised to them by the West to cancer clinics to help sick kids." On May 8, at a meeting dedicated to the 56th Anniversary of the Victory over the Nazis, Lukashenko told his compatriots that attempts are being made today to carry out a Yugoslavia-like scenario in Belarus and that five traitors [i.e. Domash, Kalyakin, Kozlovsky, Chigir, and Goncharik - Ed.] have been selected to implement this plan.

Once again the League notes that in citing a figure of "$800-900 million," Lukashenko is actually citing a number greater than the figure for the annual budget of the State Department's democracy programs for the entire post-Soviet region, which was less than $800 million in FY2001. He has also incorrectly characterized the U.S. as funding opposition parties. Under U.S. tax law, the American government as well as U.S. private foundations are prohibited from funding candidates or foreign political parties; if they did so, they would lose their tax-exempt status and their programs would be closed. In fact, both government and private donors provide assistance only to non-profit, non-governmental organizations, and they also provide significant sums to charitable activities like hospitals and medical care in Belarus. The budgets for Belarus are publicly available documents which can easily confirm these statements.(Charter 97; ILHR May 14)

LOCAL INDEPENDENT TRADE UNION ACTIVIST GOES ON HUNGER STRIKE

On May 17, Elena Zakhozhaya, head of the Bobruisk, Mogilev Region, branch of the Independent Trade Union of Tire-Manufacturing Workers, was taken to the hospital in critical condition after a two-week long hunger strike. The activist demanded from the administration of Belshina, a tire-manufacturing plant, to provide the Union with a legal address, required for registration with the Bobruisk City Council. According to preliminary information, the Bobruisk, Mogilev Region, Executive Committee promised Zakhozhaya to settle the issue. (Belapan, May 17)

REGIME CONTINUES TO SUPPRESS TRADE UNION RIGHTS

Tight control by the Lukashenko regime over public demonstrations makes it difficult for unions to strike or to hold public rallies to further their objectives. The Minsk Executive Committee prohibited the Trade Union of Workers of the Car-Manufacturing Industry to picket the Ministry of Industry in order to demand higher pay and repayment of all wage arrears. The authorities allowed workers to hold their protest not closer than three kilometers away from the Ministry. The Union's leadership consider the decision of the city authorities anticonstitutional and cynical and appealed it to the Moskovsky District Court of Minsk. (Charter 97, May 18)

AUTHORITIES IGNORE JOURNALIST'S HUNGER STRIKE

On May 17, Sergei Borovikov, editor-in-chief of Novoye Pokolenye (New Generation), an independent newspaper based in Krichev, Mogilev Region, was released after serving a seven days imprisonment on charges of violating Art. 166 (disobedience to the police) of the Belarusian Administrative Offences Code. During the entire time of the detention, he was on a dry hunger strike, protesting the unlawfulness of his detention and trying to draw public attention to his case. The journalist was arrested on May 9 for his refusal to present his ID to the plain-clothed law-enforcers until they show him theirs. During the arrest, the police confiscated stickers dedicated to the "We Want to Know the Truth" campaign organized by the United Civic Party. The local authorities failed to meet the journalist, who suffered serious health problems on the fourth day of the fast. With the assistance of the local branch of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Borovikov is going to appeal his sentence to the Mogilev Region Court. (Radio Racyja, May 18)

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE DENIES REGISTRATION TO LEGAL AID ASSOCIATION

The Public Legal Aid Association, headed by Oleg Volchek, was denied registration by the Belarusian Ministry of Justice on the pretext that a public association is not generally allowed to provide legal advice, that the organization has an inappropriate name and that its goals and activities do not comply with the law. The case is particularly telling because in a country where security forces continue to arbitrarily arrest and detain citizens; where the investigators routinely fail to inform detainees of their rights and conduct preliminary interrogations without giving detainees an opportunity to consult counsel; where the information gained during the preliminary interrogations is often used against the defendant in court; where access by family members to those detained is restricted severely in practice; and where defense attorneys, when appointed by the State, are subordinate to the executive branch, a human rights organizations is a last resort for those whose rights are violated. By denying registration to the Public Legal Aid Association the regime once again demonstrates its disrespect of fundamental civil liberties, including freedom of association, which is guarantied by the Art. 36 of the Belarusian Constitution.

The League also notes that in claiming that a public association cannot provide legal advice to the population, the Belarusian authorities are violating the 1998 "Defenders' Resolution" of the General Assembly, which affirms the right of individuals or groups to provide human rights protection. The failure to register the Public Legal Aid Association is a violation of the commitments undertaken by Belarus in signing the 1992 OSCE Copenhagen Agreement regarding freedom of association. (Charter 97; ILHR May 17)

NO MUSIC ALLOWED!

The Lukashenko regime continues to restrict freedom of assembly. On May 17, 2001, Ivan Martynov, provost of the Grodno State University, threatened 16 students with expulsion for their off-campus political activity. On May 6, 2001, they were detained among 120 other youngster during an alternative music concert called "Music Can Not Be Apolitical" held in a private garage. (Radio Racyja, May 18)

LOCAL ACTIVISTS DETAINED FOR DISTRIBUTION OF UNREGISTERED NEWSPAPER

On May 17, Dmitry Sidorchenko and Sergey Podsolka, both members of the Borisov, Minsk Region, branch of Narodnaya Hramada (the Belarusian Social Democrat Party), were detained by the police at the Borisov railroad station while distributing an unregistered independent newspaper (name to be confirmed), reported Viasna Human Rights Center. The activists were taken to the police station and accused of "illegal distribution of the printed materials of an unregistered outlet" under Art. 172, par. 3, of the Belarusian Administrative Offences Code, an offence punishable by fine up to five minimal wages. (Viasna Human Rights Center, May 17)

SON OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO REMAIN IN CUSTODY

The Minsk City Court denied the petition of Alexander Chigir, son of Mikhail Chigir, former prime minister and a potential candidate for the Belarusian presidency, to be released on his own recognizance under a pledge that he would not leave town without permission from authorities, reported Charter 97. He would remain in custody for at least another two months until the trial. Alexander, 24, was arrested at a car market on February 10, 2001, along with Sergei Koleda and Vasily Bykov on charges of selling spare parts from stolen vehicles [see Belarus Update Vol. 4, No. 7-8.]. On February 19, 2001, 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. (Charter 97, May 15)

-CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS-

June 7- the United Civic Party to hold a series of pickets within in Minsk and thirty other Belarusian cities to protest against political disappearances in Belarus.

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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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