INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

BELARUS UPDATE
Edited by Victor Cole

Vol. 4, No. 47
November 2001

IN THIS ISSUE:
- Lukashenko blasts US for plans to fund opposition
- Kurapaty defenders stand trial
- Grodno opposition protests against Pahonya's closure
- European MP urges regime to respect human rights
- Women's group initiates hearing on disappearances
- New amendments to legislation on NGOs activities?
- Independent trade union of miners goes on strike
- Regime launches another anticorruption campaign
- Belarusian premier receives Iranian ambassador
- Russia, Belarus discuss defense cooperation
- Russians support unification with Belarus

--HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION NEWS-

LUKASHENKO CRITICIZES U.S. FOR PLANS TO FUND OPPOSITION

On November 16, addressing a meeting of CEOs of Belarusian industrial companies, Alexander Lukashenko leveled sharp criticism at the plans of Western organizations to continue financing the regime's political opponents. "The financing reached $190 million prior to and during the September presidential elections," said Lukashenko, adding that according to some estimates the opposition will receive another $300-400 million. Lukashenko reiterated his warning against external interference into the country's internal affairs and promised to "respond accordingly" if the U.S. Senate will pass the Belarus Democracy Act of 2001, which authorizes $30 million in assistance to restore and strengthen the institutions of democratic government in Belarus. "We will not close our eyes to it. We will not let anyone meddle with our domestic affairs, Lukashenko admonished. (Belapan, November 16)

DEFENDERS OF MASS GRAVE SITE STAND TRIAL

On November 16, trials continued in Minsk of opposition activists who on November 8--9 protested against expanding Minsk Beltway over the mass grave in Kurapaty, a place where thousands of political prisoners were executed and buried during Stalin's repressions in the 1930s. Nikolai Vyazmin was fined 30 minimal wages (about $150). Yury Volodko and Alexander Telegin received fines of five and ten minimal wages, respectively. The case against Irina Khatalian was closed.

Also on November 16, the democratic international community celebrated the International Day for Tolerance declared by UNESCO. On this occasion, Lord Russel Johnston, President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, declared that tolerance is often the first victim of fear. "Today, it is more important than ever before to stand firm in the defense of human rights, human dignity and human decency. These values cannot be regarded as an obstacle in our fight against terrorism, they are an essential part of this fight, and its ultimate objective," he added.

On November 19, the Minsk Region Court continued hearing cases of Kurapaty defenders. Andrei Egorov and Gennady Drankovich were fined six minimal wages (about $30) each. Alexander Gubreika received fine of ten minimal wages. Nikolai Tkachenko, who was arrested near a police station protesting detention of his friends, was fined five minimal wages. While considering the case of Evgeny Afnagel, judge Oksana Relyaeva ignored the fact that the policeman who allegedly detained the activist could not even recall where the detention actually took place. Both activists were charged with violation of Art. 167, par. 1 (participation in mass actions violating public order) and Art. 166 (disobedience to the police) of the Administrative Offenses Code. Trials of Nikita Sasim and Roman Kazakevich were postponed. (Viasna Human Rights Center, November 16-19)

GRODNO OPPOSITION PROTESTS AGAINST PAHONYA'S CLOSURE

About one hundred opposition activists took part in an unauthorized action "Chain of People Who Care," which was held on November 20 in Grodno to protest against the Belarusian Supreme Economic Court decision to shut down Pahonya, the local Belarusian-language weekly, for alleged violations of the Law On Press and Other Media. The protesters distributed free rolls of toilet paper as a symbol of Lukashenko's frequent advice on "the best use" of independent printed media. After the action, Nikolai Markevich, Pahonya's editor, and the newspaper's journalists were summoned to appear in court. (Radio Racyja, November 20)

EUROPEAN MP URGES REGIME TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS

Elisabeth Schrodter, head of the European Parliament group for Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine, said that instead of using the election process to return Belarus to the path of democracy and end the country's self-isolation, Alexander Lukashenko tightened his grip on power and launched an intensified campaign of harassment against the democratic opposition and fledgling independent media. She pointed out that so far Europe have not worked out a distinct position toward Belarus. "Of course, there are intentions to elaborate some new strategy concerning Belarus, but we have to face the fact that in the next five years Lukashenko will be ruling the country," said Schrodter. She believes that even on the initial level of the intergovernmental information exchange between Belarus and Western Europe, the Belarusian people must realize that the co-operation is targeted at the general benefit of Belarus and its democratization. Schrodter added that the European MPs will study the issue in the nearest future. "We will thoroughly examine whether there's a worthwhile democratic development in Belarus, whether there exists censorship and persecution of free media," she said. "Without respect for the fundamental human rights there's little if any hope for economic improvement." (Charter 97, November 19)

WOMEN'S GROUP INITIATES HEARING ON DISAPPEARANCES

The Belarusian Association of Working Women is attempting to initiate parliamentary hearings on the fate of Victor Gonchar, a 13th Supreme Soviet deputy chair and a high- profile opposition politician, who disappeared along with his business associate, Anatoly Krasovsky, on September 16, 1999. The organization has already filed a number of requests with several members of the Belarusian National Assembly, stating that "parliamentary hearings on Gonchar's case would surely help shed light on his disappearance and help his family to learn about his fate." (Radio Racija, November 19)

NEW AMENDMENTS TO LEGISLATION ON NGO ACTIVITIES?

Mikhail Sukhinin, head of the Justice Ministry's Department of Public Organizations, told a press conference in Minsk that the authorities do not plan to initiate re-registration process of political parties and NGOs any time soon. He added, however, that there are plans to introduce "minor amendments" to some of the provisions of the country's laws that regulate activities of political and civil society groups. The Ministry's list of registered organizations includes 17 political parties, 38 trade unions and about 2,500 NGOs.

On January 26, 1999, Lukashenko issued Decree No. 2, requiring all political parties, trade unions, and NGOs to re-register with authorities by July 1, 1999. The timing of the decree, which forced organizations to demonstrate increased numbers of members and scope of operations to qualify for re-registration, was intended as a method of political intimidation at a time of increased opposition activity. On July 1, 1999, the government announced further regulations that prohibited private organizations from using private residences as their legal addresses. Given the reality of state control or ownership of many office buildings, the regulations had the effect of complicating the re-registration process.

On December 17, 1999, an amendment to the Law on Public Associations went into effect, which prohibited political and social organizations from using the words "Belarus," "Republic of Belarus," "national" or "popular" in their titles. [The measure appeared aimed at the Belarusian Popular Front and other civic groups with "national" or "popular" in their names-Ed.] Also in December 1999, Lukashenko signed into law a bill on amendments to the Administrative Offenses Code that would make any work on behalf of an unregistered NGO punishable by fines. (Charter 97, November 20)

INDEPENDENT MINERS' UNION GOES ON STRIKE

On November 16, members of the Independent Trade Union of Miners from 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, held a picket in Minsk. Braving cold weather and holding national white-red-white flags, the miners demanded that the authorities cut high income tax rate which reduces their already modest salaries by 30% and repeal the taxation of their severance pay. The miners are determined to defend their rights and continued protesters if the authorities will fail to meet their demands. They are ready to go on an open-ended strike and other protest actions both in Soligorsk and in Minsk.

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 authorities and state-owned enterprises have hindered the ability of workers to bargain collectively and, in some instances, arbitrarily suspended collective bargaining agreements. Members of independent trade unions were arrested for distributing union literature, had union material confiscated, were denied access to work sites, were subjected to excessive fines, and were pressured by their managers and state security services to resign from their jobs because of trade union activities.

On January 26, 1999, Lukashenko signed Decree No. 2 "On certain Measures to Improve the Activities of Political Parties, Trade Unions, and Other Public Associations Activities," which obligated trade unions to present for re-registration a list of at least 500 members from most of the regions for a national organization or 10 percent of the employees of the enterprise for a local. That requirement was criticized by local observers in light of repressive measures undertaken by the state on members of the free trade unions. On July 3, 2000, noting the suppression of trade union rights, the U.S. recently suspended Belarus's benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences. (Radio Racija, November 19)

DUE PROCESS IN BELARUS

On November 21, the Brest Region Court acquitted deacon Gennady Kolesnikov, who had already spent two years in detention on murder charges. The prosecution alleged that Kolesnikov murdered Mikhail Catsuk, senior priest of the Saint-Nikolai Cathedral of Brest, to steal money from the Cathedral's safe in October 1998. Fr. Kolesnikov was arrested on October 14, 1998, the next day after Catsuk's body was founded, but released the next day for the lack of evidence. Fourteen months later, in December, 1999, he was arrested again solely on the grounds that he was the only person who had openly admitted that he disliked the deceased. The Brest Region Court sentenced him to twenty years of imprisonment on charges of "murder with particular cruelty." Shortly thereafter, the Collegium on Criminal Cases of the Belarusian Supreme Court reversed charges for the lack of evidence. Kolesnikov remained in jail, however. In his appeal to the court, he wrote that the law-enforcers beat a confession out of him. Local observers believe that the court decision will be appealed by Alexsey Ogarkov, the public prosecutor on the case. (Belarusskaya Delovaya Gazeta, November 23)

-AT HOME IN BELARUS-

REGIME LAUNCHES ANOTHER ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN

On November 22, Viktor Rakhmanko, head of the Belarusian railways, was dismissed by Alexander Lukashenko after Viktor Sheiman, Prosecutor General, had "informed the president of numerous violations of law in the railway system." The presidential press service announced that there were gross embezzlements of fuel supplies and repairs funds. In addition, "unjustified privileges" were granted to commercial organizations, allegedly for bribes. Rakhmanko "used his position against the interests of his company and in his self interests," Sheiman told reporters.

The same day, the press service of the Belarusian State Controlling Committee announced that large-scale embezzlement and bribery charges had been filed against Leonid Kalugin, executive director of Atlant, a Minsk-based refrigerator plant. Kalugin, who this past August attempted and failed to collect the 100,000 signatures required for his registration as presidential candidate, is also suspected of "unlawful entrepreneurial activities" and of "non-repatriation of hard currency proceeds from abroad." According to unofficial sources, Kalugin has been detained. The information was indirectly confirmed by Lukashenko, who said that the head of a major enterprise had been placed in custody. Vladimir Aleinikov, director of Tractor stadium in Minsk, was detained for allegedly accepting a bribe from an entrepreneur.

Last December, while introducing to the staff Viktor Sheiman, former secretary of the Belarusian State Security Council and newly appointed Belarusian Prosecutor General, the Belarusian leader expressed deep dissatisfaction with the work of the Prosecutor General's Office. "I cannot see any significant results in the struggle against corruption, organized crime and the corrupted opposition, which is trying to seize power by any means with the support of Western nations," Lukashenko said. He demanded that law-enforcement agencies redouble their efforts to prevent destabilization of the state system. Lukashenko stressed that he expects the prosecutors to become the driving force behind the work of the entire law enforcement system in Belarus. Allegations of high level corruption are not new to anybody in Belarus. But many local observers believe that as usual, many of them have a political dimension. The regime's opponents believe that by starting another high-profile criminal prosecution campaign Lukashenko wants to make management of all levels to be absolutely obedient to him. (Nasha Svaboda, November 23)

BELARUSIAN PREMIER RECEIVES IRANIAN AMBASSADOR

On November 21, during a meeting with Mohammed Musa Hashemi Golpaeghani, Iranian Ambassador to Belarus, Gennady Novitsky, the newly-appointed Belarusian prime minister, said that the two countries have attained a "really high level of political relations." According to the Lukashenko official, both countries "take similar stands on most of the international problems." He said that a visit of the Belarus foreign minister to Iran was planned for next year and that the Iranian president and parliament speaker were expected to come to Minsk. (Itar-Tass, November 21)

- BROTHER SLAVS -

RUSSIA, BELARUS DISCUSS DEFENSE COOPERATION

On November 14, Alexander Lukashenko held a meeting in Minsk with Andrei Belyaninov, Executive Director of the Rosoboronexport, Russia's state arms enterprise,
and Sergei Batekhin, executive secretary of the Defense Systems, an intergovernmental financial and industrial group, to discuss further cooperation of the two countries in the defense sphere. "Our cooperation in the field of export of armaments and hardware to foreign countries is not a secret," said the Belarusian leader during the meeting. "We've got some things that we can sell, and the main point is that we do not violate international norms and principles while doing it," he noted. The Russian guests stressed the importance of coordinated efforts on the world arms market and once again urged Lukashenko to bring the movement of Russian weaponry on Belarusian territory under effective control. [Russian media claimed recently that Belarus buys the latest models of Russian weaponry ay a discount, only to re-export them to the Middle East and even to Chechen separatists.-Ed.]. (Belarusskaya Delovaya Gazeta, November 19)

RUSSIANS SUPPORT UNIFICATION WITH BELARUS

A poll conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation on November 17, 2001 showed that 45% of Russians support the idea of founding a unified state of Russia and Belarus. Polls conducted by the foundation in April 1997, January 1999, October 1999, and November 2000 showed that this idea was shared by 30%, 37%, 39% and 42% of the respondents respectively. According to the latest poll, 28% of the Russians support the opinion that there should be a union of independent states of Russia and Belarus, which would have close political contacts. 15% of the respondents believe that there should not be any union between the two countries. Supporters of Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Russian Communist Party, (67%), respondents of 50 years old and older, and people with incomplete secondary education (53% for each of the groups) are more inclined to support the unification than other respondents. Respondents with college degrees (41%) and people younger than 35 years old (34%) tend to support the idea of formation of a union of independent states of Russia and Belarus. In total, 1,500 people in 100 areas of 44 regions of Russia took part in the poll. (RosBusinessConsulting Database, November 23)

-CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS-

OSCE PARLIAMENTARIANS TO VISIT BELARUS

On November 25-27, Uta Zapf (MP, Germany), the recently appointed Head of the Ad hoc Working Group, and Urban Ahlin (MP, Sweden), both members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Ad hoc Working Group on Belarus, and Paul LeGendre, the OSCE PA's Program Officer, will visit Minsk. In the course of their stay, the delegation intends to meet with the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidential Administration, Ministry of Information, deputies from both chambers of the National Assembly, the Belarusian Association of Journalists, political parties both from the Republican Bloc and the Advisory Council of Opposition Political Parties, as well as representatives of the international community and of research and analytical centers. (OSCE, November 20)

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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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