INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

BELARUS UPDATE
Edited by Victor Cole

Vol. 5, No. 12
March 2002

IN THIS ISSUE:

- Belarusian Leader Favors Broader Cooperation With Iraq
- Lukashenko Scorns OSCE Presence In Belarus
- Opposition Leader Sentenced To 10 Days
- Justice Ministry Warns Opposition Party
- U.S. Urges Belarus To End Harassment Of Civil Society
- Activist Charged With Slandering Lukashenko, Goes Into Hiding
- Prisoner Of Conscience To Be Release From Jail
- Two Zubr Activists Expelled From School
- Local Human Rights NGO Robbed
- Journalists Demand Truth About Fate Of Their Colleague

--HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION NEWS-

BELARUSIAN LEADER FAVORS BROADER COOPERATION WITH IRAQ

On March 19, Alexander Lukashenko warned the U.S. against extending the war on terrorism to Iraq, which Washington charges with seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction. "We are categorically opposed to military pressure and military strikes as well," Lukashenko said during a meeting with visiting Iraqi Deputy Premier Hikmat Al-Azavi. The Belarusian leader, who enjoys close relations with Saddam Hussein, also called for the lifting of UN sanctions against Iraq. "Our republic has always argued against the sanctions imposed on Iraq and we will continue to do so," Lukashenko said. "We think they should be dropped because they detrimentally affect the general population," he said. The Belarusian leader reiterated that Belarus was "not only interested in political but also traden and economic cooperation with Iraq."

Leonid Kozik, deputy head of the Lukashenko administration and head of the Iraqi-Belarusian economic commission, insisted that there was no military component in the cooperation. "Our cooperation with Iraq is within the framework of U.N. resolutions. We discuss only trade issues," he said.

The League notes that the United Nations slapped sanctions on Iraq after its August 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Under the UN oil-for-food program, Iraq can import food, medicines and other goods needed for the country's shattered infrastructure. In 2001, Belarus exported more than $26 million worth of tractors, trucks and spare parts to Iraq. The Belarusian authorities insist that the trade falls under the U.N. oil-for-food program, under which Iraq is allowed to purchase humanitarian goods in exchange for monitored oil exports. Kozik said Belarusian firms would be in a good position when the U.N. sanctions imposed against Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait are lifted. The sanctions cannot be lifted unless U.N. inspectors verify that Baghdad has dismantled its weapons of mass destruction. (Interfax/ Belapan/ BBC/ Nasha Svaboda, March 19)

…AND SPEAKS AGAINST OSCE'S PRESENCE IN BELARUS

On March 22, during a meeting with high-ranking governmental officials, Alexander Lukashenko once again spoke critically of the OSCE mission in Belarus. "What does the OSCE want from us? Why do they remove their group from the Baltic Region, where the civil rights are violated on a regular basis, where Russians and Slavs are mocked, but leave it here?" said the Belarusian leader "What should the OSCE regulate in Belarus? It activities are clear interference the country's into internal affairs," Lukashenko continued.

Lukashenko's opinion was supported by Mikhail Khvostov, Belarusian Foreign Minister, who insisted the mission should stop taking actions beyond its mandate and boosting "anti-presidential" political structures. The Lukashenko official made it clear that the new head of the OSCE AMG would not be approved by the country's authorities unless the mission make changes into its mandate. (Radio Racyja, March 22)

OPPOSITION LEADER SENTENCED TO 10 DAYS

On March 18, Nikolai Statkevich, chair of the opposition Belarusian Social Democratic Party (BSDP), or Narodnaya Hramada, was sentenced to 10 days in prison under Art. 167/3, par. 2, of the Administrative Offences Code (organizing an unauthorized march). On March 15, about 500 people marched in downtown Minsk to mark the 8th anniversary of the country's 1994 democratic constitution and to press the Lukashenko government for greater political and economic rights before being dispersed by the troops of the Internal Affairs Ministry. Statkevich was arrested the same day at the party's headquarters during the press conference. He was taken to the Sovetsky District Internal Affairs Directorate and, later, to the Okrestina detention center, where he remained in custody for three days.

On March 18, Statkevich stood trial at the Sovetsky District Court of Minsk. "By stopping us from carrying out a peaceful action, the government has violated our constitutional rights," Statkevich told the court. Speaking to journalists after his trial, he thanked the protesters, who "risked their freedom to defend human rights." "I understand that not everyone has the courage to take part in an unauthorized demonstration," he said, adding that the protest was a "step toward democracy and freedom, although a small one."

Viktor Medvedchuk, leader of the United Social Democratic Party of Ukraine and chair of the East European Social Democratic Forum, issued a statement urging Alexander Lukashenko to release Nikolai Statkevich from jail. "Incredible as it may seem, there are still countries in Europe where Social Democrats are subject to political persecution," Medvedchuk said in the statement. "People should not be punished for an attempt to celebrate a national holiday in the center of the capital rather than on its outskirts," Medvedchuk said.

The League notes that Lukashenko used a November 1996 referendum to amend the 1994 Constitution and disband the 13th Supreme Soviet, a democratically elected parliament, in order to broaden his powers and extend his term in office. He ignored a ruling by the Constitutional Court then in session that the Constitution could not be amended by referendum. As a result, the current political system is based on the 1996 Constitution, which was adopted in an unconstitutional manner. (Belapan/ Nasha Svaboda/ Interfax, March 18)

JUSTICE MINISTRY WARNS OPPOSITION PARTY

Belapan reported on March 19 that the Belarusian Ministry of Justice has issued a warning to the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (BSDP), or Narodnaya Hramada, for the use of a "unregistered name on its stamp" and the letterheads that "do not meet the statutory requirements." The party was given one month to report back to the Ministry about the measurers it took to get in compliance with the organization's statute. Last month, the Party of Communists of Belarus, in opposition to the government, received a similar warning. (Belapan, March 19)

U.S. URGES BELARUS TO END HARASSMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY

On March 14, addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, U.S. diplomat Douglas A. Davidson, urged Belarus to end harassment of civil society and to cooperate fully with the OSCE. Davidson cited a report about an incident March 8 on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border when 10 opposition and NGO leaders were detained for six hours by Belarusian border guards as they were traveling to an international conference on Cooperation with Belarus organized in Lithuania (See Belarus Update Vol. 5, No. 10). Valentina Polevikova, chair of Nadzeya, Belarusian Women's Party, and Tatyana Protko, head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee. were strip-searched. The border guards also inspected a minivan of the OSCE AMG in Minsk, in which the delegation arrived at the border.

"This constitutes emotionally and physically degrading treatment and, as such, clear evidence of harassment and intimidation," Davidson said in the statement, adding that it obstructs dialogue and undermines the fulfillment of OSCE commitments. He once again urged the Belarusian authorities to end its self-isolation by ending its harassment of civil society and by undertaking full cooperation with the OSCE.

Responding to a report by Freimut Duve, the OSCE's representative on freedom of the media, the U.S. diplomat cited a series of troubling developments in Uzbekistan, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus, as well as the murder of Wall Street Journal correspondent Daniel Pearl in Pakistan.

Following are excerpts from Davidson's statement regarding Belarus:

"On Belarus, we share Mr. Duve's assessment of the situation as 'unending' and 'problematic.' Court cases opened against Mr. Seredich [Iosif, editor-in-chief of Narodnaya Volya, an opposition newspaper], Mr. Markevich [Mikalai Markevich, editor-in-chief of Pahonia, an independent newspaper], and Mr. Mazheika [Pavel Mazheika, a journalist at Pahonia] are only the most recent evidence of this trend. The fact that their coverage of September's presidential election has been used as the justification for opening libel cases against these journalists raises additional questions as to the confidence we and others can place in the results of those elections."

Davidson reiterated that the freedom of expression is a very important component of OSCE commitments and provides the foundation for both democratic growth and economic success. The statement can be found at: http://usinfo.state.gov

ACTIVIST CHARGED WITH SLANDERING LUKASHENKO, GOES INTO HIDING

The trial of Natalya Brel, 27, activist of the United Civic Party from Rechitsa, Gomel Region, and a Ph.D. candidate at the History Department of the Belarusian Academy of Science, was postponed until March 27 because she failed to appear in court. Natalya is charged with slandering the Belarusian President under Art 367, par. 1, of the Belarusian Penal Code, which is punishable by up to four years of imprisonment, and with "publicly insulting the President" under Art. 368 par. 1 of the Penal Code, an offence punishable by up to two years in prison. On August 30, 2001, Lukashenko's birthday, Natalya brought a rope, a piece of bread, soap and a make-up kit to the local electoral commission, asking officials to pass a "birthday present" from suppposedly grateful Rechitsa residents to the country's leader. The activist spent three days under arrest for this spoof and was forced to sign a pledge not to flee. Natalya's lawyer Dmitry Ivanishko told the court that his client apparently went into hiding. The judge ruled to find the activist and "bring her to justice." (Viasna Human Rights Center, March 21)

PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE TO BE RELEASE FROM JAIL

On March 22, the Tsentralny District Court of Minsk upheld the February 21 decision of the administration of the colony No. 15/1 of the Frunzensky Executive Committee of Minsk to release Andrei Klimov, a deputy of the 13th Supreme Soviet and businessman, on parole. Under the guidelines set forth in the new Penal Code, Klimov and 50 other inmates will be released from the colony and serve the rest of their terms doing compulsory labor.

February 11 marked the fourth year since Klimov's arrest. In March 2000, after more than two years in pre-trial detention and a controversial eight-month trial, the Leninsky District Court of Minsk found the deputy guilty of large-scale embezzlement and forgery and sentenced him to six years of imprisonment. Klimov's property was confiscated and he was barred from assuming certain public offices for three years after the completion of his sentence.

The international community considered Klimov a prisoner of conscience, who shares the fate of other politicians who have dared to challenge the authority of Alexander Lukashenko. The OSCE and its individual members among the Western democracies, including the U.S., have repeatedly demanded the deputy's immediate and unconditional release. Klimov was among the members of the 13th Supreme Soviet who did not recognize the results of the November 1996 referendum and put his signature on an impeachment motion against Lukashenko. Shortly before his arrest, he drew up a report recording violations of laws and the Constitution by the Belarusian authoritarian ruler. (Radio Racyja, March 21)

TWO ZUBR ACTIVISTS EXPELLED FROM SCHOOL

Alexander Kolyada and Alexander Pavlovich, both Zubr activists from Shklov, Mogilev Region, were expelled from the Mogilev Polytechnic Institute. On March 14, the Shklov District Court charged the boys with "publicly insulting the president" under Art 368, par. 1, of the Belarusian Penal Code and fined them. On August 14, 2001, the activists performed street theater, wearing mustaches and suit jackets, satirizing Lukashenko. (Charter 97, March 22)

LOCAL HUMAN RIGHTS NGO ROBBED

On March 16, the office of the Brest branch of the Viasna Human Rights Center was burglarized. The perpetrators entered the office through the door and stole two computers, two monitors, a printer, a digital camera, a fax, a tape recorders, and an electric kettle. The police launched a criminal investigation under Art. 205 part 3 of the Criminal Code (burglary). (Viasna Human Rights Center, October 15)

JOURNALISTS DEMAND TRUTH ABOUT FATE OF THEIR COLLEAGUE

The Belarusian Association of Journalists appealed to Viktor Sheiman, the Belarusian Prosecutor General, requesting an additional investigation into disappearance of its member, journalist Dmitry Zavadsky. Dmitry's colleagues insist that even after two members of Ignatovich's gang were accused with his abduction and received life sentences, the journalist's fate is still not clear. The BAJ members also are not sure that Valery Ignatovich and Maxim Malik, both former officers of the Almaz Special-Assignment Police Force, who were convicted by the Minsk Regional Court of kidnapping Zavadsky, are really those who masterminded his abduction. The journalists said that the trial's outcome make them doubt whether the supposed murderers have anything to do with Zavadsky's abduction at all. (BAJ, March 20)

************************************************************************

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.

Visit our colleagues Charter 97 at www.charter97.org for daily briefs in English, Belarusian and Russian. See the League's portal site at www.belarusupdate.org for links to democracy and human rights groups and www.ilhr.org for back issues of Update.
************************************************************************

Back