INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

BELARUS UPDATE

Edited by Victor Cole

Vol. 5, No. 33

August 2002

IN THIS ISSUE:

- RFE Staff Harassed By Belarusian Authorities

- Belarusian Journalists Work In Atmosphere Of Fear

- Religious Groups Urge Parliament To Reject New Law on Religions

- International Conference Condemns New Religion Law

- Priest Of Destroyed Autocephalous Church Slams Regime

- Krishna Community Denied Registration

- Authorities Do Nothing To Make Arms Sales More Transparent

- Lukashenko Rejects Russian President's Merger Scenario

- U.S. Urges Belarusian Authorities To Reform Economy

- Authorities Cut Russian TV And Radio Broadcasts

- HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION NEWS-

RFE STAFF HARASSED BY BELARUSIAN AUTHORITIES

The U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has reported that the Belarusian authorities are harassing its employees in Minsk, threatening their ability to operate there. The Radio's staff members were not allowed to enter the building in which RFE/RL's Minsk bureau has been located, which is leased from McDonald's fast-food restaurant, itself in a dispute with Belarusian State University over the property (see Belarus Update Vol. 5, No. 31-32).

"The actions, taken as a whole, seem to indicate an increased level of threat to the ability of RFE/RL Belarusian Service staff and stringers to continue to work from their bureau in Minsk," RFE/RL said in a statement released on August 15. Earlier this month, the University -- which McDonald's says had agreed to lease the land for its building until 2036 -- had security guards close off access to the area, saying it wanted to build a new academic facility there. RFE said it had been told that the building was to become an "off-limits construction zone."

In addition, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry served the RFE/RL in Prague with a notice threatening to strip the accreditation of the Radio's Belarusian service journalists if it aired any report by an unaccredited reporter. RFE said only nine of its 20 staff and stringers in Minsk are now accredited and that the Foreign Ministry refused to issue credentials to the other 11. At this time, RFE/RL is seeking alternative quarters for its Minsk bureau, while the Belarusian Foreign Ministry refuses to meet with RFE/RL officials concerning the accreditation issue.

Reporters Without Borders (RWB), the international press freedom watchdog, wrote to Mikhail Khvostov, the Belarusian Foreign Minister, protesting the treatment of the RFE/RL staff. "There is too little foreign media in Belarus. It would harm the Belarusian population's access to alternative sources of information," wrote Robert Menard, RWB's General Secretary. He called on the Lukashenko government to grant credentials to all RFE/RL journalists who work in Belarus and not to obstruct the movement of its editorial staff. "Unless this is done, (RWB) will have to conclude that your government is trying by all possible means to expel Radio Free Europe," Menard wrote. [The letter can be found at www.rsf.fr/article.php3?id_article=3415-ed.].

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, international communications service to Eastern Europe and Southeastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East funded by the U.S. Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
It has substantially increased its Belarusian broadcasting time in the last year. (Belapan/ USIA, August 13-15)

BELARUSIAN JOURNALISTS WORK IN ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) wrote an open letter to the autocratic Belarusian leader expressing its outrage by his government's unyielding assault on the independent press. The sentences handed down to journalists Mikalai Markevich and Pavel Mazheiko, journalists of now-defunct weekly Pahonya, for having allegedly insulted President Lukashenko; defamation conviction against independent newspaper Nasha Svaboda; charges against Viktor Ivashkevich, editor-in-chief of Rabochy, another non-state newspaper, for libeling the president, prove that the Belarusian officials are "using civil and criminal defamation laws, as well as registration procedures for new publications, to muzzle outlets that criticize and question state policies," wrote Executive Director Ann K. Cooper.

According to Belarusian and international news reports, Ivashkevich's trial has been set for September 11, 2002. However, recent comments by Mikhail Podgainy, Minister of Information, that the case is a "clear win" suggest that the outcome of this criminal case has been predetermined. Moreover, the trial date, which falls on the first anniversary of the attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., appears deliberately chosen to minimize international scrutiny of the hearing.

In an interview with Belapan, Mikola Markevich, editor-in-chief of Pahonya, said that the Grodno City Executive Council had denied a petition to register his new publication, Holas [The Voice]. Earlier, Markevich submitted four other prospective newspapers for the Council's approval- Hazeta Pahonya [The Newspaper Pahonya], Kalosha [The Galosh}, Muzhitskaya Pravda [The Peasant's Truth], and Rekha [The Echo], all of which were denied. On August 15, the Grodno Regional Court upheld the verdicts against Markevich and Mazheiko, but shortened their sentences to one year of "restricted freedom" each. (Belapan/CPJ/Viasna Human Rights Center/ Charter 97, August 7-16)

- RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN BELARUS -

RELIGIOUS GROUPS URGE PARLIAMENT TO REJECT NEW RELIGION LAW

A coalition of Jewish, Greek Catholic, Protestant, and human rights groups called on the Council of the Republic (the upper chamber of the Belarusian National Assembly or legislature), to reject a new law on religion that enshrines the Russian Orthodox Church's dominant role and sharply limits the activities of religions that have been present in Belarus for less than 20 years. "Practical application of this law will lead to a large number of legal disputes and will create a threat to interfaith harmony," the groups said in a statement.

The new Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations, already passed by the House of Representatives, lower chamber of the parliament, bans all unregistered religious activity in the country and introduces a complete ban on foreign proselytizing. Religious literature will be subjected to compulsory prior censorship and religious groups with fewer than 20 adult citizen members in any one location will be automatically denied registration. The law will also require compulsory re-registration over the following two years, the third such round of re-registration since Belarus became independent.

Under the law, to form an association, a religious denomination is required to have at least ten religious communities which have been functioning in Belarus for at least fifteen years. This provision will bar many denominations and religions which had only a limited number of registered communities during the late Soviet period from forming religious associations. The law also distinguishes between "national" religious associations - which need to have functioning communities in the "majority" of the country's regions (presumably at least four of the seven regions)--and "local" religious associations that cannot meet that requirement. (Viasna Human Rights Center, August 9)

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CONDEMNS THE NEW RELIGION LAW

The Human Rights Center, headed by Vera Stremkovskaya, held an international conference titled "Religion and Democracy" in Raubichi, Minsk Region, to discuss the new law on religion. Some of the participants, mainly NGOs and minority religious representatives, agreed that the law, which had been prepared secretly, ignores the interests of the Belarusian people, violates believers' rights, and incites religious hatred and xenophobia. Others, representing the Belarusian government and Orthodox Church, supported the law. Alexander Kalinov, a staff member of the Belarusian State Committee on Religions and Nationalities, insisted that the new law was introduced to "limit the proliferation of the destructive sects and totalitarian neo-cults." The participants adopted a resolution to study the possibility of establishing an interconfessional coalition which could conduct dialogue with the authorities on behalf of different religious denominations. (Human Rights Center, August 8)

PRIEST OF DESTROYED AUTOCEPHALOUS CHURCH SLAMS REGIME

Father Yan Spasyuk, a priest of the Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church from the village of Pogranichny, Berestavitsky District, Grodno Region, which was demolished on the orders from the local authorities, called on the believers to oppose the Lukashenko regime. "I call on you to unite. This woe has come to our church today, but it may come to your churches and homes tomorrow," Father Spasyuk said in a statement. "The Lukashenko regime has once again shown its cruelty to the people. Our fate is a bitter and harsh and becomes harder with every passing year for we are not masters of our land, but remain the prisoners of various regimes," Spasyuk said.

The small church building of the Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church was destroyed on August 1, even though dozens of followers stood watch at the construction site. Officials of the Berestavitsky District Executive Committee insist that the building had been built by Father Spasyuk without a required permission. Spasyuk reply that in 2000 the Committee granted him permission to build the church and a residence for himself and his family. (Viasna Human Rights Center, August 10)

KRISHNA COMMUNITY DENIED REGISTRATION

Belarus's small Hare Krishna community is preparing to challenge in court the authorities' long-standing refusal to register the group. The first application for registration was filed and submitted to the State Committee for Religious and Ethnic Affairs in May 2001. "For more then a year, the Committee kept finding new reasons to deny registration, and we kept sending edited versions of our by-laws, hoping to obtain it," said the community leadership. The most recent version of the by-laws was submitted in June 2002, but after a month the Committee requested "some additional documentation."

Frustrated by the foot-dragging, on July 4, the community filed a complaint with the Tsentralny District Court of Minsk. The court ordered the Committee to make a final decision by August 5. The Committee did reply by the deadline, declaring that registration was being refused as the juridical address provided by the community did not meet the requirements of the law.

As of August 14, only seven out of 12 Hare Krishna communities that exist in various parts of Belarus, have managed to gain state registration. (Keston News Service, August 14)

- AT HOME IN BELARUS-

AUTHORITIES DO NOTHING TO MAKE ARMS SALES MORE TRANSPARENT

Amb. Steven Pifer, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, once again urged the Belarusian leadership on August 12 to choose which side it is on in the war against terror. Amb. Pifer, who in February expressed concern about reports that the Lukashenko government sold weapons to terrorist states or groups and provided them military training, said the country had done nothing to make its arms sales more transparent. "In the past, we have seen specific contacts by the Belarusian government with Iraq," Pifer said. "After Sept. 11 of last year ... all countries have to choose what side they take in the war on terrorism." Characterizing bilateral relations as "very poor," Pifer said that in the six months since his visit to Belarus the Belarusian government had failed to take any steps toward democracy. "The government of Belarus has chosen to isolate itself," he said.

Commenting on the Pifer's statement, Pavel Latushko, Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said that "persistent hints from the U.S. officials about some 'specific contacts' signed by Belarus and Iraq caused nothing but surprise." "The Belarusian leadership has nothing to add to its previous comments on allegations about insufficient transparency of its export control system," Latushko said. "We would like the State Department officials to back up their accusations with at least one specific example," he said.

"We are accused of unwillingness to engage in dialogue with the United States and of being unprepared to develop a step-by-step strategy of normalizing bilateral relations. But the U.S.'s calls for improving bilateral relations go hand-in-hand with the State Department's support for the Christopher H. Smith's Belarus Democracy Act of 2002, which, if adopted, introduces sanctions against Belarus," said Latushko. The official Minsk is prepared to work toward normalizing relations with the United States, but the pressure "will not enhance a dialogue," he added. (RosBusinessConsulting Database/ Interfax, August 13-14)

-BROTHER SLAVS-

LUKASHENKO REJECTS RUSSIAN PRESIDENT'S MERGER SCENARIO

For the first time since Russia and Belarus signed a union treaty six years ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined on August 14 a merger plan that would in effect allow Russia to absorb Belarus. Under the plan, Belarus' six regions would become members of the Russian Federation--which already has 89 regions and provinces. The idea, Putin said, was to create "a single state." Forcing the issue, the Russian President laid out a timetable--referendums in both countries in March 2003, followed by the presidential election in 2004. Russia already has scheduled its elections for 2004, and most Russians assume Putin will win easily. Putin also said the unified country would use the Russian ruble and Russian Constitution.

Lukashenko, who was sitting next to Putin, as the Russian leader spoke, did not openly express support for Putin's plan. His presence and defense of Russian-Belarussian friendship seemed to imply some form of assent however. Yet, once the Belarusian leader returned to Minsk, he lambasted the plan as "unacceptable." "Belarus will never agree to this," Lukashenko said, reported Itar-Tass. "I have already repeated several times that the union cannot be built on the principles that destroy the sovereignty of Belarus and Russia. It must be built on the principles of equality."

The local and international observers agreed that Putin's proposal puts Lukashenko in a tough spot, forcing him to either accept a union with Russia that could remove him from power, or reject ties with Russia, which have helped boost his popularity and keep his anachronistic economy afloat. They described Putin's move as calling Lukashenko's bluff.

"Putin is saying, 'Let's unify - and unification means that Belarus becomes part of Russia - or let's end this demagoguery," said Andrei Piontkovsky, director of the Center for Strategic Studies, a Moscow-based think tank. He added that Lukashenko has been championing closer ties for years in a successful bid to gain secure favorable economic relations with Russia. "But he never really wanted a union," Piontkovsky said. "He is not prepared to give up his position as the president, dictator of a European country and become the governor of a Russian province."

"The time of hugs and kisses is over for Lukashenko. He got what he asked for," Stanislav Shushkevich, who served as the first president of independent Belarus and is now an opposition politician, said in a telephone interview to The Financial Times. "I think what happened today is a positive event for Belarus," Shushkevich continued. "It is a moment of truth which I am sure will help Belarus to cleanse itself of Lukashenko and his regime and move faster toward Europe."

"Lukashenko used this game to get more popular support inside the country and to continue getting cheap fuel and energy from Russia," said Alexander Dobrovolsky, deputy chair of the opposition United Civic Party. "This ultimatum puts both the sovereignty of Belarus and the political future of Lukashenko himself on the line."
(Belapan/ Itar-Tass/ The Financial Times/ Interfax, August 14-16)

U.S. URGES BELARUSIAN AUTHORITIES TO REFORM ECONOMY

The U.S. State Department urged Belarus to follow Russia's example and reform its economy but otherwise kept its distance from the two countries' merger talks. The issue of union "is a matter for Russia and Belarus to decide," stressed Deputy Spokesman Philip T. Reeker.

Following are excerpts from Reeker's statement regarding Belarus, delivered during the State Department Daily Press Briefing on August 14:

"Q: Do you have anything in particular on today's summit between Putin and Lukashenko in Moscow? And I also would like to ask the US administration view of Russian-Belarus integration process in general."

"REEKER: Sure. I don't think I have anything particular to say on the fact that the Belarus leader, Mr. Lukashenko, is visiting Moscow today. In a broader context, we have discussed before this proposed union between Belarus and Russia, which has been under discussion, I think, since 1996. We continue to watch the proposal with interest as it moves forward, but really this is a matter for Belarus and Russia to decide."

"We would hope that any arrangement between the two countries would be done in a way that reflects the will of their citizens and does not impede integration into broader European or global institutions, which have been goals I think for many of the people of those countries."

"But finally, I would note that Russia certainly is reforming its economic and political systems, and Belarus is not. We hope that the Lukashenko regime will take decisions to join the reform trends that are prevalent all around Belarus and that have left Belarus isolated in Europe in terms of not pursuing reforms that would be to the benefit of the people of Belarus." (USIA, August 14)

STATE TV NETWORK CUTS RUSSIAN TV, RADIO BROADCASTS

Further signs of tension between Russia and Belarus emerged on August 13 when the management of the Belarusian State Television and Radio Company (BTR) temporarily halted broadcasts of Mayak and Yunost, two Russian radio stations, and sharply cut back air time on RTR, NTV and Kultura, Russian TV networks, a move critics of Alexander Lukashenko saw as a power play on the eve of his visit to Moscow. Alexander Zimovsky, state network's deputy chair, said the action was taken because the affected companies owed money for the broadcast of their programs in Belarus. "It was an economic decision," he said. Representatives of the Russian TV networks in Belarus said they had received no warning before their air time was slashed.

Zhanna Litvina, president of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, called it a political move by the authoritarian president, who was scheduled to meet in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Lukashenko is flexing his ideological muscles on the eve of his meeting with Putin," Litvina said. Lukashenko sworn knew nothing about the incident.

Minsk has been critical of Russian television in recent months, accusing the stations of lacking objectivity regarding the situation in Belarus. Interfax reported that a senior Putin aide said the decision to limit broadcasts of Russian networks was regrettable. (Interfax, August 13)

- CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS -

September 9-19- -OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting

September 16- - -Third anniversary of the disappearance of Gonchar and Krasovsky
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The Belarus Update is a weekly news bulletin of the Belarus Human Rights Support Project of the International League for Human Rights (www.ilhr.org). The League, now in its 61st year, is New York-based human rights NGO in consultative status with the United Nations ECOSOC. Visit our website for back issues, analysis, and links to news sites and NGOs in Belarus: www.belarusupdate.org For queries on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or other information, contact belarus@ilhr.org

The Belarus project was established to support Belarusian citizens in making their case for the protection of civil society before the international community regarding Alexander Lukashenko's wholesale assault on human rights and the rule of law in Belarus.

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