INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
BELARUS UPDATE

Edited by Victor Cole
Vol. 5, No. 45

November 2002

IN THIS ISSUE:

- Opposition Leader Detained By KGB After Leaving Us Embassy
- OSCE Seeks Return To Belarus
- U.S.OSCE Mission Demands Actions Not Words
- Two Activists Repremanded For Supporting OSCE
- Four Opposition Activists Detained For Distributing Flyers
- Opposition Commemorates Victims Of Stalin Terror
- Belarusian NGOs Decry Critical Situation Of Independent Media
- Belarus Blasts Russian Decision To Cut Gas Supplies
- Russia Seeks Backing From Ex-Soviet States For Iraq View
- Lukashenko To Attend Nato Summit

- HUMAN RIGHTS AND OPPOSITION NEWS-

OPPOSITION LEADER DETAINED BY KGB AFTER LEAVING US EMBASSY

Just as he was leaving the U.S. Embassy in Minsk around 4:40 p.m. on November 5, 2002, Anatoly Lebedko, chair of the opposition United Civic Party, was detained by unidentified plainclothes agents. They unceremoniously pushed him into a car and drove him to a KGB office for interrogation and released him after an hour. "It was a forceful seizure. Four men grabbed me and forcefully shoved me into their car," Lebedko told a news conference hastily convened at the party headquarters several hours after his release. Lebedko added that his first thought was that he would follow in the footsteps of Victor Gonchar and Yury Zakharenko, missing opposition politicians believed to have been abducted and murdered.

Lebedko had gone to the U.S. Embassy to discuss an invitation to speak at a conference on Belarus in Washington, DC scheduled for November 14, sponsored by the New Atlantic Initiative, a program of the American Enterprise Institute. At the KGB, Lebedko was handed an official warning of investigation for alleged acts of "treason" (a copy of the complete document in Russian is posted at www.charter97.org) In this warning, Lebedko is accused of maintaining ties with supposed "intelligent agents" from the U.S. Embassy and other foreigners, including the former head of the OSCE mission in Minsk, Hans-Georg Wieck, and Catherine Fitzpatrick, CIS Program Director of the League, ostensibly for the purpose of "undermining" Belarus. The document characterized both of them as being "involved in foreign special services," i.e. intelligence agencies.

In her statement for the press issued on November 6, 2002, Catherine Fitzpatrick scoffed at these allegations, saying she did not believe that Lebedko's public work and contacts with foreigners have anything to do with espionage or treason. As an independent human rights activist working in the non-governmental field for nearly 25 years with a known reputation, she noted that she was not involved with any intelligence services in the U.S. or any country. Saying that "when normal and legitimate human rights work is mistaken for 'intelligence,' it only reveals a lack of intelligence on the part of the special services making the claim."

The warning mentions a trip Lebedko made to the United States in 2000 at the League's invitation. The trip, in which Mr. Lebedko spoke before a variety of audiences, including government officials, Congressional members, researchers, journalists and NGOs, is a matter of public record. Far from being any kind of secret "espionage" activity threatening the national security of Belarus, such study exchanges between citizens' groups of two countries and such public meetings are the lawful and legitimate exercise of the right to the free flow of people and information guaranteed under the Helsinki Final Act, of which Belarus is signatory, and other international human rights agreements.

The League condemns the detention of Lebedko, clearly aimed at harassing opposition politicians on the eve of a conference abroad about Belarus, and reiterates that Anatoly Lebedko has been unjustly labeled as "treasonous" for the exercise of his rights to freedom of speech and travel abroad, which have only been to the benefit of Belarus.

The Belarusian Helsinki Committee also issued a statement protesting "the actions of the special services" and characterizing them as "an illegal detention and an attempt to apply pressure on politicians and ordinary people."

The detention follows another incident this past September when Sovetskaya Belarus and Zavtra, the state-controlled Belarusian newspapers, featured transcripts of a telephone conversation between Lebedko and Boris Nemtsov, a prominent Russian politician, leader of the Union of Rightist Forces (SPS). The conversation was believed to be an indication that the Kremlin was seriously displeased with Lukashenko and would not mind making contact with the opposition. There is no exact information on whether or not Lebedko had a meeting with any representative of the Kremlin administration, but the publication of the transcript appeared designed to discredit Lebedko.

Calling the detention and official warning "a return to the absurdity of Stalinism," Lebedko says that: "if it was an attempt to mount psychological pressure on the party or on me personally, it dismally failed." He added that he is going to file a suit to protest the KGB's actions. If convicted of treason, Lebedko could face a sentence up to 15-year sentence. Lebedko denied the allegation. U.S. Embassy officials attended the news conference, but did not make any statements. (ILHR, Belapan, Charter 97, BHC, November 6)

OSCE SEEKS RETURN TO BELARUS

In an effort to reestablish ties with the Minsk authorities--who last week threw the pan-European organization's mission out of the country--Jan Kubis, the OSCE Secretary General, arrived in Belarus on Sunday, November 3. "Relations between the OSCE and Belarus aren't wonderful but we have to turn the page," he said upon his arrival in Minsk. "We want to determine the state of relations between the OSCE and one of its members [Belarus] and [the possibilities of] future cooperation," he said, adding that the OSCE hoped to reopen its office in the former Soviet republic.

On Monday, November 4, Kubis held talks with Mikhail Khvostov, Belarusian Foreign Minister, and Ural Latypov, the head of the presidential administration.

After meeting with Jan Kubis, Khvostov told reporters that the official Minsk has "never given up on cooperation with the OSCE. We discussed a framework for the OSCE presence in Belarus." According to Pavel Latushko, spokesman for the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, Belarus and the OSCE have arrived to the understanding of the necessity to establish "open, intelligible and transparent relations." Pavel Latushko did not rule out that the Belarus foreign minister and the OSCE current chair, foreign minister of Portugal may have another meeting in Minsk or in Vienna, adding that further consultations will be attended coordinated by Viktor Gaisenok, Belarus permanent representative to the OSCE.

Top OSCE officials met November 5, 2002, in Vienna to discuss preparations for the organization's 10th ministerial council, to be held next month in Porto, Portugal. Jan Kubis reported on the result of the visit to Minsk. He told reporters on November 5 that he was hopeful "negotiations on a whole range of relations" could begin soon, and "to finish in a reasonable timeframe." But he said no date had yet been set. Also at the meeting, Antonio Martins da Cruz, Portuguese Foreign Minister and the current OSCE chairman, told reporters that the OSCE wants to improve relationship with Belarus but "not at the expense of abandoning its mandate to monitor human rights in the former Soviet republic." "We have proposed opening a new mission, with a new mandate, a new name and a new composition," he said, adding that the organization will not "accept abandoning the core of the mandate, namely the capacity to report on human rights." (Belapan, November 3-6)

U.S.OSCE MISSION DEMANDS ACTIONS NOT WORDS

On October 31, 2002, Amb. Stephan Minikes addressed the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna to explain the American position on the relationship with Belarus. Following are excerpts from his statement:

"We have little to add to what has been repeatedly stated over many months in this room by you, ourselves, and other delegations regarding Belarus' decision to expel the last AMG international staff member -- all of which makes a travesty of Belarus' commitment to cooperate with the OSCE and demonstrates its contempt for the decisions of this Permanent Council."

"Belarus' claim that its concerns about the AMG have gone unaddressed ring hollow in the face of the Chair's constant, determined efforts to forge a resolution and Belarus' refusal to engage in serious discussions."

"Although we welcome the recent letter from Foreign Minister Khvostov to the Chair, this is not a moment for more words but for action -- by Belarus first and foremost -- but failing that by the Chair, this Permanent Council, and its participating States."

"We understand the Chair has decided to send Secretary General Kubis to Minsk. We wish him well. Since it is clear that a definitive answer to this matter lies in Minsk, not here, we hope that the Chair will follow up the Secretary General's visit by sending a senior delegation to Minsk."

"However, if Belarus fails to seize the opportunity that a delegation sent by the Chair represents, we frankly believe the time will have arrived for action on the part of the Chair, the Permanent Council, and participating States. It will not be acceptable for Ministers of participating States to gather in Porto in the spirit of cooperation that normally underlies our work here, absent a resolution to this matter."

"Mr. Chairman, last week the Belarus delegation advised us it would inform its government of concerns expressed here regarding recent beatings of political figures, as well as the disappearance of political figures, and provide us with a response. We would welcome that response from Belarus today." (OSCE, November 1)

TWO ACTIVISTS REPREMANDED FOR SUPPORTING OSCE

The Moskovsky District Court in Minsk found Konstantin Khadyka, the younger son of a prominent opposition leader Yury Khadyka, and Sergei Pyanykh guilty of violating Art. 167 of the Belarusian Administrative Code and reprimanded them. The two held an unauthorized picket to support the OSCE mission in Minsk on October 29, the day Alina Josan, the last remaining employee of the Group, was forced to leave the country because the Belarusian authorities refused to extend her diplomatic credentials. At the trial Khadyka and Pyanykh explained that they did not have sufficient time to apply for a permission. (Viasna, November 5)

FOUR OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS DETAINED FOR DISTRIBUTING FLYERS

Approximately at 5 p.m. on November 5, the police detained four members of the unregistered Belarusian Party of Freedom for distribution of fly-sheets nearby Yakub Kolas Square. Ilia Iadrantsau, Dzianis Hildzin, Aliena Zhuk, Victor [surname unknown] are kept at the Oktyabarsky Police District. (Viasna, November 5)

OPPOSITION COMMEMORATES VICTIMS OF STALIN TERROR

Activists of the Conservative Christian Party of the BPF and the Belarusian People's Front Party BPF-Revival (BPF) held a rally in Loshytsa Park in Minsk on November 2 to honor the memory of the victims of totalitarianism. The rally followed an authorized march in which more than 100 people had participated. Marchers displayed historical national white-red-white flags and slogans against political terror.

The rally in Loshytsa Park, a place were many victims of the Stalin terror are buried, began with a memorial service conducted by an Orthodox priest. "The country is still ruled by the Bolshevik regime, which has always been killing its dangerous antagonists who fought for Belarus," Alyaksey Kavalets of the BPF said in his speech. He called on the country's democratic forces to unite and take power. (Belapan, November 2)

-- MEDIA FREEDOM IN BELARUS --

BELARUSIAN NGOS DECRY CRITICAL SITUATION OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA

On November 4, several Belarusian NGOs appealed to the International Helsinki Federation for help in securing financial support for the independent media in Belarus. In their appeal, the NGOs pointed out that over the past several years, the authorities in Belarus have been very consistent in tightening their grip on the media through administrative, legal and economic pressure against independent outlets. The situation has deteriorated further still after the September 2001 presidential elections, when at least three journalists were tried on criminal defamation charges for having allegedly slandered the president during the election campaign. Mikalai Markevich and Pavel Mazheika of the Grodno-based newspaper Pahonia are currently serving their internal exile terms performing compulsory labor. Victor Ivashkevich of the Minsk-based trade union newspaper Rabochy is to start his term soon.

Apart from criminal prosecution of journalists and other legal measures used to restrict the freedom of the media and information, Belarusian authorities have stepped up economic harassment of independent outlets. The state-sponsored economic discrimination against non-state media is the number-one danger now, which could bring independent publications to closure.

Because of this unequal economic environment, several newspapers both in Minsk and in the regions have had to suspend their operation (Belaruskaya Maladzyozhnaya - since July 2002, Dien - since August 2002, Rabochy - since July 2002, the Soligorsk-based Solidarnosc - since June 2002, Golas Pruzhany - since February 2002, the Krychev-based Kuceina - since 2002, Tydniovik Mahileuski - since June 2002). Due to the lack of funding, Radio Racyja has also stopped its transmissions into Belarus from 1 June 2002.

The government implements its economic discrimination policy through its state-owned printing and distribution monopolies. Belpochta, the state-owned distribution monopoly, has raised prices for subscription delivery service for independent newspapers by 66%. Subscription costs increased up to 40% in the last quarter. This tariff hike has not affected the state-sponsored newspapers. On the contrary, the government subsidizes delivery of state newspapers from taxpayers' funds. This policy creates unequal competitive conditions in the media market in Belarus.

The state-owned printing plants have increased their charges for independent newspapers up to 40% since early 2002. The figures may differ for different newspapers, yet the general picture is that printing costs are higher for independent newspapers than the state-run ones.

In the most recent development, in September 2002, authorities introduced an additional 5% tax on all types of sales and services. Newspapers now have to give away 5% from their advertising and sales revenues. The state-sponsored newspapers are exempt from this extortionary measure. Furthermore, the October 2002 Belarus President Decree No 495 sets out lower charges for office spaces rental by state-owned newspapers.

Finally, there is yet another "initiative" of the authorities, which can destroy the efficiency of advertising departments at independent media. The Belarus Ministry for Taxes and Dues has drafted amendments to the Law on Advertising. This draft legislation creates a more complicated procedure for collecting and selling advertising by newspapers. As a result, newspapers may loose classified ads sections as well as other advertising from private or small-size businesses--they had already lost ads from state-sector businesses some years ago.

The appeal makes it clear that independent media outlets, which cover socio-economic and political issues, have no state privileges and operate under conditions of increasing taxation burden, high inflation and state-sponsored discriminatory economic restrictions. Against the backdrop of the overall economic crisis in the country and the lack of internal and foreign investors, the independent media in Belarus have no opportunity to carry out an efficient economic operation that would offset the higher costs. All this is a real threat, which could lead to complete liquidation of the freedom of the press in Belarus. (IHF, November 4)

-- BROTHER SLAVS --

BELARUS BLASTS RUSSIAN DECISION TO CUT GAS SUPPLIES

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry on November 3 criticized Russia's decision to reduce by half the supply of natural gas to Belarus , accusing its giant neighbor of "economic pressure." The decision is "a deliberate act of economic pressure on Belarus ," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Russia's giant state-controlled natural gas company, Gazprom, said last week that it was reducing its gas supply to Belarus by 50% because it had already met its export target to the former Soviet republic. Gazprom has also accused Belarus of consuming considerably more gas this year than allowed under their contract. "It is obvious that such steps by the Russian side...inflict serious damage on the union relations between Belarus and Russia," the Foreign Ministry said, adding that the Belarusian company, Beltransgaz, had fully observed all conditions of its contract with Gazprom and paid for the supplies.

The Russian side, however, has rejected any allegations that a sharp reduction in gas deliveries to its former Soviet partner was politically motivated. Alexander Yakovenko, Russian foreign ministry spokesman, said the Belarus reaction was "unfounded," stressing that the issue was "purely economic, to be settled in accordance with existing agreements between the two countries." The ministry noted that Russia's gas export plan envisages deliveries of 16.5 billion cubic metres of gas in 2002, comprising 10.2 billion cubic metres from Gazprom and 6.3 billion cubic metres from the Itera company.

Independent analysts said Itera is refusing to maintain its exports because it considers the gas price set by Moscow for its exports to Minsk last May to be too low. The foreign ministry said Gazprom had "met its obligations, and its quota has already been delivered to Belarus customers." It added that since Gazprom "does not have supplementary gas volumes available for 2002, it cannot increase its deliveries beyond the quotas set previously at preferential rates." Noting that gas prices set by independent companies such as Itera are determined by market forces, the Ministry said Minsk should contact the company directly. Gazprom says that Belarus owes it up to 300 million dollars and that gas transported through the country is being siphoned off.

Mikhail Chigir, a Belarusian opposition leader, said the Kremlin appeared to be exerting pressure on Lukashenko to meet Russian demands for cheap gas and oil routes via Belarus to Europe - in exchange for a resumption of full gas supplies. In September, Lukashenko warned that Belarus was considering charging Moscow more in transit fees for Russian oil and gas flowing through Belarusian territory. Relations between Belarus and Russia have become strained over plans to unite the two former Soviet republics. Russian President Vladimir Putin infuriated Lukashenko in August when he put forward two proposals for the long-discussed union, neither of which appeared to offer Belarus much political clout. Lukashenko has rejected Putin's overtures and said he would only accept a more equal union of the two mostly Slavic and Orthodox Christian nations. "The Kremlin is using a new and very effective mechanism to put pressure on Alexander Lukashenko," Chigir said. (AP, November 3-5)

MINSK AGREES TO PAY MOSCOW FOR GAS

After a heated dispute with Russia about non-payment of subsidized gas bills, Belarusian authorities reached an agreed to pay $202 million for the gas, reported the Moscow Times on 12 November. The Russian gas supply problems were solved by negotiations," reported Interfax the same day. (Moscow Times, Interfax, November 12)

RUSSIA SEEKS BACKING FROM EX-SOVIET STATES FOR IRAQ VIEW

Russia sought to rally support for its position on Iraq among former Soviet republics on November 5, as Igor Ivanov, Russian Foreign Minister, met with his counterparts from five other countries in Moscow at a ministerial meeting of the states-parties to the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The meeting focused on the situation around Iraq and its influence on the security of the CSTO member-states.

"We believe it's very important to closely coordinate our positions, all the more now that the situation around Iraq is intensifying even more," Ivanov said at a press conference, flanked by the foreign ministers of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Ivanov repeated Russia's goal of a "political-diplomatic solution" on Iraq through U.N. resolutions, and said members of the Collective Security Treaty, which the six nations comprise, have a special interest in Iraq, which is a part of "a region that lies close to our borders."

Russia and other members of the U.N. Security Council have been considering the draft of a revised U.S. resolution on weapons inspections in Iraq. Russia , France and China fear that the U.S. could use wording in the draft to launch an attack on Iraq without Security Council authorization. The U.S. has said it plans to submit the new resolution later this week. (Dow Jones, November 5)

- INTERNATIONAL NEWS -

LUKASHENKO TO ATTEND NATO SUMMIT

Alexander Lukashenko appears to be causing some diplomatic embarrassment by planning to attend the NATO summit in Prague later this month, Czech officials indicated on November 4. "Mr. Lukashenko and his delegation have put in requests for visas to come to Prague during the summit," Karel Boruvka, Czech Foreign Ministry spokesman, said.

While Belarus officially opposes NATO's planned eastward expansion, it is a member of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, a NATO initiative actively promoted by the US President Bill Clinton.

That council meeting starts on November 22 as part of summit proceedings. Boruvka explained that it was highly unlikely that organizers could prevent Lukashenko from coming. "I can't imagine we could turn down a visa request from the president of a country that is a legitimate member of an international conference taking place here," Boruvka said, adding that visas for delegation members was another matter. Boruvka also hinted that any number of formal gestures and obstructions, such as a conference walkout, could be expected if Lukashenko attends. "It is comparable to a situation when [Cuban leader Fidel] Castro attends a U.N. session in New York," Boruvka said. Lukashenko's situation is similar to that of Leonid Kuchma, Ukrainian leader, who also indicated he might consider going to Prague for the summit. "Mr. Kuchma did not request a visa as far as we know, but our position would be pretty much the same should he do so," Boruvka said. Kuchma has been severely criticized for Ukraine's business contacts with Iraq, especially the alleged sale in 2000 of the so-called Kolchuga radar system to Baghdad. (Dow Jones, November 4)

***SPECIAL APPEAL***

This year has been one of enormous repression and suffering in Belarus for brave activists attempting to defend the sovereignty and freedom of Belarus and to protect the rights of victims of the Lukashenko regime. Journalists, lawyers, and NGO activists have been subjected to threats, detentions, beatings, and even sentencing to corrective labor--a stark indication of the new worsening of state persecution this year. At the same time, even as the internal situation has deteriorated, the external attention to Belarus has lessened considerably as the international community has focused on Central Asia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, and some main donors have reduced assistance.

Each year at American Thanksgiving time in November, we make a special year-end appeal for contributions to the League to assist our work. At this time we would like to appeal to all our Belarus Update readers who are concerned about democracy and human rights in Belarus to make a contribution to the League's Emergency Response Program and directly assist individuals in need in Belarus. This year, due to the great amount of harassment people face, we have many more cases than in the past. We have been receiving the kind of requests for help from Belarus that are hard for foundations to cover in regular grants programs, i.e. humanitarian relief, legal fees, court-ordered fines, temporary income maintenance for persons dismissed from employment, etc. That's why we must turn to you as concerned individuals to help us with this need. As always, any emergency-response contributions donated to the League for this purpose will be sent directly and as quickly as possible to activists in need in Belarus, without any diversion of your contribution for overhead or administration.

Readers in the U.S. may send checks made out to "International League for Human Rights" and marked "Belarus" to: 823 UN Plaza, Suite 717, New York, NY 10017. You will receive an acknowledgement letter noting your tax-exempt contribution for use in your IRS return. Readers outside the U.S. may also contribute by sending a bank transfer to the League. Please contact me at cfitz@ilhr.org for the transfer information.

We hope we can count on you to help us help others in Belarus.
Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
CIS Program Director

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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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