Criminal Case Against Deputy Head of Union of Poles in Belarus
A criminal case was open against Mechislav Yaskevich, the deputy head of the Union of Poles in Belarus (UPB). He was charged with violation of Art. 339, part 1 of the Belarus ian Criminal Code, “hooliganism,” Andrei Pochabut told BelaPan.
According to Pochabut, “until now, Yaskevich was the last leader of the organization without any criminal case opened against him.”
Mechislav Yaskevich was detained on November 5, 2006 in Grodno . He was put in the detention centre, but on November 7 he was released, but ordered to report for interrogations as a witness. There was no other preventive punishment for Yaskevich. “Yaskevich was released after the UPB stated that they plan to start an action “Freedom for Yaskevich” and already were setting up the time of the action,” Pochabut said.
According to Pochabut, the charges against Yaskevich were brought after he supposedly took part in a fight.
The UPB leadership views the opening of this criminal case as “a next obvious provocation against the unauthorized UPB leaders in order to pressure all the organization members and deprive the organization an ability to function,” Pochabut said.
Trans. by ed.
Source: AFN; October 8, 2006; http://www.afn.by/news/default.asp?newsid=80268#data
Kozulin’s Lawyer and Family Fear for His Health
The lawyer and the family of Aleksandr Kozulin fear for his health.
Igor Rynkevich, Kozulin’s lawyer told BelaPan that Kozulin lost about eight kilograms during his hunger strike, which stated on October 20.
On November 1, 2006 the lawyer appealed a decision by the prison colony wardens regarding his meetings with Kozulin during the hunger strike. He still did not receive any reply, so he intends to seek an urgent case examination.
Meanwhile, no one can access Kozulin. The wife of the sentenced politician intends to request even a short meeting with her husband. The Ambassadors of Germany and Italy also expressed a wish to meet with the former candidate for the presidency, Rynkevich reported
On November 7, the Belarus ian Social Democratic Party (Hromada), led by Kozulin, called on him to stop the hunger strike.
Trans. by ed.
Source: AFN; October 8, 2006 ; http://www.afn.by/news/default.asp?newsid=80267#data
Belarusians Join Hunger Strike of Imprisoned Oppositionist
Fourteen people, mostly activists of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (BSDP), have recently gone on hunger strike to express solidarity with imprisoned opposition activist Alyaksandr Kazulin, who has been fasting since October 20, Belapan reported on November 2.
"We want as many activists of our party and its supporters as possible to take part in the hunger strike. We recommend that everyone who joins our strike should refuse food for one to five days, which won't cause damage to their health, which will make it possible to continue active political work," BSDP activist Ihar Maslawski told journalists.
In another protest action, Alena Zakhozhaya, an independent trade union activist in Babruysk, has been fasting for a month, despite being hospitalized on October 31. Zakhozhaya is protesting what she sees as discrimination against fellow union members by the state petrochemical concern Belnaftakhim. Meanwhile, the hunger strike begun by a small Protestant community in Minsk over eviction from its prayer house ended on October 28, after the Supreme Economic Court contested the eviction order
Source: RFE/RL; November 3, 2006;
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2006/11/3-CEE/cee-031106.asp
DOMESTIC
Milinkevich: “I Make Way for A Worthy Man”
The regional conference of the Belarus ian united democratic forces took place on November 7 in the capital of Ukraine . Aleksandr Milinkevich, the leader of the united democrats, told reporters at a press conference that not all delegates could leave Belarus .
“130 leaders and members of the regional and district headquarters were delegated to the conference,” the politician reported. “But only 110 came to Kiev . Right before the departure 7 people were detained by the Belarus ian police. Two of them are in prison on charges of hooliganism. Furthermore, the police confiscated the passport of one of the activists.”
The strategy and tactics of the opposition before the elections for local councils were discussed at the conference. Though the opposition activists have almost no chance to be elected, Milinkevich thinks. “We have not had any elections for a long time. The authorities prepared their candidates and nobody will count votes.”
At the same time, the leader of the united democratic forces participated in groups of signature collection for the candidates for deputies’ mandates, BelaPan reported. “We will actively collect signatures. I myself will go to the people,” Milinkevich stated. He added that he had discussed with his colleagues the preparation of the next democratic forces Congress. “The Congress will take place in the beginning of the year. Some people suggest holding it before the local councils’ elections, some people – after the elections. The Congress must take place in Belarus , not in Poland , Ukraine or Russia ,” Milinkevich emphasized.
The politician also said that in his opinion, after the change in authorities, the democratic bloc must nominate a unified candidate for presidency. “People often accuse me of lacking a strong aspiration for power. If there is a worthy candidate, I am ready to make way for him,” Milinkevich explained.
He also said that he did not plan any meetings with Ukrainian officials during his visit to Kiev .
Trans. by ed.
Source: Belorusskie Novosti; November 7, 2006;
http://www.naviny.by/rubrics/politic/2006/11/07/ic_news_112_261670/
REGIONAL
Official Minsk Outraged By Moscow 's Political Use Of The Energy Leverage
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenka's visit to the Kremlin, scheduled for Friday, November 10, "will obviously be a rather difficult meeting," according to Russia 's Ambassador in Minsk , Alexander Surikov, at a stage-setting news conference. Russia will not offer low-priced energy to Belarus , he warned, because " Russia and Belarus are two different states today: When we become a Union State , all these issues would be resolved. But we are not going to pay [energy subsidies] only for promises to join a Union State . Sorry." Meanwhile, the "creation of the Union State requires settling a host of issues" that will complicate Lukashenka's visit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the ambassador announced (Interfax, Charter-97 website, November 3).
As long as the formation of the Union State is not advancing in practice, Russia -- according to Surikov at his briefing -- wants Belarus to take the following economic steps:
Hand over 50% of the national gas transport system, Beltransgas, to Gazprom, based on an expected valuation of $3.5 billion, of which Gazprom will [nominally] pay the half to Belarus . In that case, that sum would be deducted from Belarus ' gas bill to Gazprom. The Russian side would, in that case, charge $140 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas to Belarus . These proposals seem designed to look like a softening of Moscow 's position. The cited valuation of Beltransgas (forthcoming from the Gazprom-friendly ABN AmRo Bank) is higher than Minsk had thus far been led to expect; and the $140 price, lower than the $200 with which Gazprom had threatened Belarus . In Moscow on November 7, Gazprom deputy chairman Alexander Medvedev indirectly confirmed, "We are ready to accept assets from Belarus at the market price as payment for gas supplies" (Itar-Tass, November 7).
Turn over to Russia 85% of Belarus ' tax revenue from the export of oil products made by Belarus refineries from Russian crude oil. Alternatively, turn over to Russia a corresponding share of oil products from Belarus refineries. If Minsk does not comply, Moscow will cut annual deliveries of crude oil to Belarus from the 19.75 million tons scheduled for in 2006 to only 8 million tons in 2007. The latter volume would cover Belarus ' internal requirements for refined products, but would at one stroke terminate the country's lucrative exports of refined products from Russian crude. Pending Minsk 's response, Russia 's Industry and Energy Ministry will suspend any decision on the schedule of oil supplies to Belarus in 2007.
Accept the cessation of Russian deliveries of electricity due to anticipated shortages in Russia itself. Under a long-term agreement of intent in the framework of the nominal Union State , Russia is to deliver at least 4.5 billion kilowatt/hour to Belarus annually, which is approximately equal to the country's import requirement. Russia is actually delivering only 2.5 billion kwh in 2006, and Belarus has requested 3.3 billion kwh for 2007, thus still below Russia 's commitment ( Ukraine meanwhile fills that gap in Belarus). Apparently, advancing the formation of the Union State might not help maintain Russian electricity supplies to Belarus .
These warnings represent a continuation and even escalation of recent Russian pressures on Belarus to yield sovereignty under the threat of being forced to yield property to Russia . Official Minsk seems prepared to resist. After Mikalay Charhinets (see EDM, November 3), another Lukashenka confidant, Syarhey Kastsyan, head, like Charhinets, of a parliamentary commission on foreign policy, has expressed outrage and defiance: "All this is meant to force Belarus to join the Russian Federation with the status of a Russian guberniya through threats of economic suffocation:. We must look for opportunities to become independent of the whims of the neighboring country." In a similar vein, Lukashenka's political ally, the nominally pro-Moscow Syarhey Haidukevich, observes, "They told us specifically what they want from us. They want our economy" (Interfax; November 3).
The usual, anonymous "government official" who steps forward in such situations also observes, "This very much resembles an open blackmail using energy for the purpose of annexing Belarus . In Russia they reckon to substantially slow down the economic growth in Belarus and push the republic to enter into the Russian Federation :.In practice, these are proposals to become a part of Russia . Unfortunately, Russia historically does not accept Belarus as a sovereign partner." This official is prepared to retaliate by questioning the legality of Russian ownership of oil product pipelines in Belarus (Interfax, November 3).
For now, Lukashenka is seeking alternative sources of energy supplies in talks with Azerbaijan , Ukraine , and most recently in Iran on November 5-7, ahead of his Kremlin visit. (Interfax. November 3; Kommersant, November 7; see EDM, November 2)
Source: Vladimir Socor, Eurasia Daily Monitor; November 8, 2006; http://jamestown.org/edm/article.php?article_id=2371622
Belarusian Political Prisoner To Study At Ukrainian University
Artur Finkevich, who was sentenced in May to two years of enforced labor for writing antipresidential graffiti has been accepted as a student of the faculty of international relations at the Kyiv-based Institute of Slavic Studies , RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported on November 7, quoting Oleh Yatsenko, leader of the Ukrainian youth organization Student Brotherhood.
Yatsenko told RFE/RL that the rector of the institute made an exception for Finkevich by allowing him to study under a special distance-learning program. "In connection with repressions in Belarus, activists of the Student Brotherhood decided to help the Belarusian students, who were expelled from universities or repressed in Belarus, in enrollment for free-of-charge studies in Ukraine. In this way we will uphold the democratic movement in the neighboring country," Yatsenko said.
Source: RFE/RL; November 8, 2006;
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2006/11/3-cee/cee-081106.asp
Belarus is Open to Total Co-operation with Azerbaijan - Belarusian Ambassador
Belarus is open to total co-operation with Azerbaijan , the Belarusian Ambassador to Azerbaijan , Nikolai Paskevich, stated at his first press conference, Trend reports.
The Embassy's primary plan is to activate the trade and economic relations between the two countries, the Ambassador stressed. According to him, over the past period, a good dynamism has been observed between the two countries. There is a great potential between our countries to develop the economy relations, especially with regards to tourism, agriculture, banking sector, production corporations, etc, the Diplomat stated.
Commenting on the absence of any problems between Azerbaijan and Belarus , the Ambassador said this was demonstrated during the recent official visit of the Azerbaijani President to Belarus . In addition, the Ambassador mentioned the necessity to expand the agreement legal base between the two countries. Within the plan, it is also intended to organize national exhibitions and business-forums.
Source: Agayeva, Trend, November 8, 2006 ; http://www.trend.az/?mod=shownews&news=31327&lang=en
Russian Ambassador: Putin-Lukashenko Meeting Will Help Settle Economic Issues
The forthcoming meeting of Aleksandr Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin will help settle many issues in bilateral trade and economic relations, Aleksandr Surikov, the Russian ambassador to Belarus , told reporters in Minsk on Friday.
The leaders of Belarus and Russia are expected to meet in Moscow on November 9 and 10.
"I think the meeting will not be easy, but we hope it will settle a lot," Mr. Surikov said, adding that the trade and economic aspect is the basis of Belarus ian-Russian relations and the foundation for the formation of the Union State .
Mr. Surikov noted progress in the two countries' relations in 2006.
…..
Trade between Belarus and Russia in the first nine months of the year amounted to $14.7 billion.
"We have no doubts that by the end of the year, we'll be close to reaching $20 billion in trade, the largest amount in the entire history of relations since we signed the Union agreement," Mr. Surikov said, noting that Belarus would be among Russia 's top five trading partners and second after Ukraine among the CIS countries.
Mr. Surikov expressed confidence that Russia would remain the main investor in Belarus .
The acceleration of economic integration processes, including those within the framework of Union State programs, should contribute to trade growth, said the ambassador. "Our main task is to ensure a reasonable economic development for the two states by applying the existing integration ties between the economies of Russia and Belarus as a catalyst and using advanced technologies," he said. // BelaPAN
Excerpt from:
Source: Belorusskie Novosti; November 5, 2006 ; http://www.naviny.by/rubrics/inter/2006/11/05/ic_articles_259_148589/
Russian Ambassador to Belarus Suggests Lower Gas Price Hike for Minsk
Russia's ambassador to Belarus said Friday that Belarus could see a more moderate rise in the price it pays for gas next year than the fourfold increase proposed by natural gas giant OAO Gazprom.
Alexander Surikov suggested that Belarus would not have to cover customs duties on the gas that Gazprom sells it, reducing next year's price from a proposed US$200 (€157) per 1,000 cubic meters to US$140 (€110).
"The customs duty on gas comprises 30 percent of its cost. Therefore I don't exclude that the price will be US$140 (€110) and not US$200 (€157)," Surikov said.
He noted that talks on creating a joint enterprise to oversee the Belarus ian gas system, which would have allowed Minsk to keep its low price but given Moscow a strong measure of control, had fallen through.
Belarus currently buys its gas from Russia at US$47 (€37) per 1,000 cubic meters — the last ex-Soviet country to pay such a low rate.
Gazprom has raised its prices for other countries in what it calls a long overdue recalibration to market prices. However, observers have called the company's proposal Thursday to double the price Georgia pays to US$230 (€180) political punishment for Tbilisi 's Western-leaning path.
Source: The International Herald Tribune; November 3, 2006; http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/03/business/EU_FIN_ Belarus _Russia_Gas.php
INTERNATIONAL
US and EU are Still Hoping for Transparency of Elections in Belarus
US Ambassador to Belarus Karen Stewart expressed a hope that the process of local elections in Belarus would be transparent and fair.
Elections to local councils in Belarus will take place on January 14, 2007 . “The US, EU and other international structures are closely watching the events in Belarus from the point of view of ensuring transparent and fair process during upcoming elections to local councils,” the American Ambassador told in Minsk on Wednesday, Interfax informs.
Karen Stewart emphasized that “as before the US supports different countries of the world, including Belarus , in their urge to establish democracy and democratic ideals.” The Ambassador has also said that promoting democracy in Belarus would be “one of her main tasks for the [next] three years.”
Karen Stewart also said: “I am here to represent President Bush and the American people.” “We have been extending a hand of friendship to Belarus for a long time already,” the diplomat said.
Revised by ed.
Source: Charter 97; November 8, 2006;
http://www.charter97.org/eng/news/2006/11/08/usa
Belarus Elected as Member of UN Economic and Social Council
The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday elected Belarus as a member of the U.N. Economic and Social Council.
One hundred and fifty six of the 190 delegations voted in favor of Belarus , and 12 for Bulgaria . Twenty-two countries abstained. Support of two thirds or 112 U.N. member countries were required to be elected. Bulgaria withdrew its candidacy before the concluding vote round.
Seventeen of this year’s 18 vacancies were filled already in the first round last Thursday. However, Bulgaria and Belarus competed for the second place from the East European group. The first was taken by Romania.
Following nine vote rounds, including on Tuesday, did not name the winner, though Belarus 's advantage grew each time. In the next to the last round, Belarus gained 114 votes, while Bulgaria had 76. In that situation the Bulgarian delegation decided to withdraw.
The ECOSOC, which assists the General Assembly in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development, unites 54 member countries.
Thus, elected to the organization for the 2007-09 period are Algeria, Barbados, Belarus , Bolivia, Indonesia, Iraq, Cabo Verde, Kazakhstan, Canada, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Malawi, Romania, Salvador, the United States, Somalia, Sudan and the Philippines.
Places in the council are given according to the geographic representation principle -- fourteen to Africa , eleven to Asia , six to Eastern Europe , ten to South America and the Caribbean region and 13 to Western Europe and others.
Source: Itar-Tass; November 8, 2006; http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=10961658&PageNum=0
Iran, Belarus Sign Cooperation Agreements
Iran and Belarus today signed eight documents to expand bilateral cooperation, as Belarus ian President Aleksandra Lukashenka wrapped up a visit to Tehran .
The deals involve the oil sector and the car and tractor industries.
A joint statement reaffirmed Minsk 's support of Iran 's nuclear efforts.
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said Lukashenka's two-day visit had opened up a new chapter in bilateral relations. // IRNA, AFP
Source: RFE/RL; November 7, 2006;
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/11/6497627d-3c22-4d99-96de-3cdb4b43ecd0.html
Belarus : Regime Tightens Grip At Home, But Seeks New Friends Abroad
When a Minsk district court sentenced an opposition youth activist to prison for his work with an unregistered organization, it was just the latest step in the inconspicuous, but relentless campaign by President Alyaksandr Lukashenka to eradicate any meaningful dissent in Belarus .
But the isolated autocrat, facing uncertainty over Russian gas supplies, appears to be launching another kind of campaign as well. Lukashenka has recently made several political gestures that may signal his intention to repair his wobbly standing in the international arena.
No 'Window-Dressing Liberalism'
When the court sentenced opposition Youth Front leader Zmitser Dashkevich to 18 months in prison on November 1, it cited an article added to the Belarus ian Criminal Code just ahead of the March presidential election
The article, prohibiting the work of "unregistered organizations," was among a set of amendments introducing harsh penalties for "activities directed against people and public security."
Vintsuk Vyachorka, head of the opposition Belarus ian Popular Front, said the sentencing of the 25-year-old Dashkevich was routine for a regime that shuns any notion of democratizing the country's political environment.
Dashkevich's case "was chosen as an example to caution others," he said. "There is nothing unexpected in this [sentence], even though it would appear that, confronted with the economic problems that will inevitably worsen next year, Lukashenka could show at least window-dressing liberalism. But he decided not to do that, he decided to continue fighting against the Belarus ian people. It is a challenge for all of us."
The Lukashenka regime's repression of its political opponents culminated shortly after this year's March 19 presidential election.
Rights activists say more than 1,000 supporters of the contest's two independent opposition candidates, Alyaksandr Milinkevich and Alyaksandr Kazulin, were jailed for up to 15 days.
Harsher Penalties
Fewer prison sentences have been handed down in the seven months that followed, but in cases like Dashkevich's, where penalties were handed down, they were far harsher than before.
In July, Kazulin was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison for his role in the street protests that followed Lukashenka's overwhelming reelection in the presidential vote.
In August, a court sentenced four independent election observers -- Mikalay Astreyka, Tsimafey Dranchuk, Enira Branitskaya, and Alyaksandr Shalayka -- to prison terms ranging from six months to two years.
The four were found guilty of being involved in an unregistered organization that "infringes upon the interests and rights of citizens."
Anatol Lyaukovich, temporarily standing in for Kazulin as head of the Belarus ian Social Democratic Party, says he believes the government will continue to stifle any uncontrolled public activity in order to prevent a rise in public dissent.
Repression, he says, has simply become a way of life for the Lukashenka regime. "The regime has sent yet another strong signal that no unregistered organization has the right to conduct activities here," he says. "It is a warning to both old and young [opposition] leaders that all of them will be there [in prison]. It is the natural logic of a [repressive] regime, which can only become tougher. If it shows a sign of weakness, it will collapse."
Signs Of A Thaw?
But in addition to the usual sticks, Lukashenka has also recently offered a few carrots. Earlier this year, Lukashenka signed a decree making it easier for independent trade unions to register. And in October, a high-ranking Belarus ian delegation traveled to Geneva to meet with the International Labor Organization for talks on the observation of union rights in Belarus .
Both were surprisingly progressive moves -- and ones that may have been prompted by the plan in Brussels to suspend trade benefits to Belarus under the European Union's Generalized System of Preferences for developing countries.
Minsk has sent other signals of its intention to improve relations with Europe as well. Uladzimir Kanaplyou, speaker of Belarus 's lower house of parliament, the Chamber of Representatives, recently held talks in Moscow with Rene van der Linden, head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Belarus is the only European country that is not represented in PACE.
And Lukashenka, while meeting a parliamentary delegation of the Republic of South Africa in Minsk , declared that Belarus is "essentially building a new foreign policy."
Some Belarus ian analysts assert that Lukashenka's words may be more than just another empty declaration. They argue that Minsk , anticipating a future of higher prices for Russian gas and cooler relations with Moscow , may be trying to patch up its poor reputation in the West.
No Halt To Persecution
So should Lukashenka be taken at his word? Does his promise of a "new foreign policy" mean a thaw in the Belarus ian regime?
Opposition leader Milinkevich, who unsuccessfully challenged Lukashenka in the March presidential vote, says no. He says Dashkevich's prison sentence is convincing proof that Europe should not harbor any illusions about whether Lukashenka may democratize his rule.
"This verdict is not only unjust but that it is also a verdict against all of Belarus ian youth," he says. It is another signal to Europe -- a Europe which thinks: 'What if suddenly [Lukashenka changes]? Maybe it's necessary to cooperate with this regime. Maybe it's necessary to leave the door ajar.' But this regime doesn't give a damn about all these proposals and it won't make a single step to meet them halfway. There is no sense in meetings or cooperation with this regime unless it demonstrates at least one single time that it has halted political persecution."
During Dashkevich's trial, some 200 young people gathered outside the court building in a show of solidarity. But human rights defender Lyudmila Hraznova says opposition supporters are too scarce to have any effect on the ruling regime.
"Of course, this support is insufficient and local. It is known only to us, while for the remainder of Belarus ian society it is a closed book," she says. "People don't know what's taking place in the country, people don't know how many political prisoners have been put behind bars."
'Getting Used To Prison'
Is the opposition in Belarus doomed to disappear altogether, as Lukashenka predicted before the presidential vote in March, or transform into increasingly isolated and desperate groups of dissenters?
Alyaksey Shydlouski, who spent 18 months in prison in 1997-98 for writing antipresidential graffiti, believes that opposition activists have to persevere with their efforts, even if it invariably leads them to prison.
"Nine years ago, I myself was in the same situation [as Dashkevich]," he says. "One needs to hold one's ground and be strong, because prison is prison, it has its own laws, and one simply needs to get used to this prison system and serve one's own term as if nothing has happened."
At present, it appears, the Belarus ian opposition cannot do much more than accept Shydlouski's stoical advice.
Source: Jan Maksymiuk, RFE/RL; November 6, 2006 ; http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/11/C3E3341D-8CDC-4B87-BB2A-12F126780909.html
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