Aleksandr Kozulin Was Released!

Aleksandr Kozulin, who has challenged the authoritarian "president" of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko in presidential elections of 2006, was released from jail on August 16, 2008 after being over there for 875 days.

A former candidate for presidency in the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Kozulin was hurled into prison for staging protest rallies against rigging of presidential elections on Freedom day March 25, 2006. On July 12th, 2006 Minsk city court sentenced Aleksandr Kozulin to 5.5 years of imprisonment. In prison Aleksandr Kozulin announced a hunger strike, demanding to consider the Belarusian problem in the UN Security Council. The political prisoner was on hunger strike for 53 days and lost more than 40 kilograms of his weight. His health has been irreparably damaged.

"I welcome the release of Alexander Kozulin. He and his family have shown incredible resilience, defending their rights and views on life", - said the leader of the civil campaign "European Belarus" Andrei Sannikov.

"It is now necessary to release all political prisoners in Belarus. Next on the agenda is ending the repression against the opposition and the holding of genuinely free and democratic elections. It may be necessary to talk about postponement of the parliamentary elections at a later date. Because after mass non-inclusion of opposition representatives in the precinct commission, September 28, 2008 could be held only electoral farce ", - said the leader of the civil campaign "European Belarus".

Also, I would like to remind the readers that on November 21, 2006 European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner presented a document setting out what the EU could bring to Belarus, if Belarus would engage in democratization and respect for human rights and rule of law. The document was being transmitted to the Belarus authorities both in Minsk and Brussels.

The paper made clear that "the people of Belarus are the first victims of the isolation imposed by the country's authorities, and will be the first to reap the benefits on offer to a democratic Belarus".

Commissioner Ferrero Waldner said: "The people of Belarus have a right to know what they are missing. Our message is that as soon as the country indicates a willingness to move towards true democracy, human rights and rule of law, we will be ready to enter into a full partnership with Belarus within the framework of the ENP.

The ENP is a special relationship between the EU and its neighbours, which supports political, economic and social reform in partner countries, and seeks to share the prosperity and stability enjoyed by EU member states with those on the EU's borders. The EU would like to build such a relationship with Belarus."

If Belarus respected human rights, democracy and rule of law, respecting its commitments as a member of the UN and of the OSCE, Belarus could become a full participant in the ENP. The EU and Belarus would work together to achieve improvements in people's lives including:

---new trade opportunities to boost the Belarusian economy and create more and better job opportunities;
---improve provision of healthcare and education and support for the most vulnerable in society;
---improved transport and energy networks, and management of environmental issues;
---reform of the legal and judicial system to ensure equal rights for all;
---greater cross-border co operation.
What can the Belarusian government do to open up these opportunities?

For these possibilities to be open to the Belarusian people, the Belarusian authorities
need to respect the right of the people of Belarus:
---to elect their leaders democratically;
---express themselves freely, and have access to independent information;
---to set-up associations,
---to fair and transparent treatment by the judicial system.

No one should be imprisoned for having expressed their opinion and no one should be denied the right to participate in the determination of their countries' future.

No more electoral farce in Belarus!

US Sanctions Against Lukashenko & His Gang

US Sanctions Against Lukashenko & His Gang

US president George W. Bush has extended sanctions against Aleksandr Lukashenko and a number of Belarusian officials. Assets of the leader of Belarus and other top officials responsible for rigging presidential election results and disbanding protest rallies in 2006, were frozen last year. A son of the Belarusian president, Viktor Lukashenko (he is on the photo with his father), was blacklisted too.

As the press service of the White House informs, on Thursday (6/14/2007) George Bush signed a document stating that "blocking of assets" of those persons which come within the jurisdiction of the US, to be prolonged for a year, Radio Svaboda informs.

On June 19, 2006 the US President signed a decree on financial sanctions against 10 Belarusian officials, "responsible for undermining democratic developments and institutions, violations of human rights, for state corruption". These officials are a "threat to the US National Security". First a list of 10 officials was attached to the decree:

1. Aleksandr Lukashenko;

2. Viktor Lukashenko, a member of the Security Council, a Presidential aide;

3. Viktor Golovanov, Justice Minister;

4. Aleksandr Zimouski, the chairman of the Belarusian State TV and Radio Company;

5. Vladimir Naumov, Interior Minister;

6. Dmitriy Pavlichenko, SOBR commander;

7. Natalya Petkevich, a deputy head of the Presidential Administration;

8. Stepan Sukharenko, the KGB chairman;

9. Viktor Sheyman, the Security Council secretary;

10. Ludmila Yarmoshyna, the chairperson of the Central Elections Committee.

On February 27, 2007 the U.S. Treasury Department imposed financial sanctions against 6 more high-ranking Belarusian officials:

1. Petr Miklashevich, Prosecutor General;

2. Yuriy Padabed, Lieutenant Colonel of the Special Riot Police in Minsk;

3. Aleksandr Radkov, Minister of Education;

4. Vladimir Rusakevich, Minister of Information;

5. Yuriy Sivakov, former minister of the interior and former minister of sport and tourism;

6. Oleg Slizhevskiy, head of the Public Associations Department of Justice Ministry.

Sanctions against these six persons could be prolonged after February 2008.

Russia-Belarus Cold Gas War (December 2006)

Belarus is Offered to Become a Part of Russia? So Nice!

Russian President Vladimir Putin likes to play karate. Belarusian "President" Aleksandr Lukashenko likes to play hockey. So, both of them are using very different means to resolve Russia-Belarus gas conflict.

Another round of gas talks between Russia and Belarus broke up Tuesday Dec. 26, 2006 without any agreement. Belarusian "President" Alexandr Lukashenko has five days to make up his mind whether to pay market prices for Russian gas or agree that Belarus will become a part Russia.
In the former case, gas prices for Belarus will go up from $46.7 to $105 per 1,000 cu. meters. Should the latter be true, Belarus will have to enter the Russian-Belarusian United State on the Kremlin's terms, Russian newspaper Kommersant writes.

Breaking a tradition of keeping business offers in secret, Gazprom released details on the course of gas talks with the Belarusian government. Russia entered the talks, suggesting raising prices to $200/1,000 cu. meters, the official said. However, as gas exports to Belarus are not taxed, the talks opened with the price of $170. Yet, the Belarusian party dismissed the offer as the one that runs against the allied spirit. Gazprom lowered the bar to $110 and ended up with offering $105 at Tuesday's talks in Moscow.

Gazprom was expected to receive stocks of BelTransGaz in 2007-2010 as part of payments for natural gas. In addition, Gazprom would have received from Belarus $1.5 billion ($75/1,000 cu. meters) next year and $2.1 billion ($105) in 2008, sending the total of 20 billion cu. meters of gas to its Western neighbor. Gazprom Chief Executive Alexey Miller confirmed Tuesday that the Russian gas monopolist was willing to pay $2.5 billion for BelTransGaz's shares.

A well-known Russian political analyst Andrei Piontkovskiy coments to the bilateral relations:
"It is a natural end of "matrimonial" or "premarital" relations. The essence is that Russia, which is nostalgic about its imperial greatness, was waiting and believing that Aleksandr Lukashenko would "marry" it and join the Russian Federation as 8th subject. Aleksandr Lukashenko was skilfully playing on those Russia's elite complexes of of lost greatness for many years, and made them pay huge subsidies: billions dollars annually."

"By the way, the both are pursuing not only state interests, but their personal ones. Everybody in Russia knows that Putin is a shadow owner of Gazprom", - the political analyst said.

Guess who is a shadow owner of BelTransGaz?
Bingo!

Action of Solidarity with Aleksandr Kazulin on December 10, 2006 in Minsk!

(Appeals to the Government of Belarus By EU and PES)

European Union appeals to the Government of Belarus to release Alexander Kazulin immediately. The Appeal to the Government of Belarus came from the German Embassy which executes functions of local presidency on behalf of the EU in Belarus.

The European Community expresses deep concern in a worsening state of health of the ex-candidate on a post of the President of Belarus: "We emphasize the responsibility of the Government of Belarus for the state of health of Alexander Kazulin. We demand from the Government of Belarus a permission to visit Kazulin in a colony by the Ambassador of Germany and an independent doctor. We shall remind, that the political prisoner starves in a colony for a 51 day already."

Also, on December, 8 2006 the Congress of the Party of European Socialists (PES) (http://www.pes.eu) has called the Belarus authorities immediately and certainly to release the ex-candidate for presidency Alexander Kazulin, Nikolay Statkevich and everyone who has been recognized as a political prisoner in Belarus and immediately stop prosecution and pressure upon democratic opposition, and also the organizations of national minorities, to respect civil rights and freedoms of the Belarus citizens". PES has condemned "severe methods of pressure upon political opposition".

Meantime the Political Council of the United Democratic Forces of Belarus has passed a decision to stage an action of solidarity with Aleksandr Kazulin and other political prisoners on December 10, on the International Day of Human Rights Defence. Leaders of democratic parties have called upon citizens to come to Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk, on December 10, at 2 p.m.

"One cannot stand by and look indifferent as the regime cynically and cold-bloodedly kills a person. It is clear that over the last 12 years many people have been covered by armour of fear and indifference, but fortunately, there are people for whom freedom is the most important thing," underlined the chairman of the National Committee of the United Democratic Forces Anatol Lebedko. He also highlighted that "it is a case when we should stay humans in the first place, and then politicians, civil servants, right, left politicians, Orthodox or Protestants".

As we said before Aleksandr Kazulin continues the hunger strike for the 51st day. The politician protests against total lawlessness in Belarus, and demands to consider the situation in Belarus in the United Nations Security Council.

Aleksandr Kazulin is on Hunger Strike For 47 Days Already!

(It is Time For the UN Security Council To Get Involved!)

Today on December 5th, 2006 Irina Kazulina has visited the colony No.3 in Vitsebsk, where her husband, a Former Candidiate For Presidency Aleksandr Kazulin, is continuing a hunger strike for the 47th day. He has lost 40 kg over the 8 months of detention. The meeting of Irina with her husband lasted for only 30 minutes. In this short period of time she was trying to convince Aleksandr to stop the protest which is becoming a threat to his health and life. However, as Irina Kazulina says to the Charter'97, the political prisoner is not going to stop the hunger strike until his major demand, to discuss the situation with Human Rights in Belarus in the UN Security Council.

Kazulin's heroic hunger strike is commented by the leader of the Civil Initiative "We Remember" Irina Krasouskaya: "I admire the courage of Aleksandr Kazulin. I respect him very much for what he is doing. It is a very serious step. Such self-sacrifice can awaken the public opinion, the people who are waiting for somebody else to change the situation in the country. It is obvious that Aleksandr Kazulin is a serious person and he will go all the way. But I really worry about his health. A lot of struggle is before us, and we should be healthy and strong to fight. Kazulin should keep his strength for this struggle.

Undoubtedly, Aleksandr Kazulin's demand must be heard. We are doing everything so that as many people as possible, both in Belarus and abroad, learn about his courageous deed," Iryna Krasouskaya said in an interview to the Charter'97 Press-Center.

38 Days of Kazulin Hunger Strike & 10 Years of Referendum

The leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) Aleksandr Kazulin, prisoner of the colony "Vitsba-3", went on a hunger strike on October 20, 2006. He protests against total lawlessness in Belarus and is trying to attract attention of the UN Security Council to the situation in Belarus. The hunger strike has affected his health and he lost 20 kg. Nevertheless he denied admission to a hospital and is prohibited to meet with his lawyer and relatives.

November 24 marked the 10th anniversary of holding a national referendum which considerably enlarged the powers of the president. Evaluating the results of the referendum of November 24, 1996, a lawyer Sergei Balykin told to the BelaPAN that the powers of the parliament and courts were drastically reduced. "In fact, the president was authorized to issue laws and to veto parliaments' decisions almost insuperably," he noted.

At the same time, as said by the lawyer, "the legitimacy of the referendum still raises serious doubts. Firstly, the Supreme Soviet of the 13th convocation, when setting a referendum, called a question about a redrafted Constitution a consultative one. And the president by his Decree of December 7 imparted the binding force to the referendum's decisions. However, according to the Constitution of 1994, the Supreme Soviet has an exclusive right for setting referendums and, correspondingly, for defining what questions should be decided at the referendum. The president was not entitled to overturn the decision of the parliament. Essentially, one could say that 10 years ago Belarus made the first step for transition from a republic to a monarchy. The second step was made in autumn of 2004, when a referendum lifted the restrictions for the number of terms in presidential position for one person," S. Balykin emphasized.

European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) For Belarus 2006

(EU-Belarus Document, Nov. 21, 2006)

On November 21, 2006 European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner presented a document setting out what the EU could bring to Belarus, if Belarus would engage in democratisation and respect for human rights and rule of law. The document is being transmitted to the Belarus authorities both in Minsk and Brussels.

The paper makes clear that "the people of Belarus are the first victims of the isolation imposed by the country's authorities, and willl be the first to reap the benefits on offer to a democratic Belarus".

Commissioner Ferrero Waldner said: "The people of Belarus have a right to know what they are missing. Our message is that as soon as the country indicates a willingness to move towards true democracy, human rights and rule of law, we will be ready to enter into a full partnership with Belarus within the framework of the ENP.

The ENP is a special relationship between the EU and its neighbours, which supports political, economic and social reform in partner countries, and seeks to share the prosperity and stability enjoyed by EU member states with those on the EU's borders. The EU would like to build such a relationship with Belarus."

If Belarus respected human rights, democracy and rule of law, respecting its commitments as a member of the UN and of the OSCE, Belarus could become a full participant in the ENP. The EU and Belarus would work together to achieve improvements in people's lives including:

---new trade opportunities to boost the Belarusian economy and create more and better job opportunities;
---improve provision of healthcare and education and support for the most vulnerable in society;
---improved transport and energy networks, and management of environmental issues;
---reform of the legal and judicial system to ensure equal rights for all;
---greater cross-border co operation.
What can the Belarusian government do to open up these opportunities?

For these possibilities to be open to the Belarusian people, the Belarusian authorities
need to respect the right of the people of Belarus:
---to elect their leaders democratically;
---express themselves freely, and have access to independent information;
---to set-up associations,
---to fair and transparent treatment by the judicial system.

No one should be imprisoned for having expressed their opinion and no one should be denied the right to participate in the determination of their countries' future.

From the Interview With Mikhail Marinich

(November 2006, Spain)

Mikhail Marinich - Doctor of Economics, in the past - Mayor of Minsk, former Minister of Foreign Trade of Belarus, former Ambassador of Belarus in Latvia, the Candidate in Presidents at elections of 2001. In 2004 has been condemned for 5 years of imprisonment on the forged motives. In prison has gone through an insult (injury to some parts of his body). Under the pressure of the European Community and the USA was released from jail in April, 2006. His short stay in Spain has caused some interest of the Spanish mass-media. Here are quotations from his interview to "El Mundo".

- How would you characterize the state model of management in today's Belarus?

- It is very difficult for me to discuss this topic. It is an authoritative system. The Office of Public Prosecutor, courts, militia, KGB, all state officials are practically controlled by the president. The parliament of last three convocations is illegitimate, the same is true about the president himself.

-What do you think about the future of the Republic of Belarus?

-My only hope is democratic changes through honest elections. All should have the right to participate in the elections: representatives of the authorities and opposition parties under the open control and support of international community, including Europe, Russia,and the USA, but Belarusians should make their own choice.

-Do you think is it possible in Belarus?

- It was possible in Ukraine when at huge national rise under pressure of the international public repeated voting has lead to a different result,
for example.

- But, you know, that the support by the international public of opposition can be considered as intervention in the internal affairs of the country.

- It is impossible to change the system without any democratic interventions. The present "legislative" situation in Belarus allows to the president to receive at elections or referenda the result necessary only to him and his team. Now all is in hands of executive authority. If tomorrow at elections 99 % of voices are required for the president, they will be. Here some criteria which are necessary for applying in Belarus: a cancellation of prescheduled voting, attraction to work in the selective commissions of representatives of different parties, discharge of executive authority from the elective process, equal access of all candidates to mass-media and so on.

Sergey Skrebets is Released on November 15, 2006

(Aleksandr Kazulin is 4 Weeks on Hunger Strike Already)

On November 15, 2006 Sergey Skrebets, a political prisoner, has been released after a year and a half of imprisonment. The former deputy and an active oppositionist was charged with and sentenced to 2.5 years in a minimum-security correctional labour facility. In October Skrebets was suddenly amnestied and his term of imprisonment reduced by one year.

Human rights activists consider the verdict to the former deputy to be politically motivated. In summer 2004 he took part in the hunger strike of the "Respublika" deputies, who demanded democratization of the Electoral Code, and release political prisoners. He also was an organiser of a protest action timed to the end of a 10-year Lukashenko's rule in July 2004.

The former deputy connects his release with a hunger strike of solidarity with demands of the political prisoner Aleksandr Kazulin, who insists on consideration of situation in Belarus in the UN Security Council. As said by Skrebets, the state of health of Aleksandr Kazulin has considerably declined after four weeks of hunger strike. "Kazulin is very exhausted physically. It is serious to lose 17 kilograms with his height. I do not trust prison doctors, they wouldn't be able to help him to transit from a hunger strike. Their methods are to put a tube into one's mouth and feed forcibly. One of doctors threatened to do so to me, and boasted to have done that many times before. These are methods of a fascist concentration camp. A period after a hunger strike is a very difficult process, knowledge is needed. Any wrong decision can lead to a lethal outcome. I have serous concern over Kazulin's life. But he is not going to stop the hunger strike, he sees no reasons for that," Sergey Skrebets said in an interview to the Chater'97 Press-Center.

Belarusian & Iranian Dictatorships Are United in International Isolation

(It's Easier to Sell Weapons of Mass Destruction This Way)

Belarusian so called President Aleksandr Lukashenko arrived in Tehran late on November 5, 2006 for two days of talks with Iranian officials. The visit is aimed at bolstering official relations and advancing large-scale economic projects. Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinead expressed hope today that the visit to Tehran marks a "turning point" in bilateral ties. Ahmadinejad described Iran and Belarus as "independent and powerful" states and said they enjoy good ties in a number of areas. Both sides held a first of round of talks. Iran's official news agency, IRNA, reports that bilateral relations and key regional and international developments are among the main topics. Iran has expanded its ties in recent years with an impoverished former Soviet republic that many in the West describe as Europe's last dictatorship. Observers say both countries are seeking support in the face of increasing international isolation.

Meantime the nongovernmental corruption watchdog Transparency International released its annual "Corruption Perceptions Index". Belarus has taken the 151st position out of 163. This 151st position is shared with Uzbekistan. It's the worst position among all countries of the former USSR. To compare with, Ukraine takes 99th position, and Russia 121st.

The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) has a scale of zero to 10. According to TI ranking, zero indicates high levels of perceived corruption while 10 indicates the opposite. At the top of the list are Finland, Iceland, and New Zealand with 9.6 points, while Belarus has 2.1 points. Haiti takes the last 163rd position with 1.8 points.

Also, for the second year in a row Belarus is blacklisted as "an enemy of the Internet". The list is created based on monitoring by journalists' rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF). This year there are 13 countries in the blacklist. They are: Saudi Arabia, Belarus, Myanmar, China, North Korea, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Uzbekistan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam. As radio Svaboda informs, in this sad hit-parade Europe is represented by the only country, Belarus.

According to the monitoring of the RSF, government crackdowns on the Internet and its users violate the right of citizens for free access to information. In all Belarusian internet-cafés a special program for logging information about users' activities is used by the only government internet-provider "Beltelecom".

Only 45% of Belarus Population Know That Kazulin is in Prison

(New Arests & Hunger Strikes in Belarus 2006)

A rally in support of the young leader Zmitser Dashkevich was held on November 1, 2006 on Kastrychnitskaya Square in Minsk. People gathered on the square with portraits of the Young Front leader, who was sentenced to a year and a half of restriction of freedom for "acting on behalf of an unregistered organization". In a few minutes all participants were detained by riot policemen and taken to the police department of Tsentralny district of Minsk. After identification 10 out of 12 young activists were released. Young activists Dzmitry Fedaruk and Hleb Sanderos are to stand trial.

A hunger strike of solidarity with the former candidate for presidency Alyaksandr Kazulin goes on in Brest for the 5th day. Members of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) and activists of other political parties and public organizations are taking part in the protest. As said by the head of the organization Ihar Maslouski, almost 30 names of the party members had been written down there.

"We saw the results of research by Professor Manaev that only about 45% of population of Belarus know that Kazulin is behind bars now. That is why this hunger strike is carried out in a succession to attract more attention. We have an intention to continue the protest until Mr. Kazulin is on hunger strike in prison," Maslouski said to Radio Svaboda.

Also, the human rights group "Amnesty International" has started a campaign in support of Belarusian political prisoner Zmitser Dashkevich. It has been stated today by a representative of London office of the "Amnesty International" Heather McGill in a conversation with the Belarusian human rights center "Viasna".

Members of the "Amnesty International" all over the world will send letters of support to the political prisoner. Other solidarity actions are planned as well. Besides, Heather McGill informed that the Amnesty International had recognized Zmitser Dashkevich a prisoner of conscience.

In today`s Belarus there are many oppositionists who had become prisoners of conscience, including the former candidate including the former candidate for presidency Aleksandr Kazulin, activists of the election observation initiative "Partnerstva" Mikola Astrejka and Tsimafei Dranchuk, the leader of the Social Democrats Mikola Statkevich, a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the 13th convocation Andrei Klimov, young leaders Pavel Severinets and Artur Finkevich, and many others.

Zmitser Dashkevich is Sentenced to 1.5 Years For Nothing!

(Prison Time For Nothing For Young Belarusians - Regime is Dead!)

November 1st, 2006. Minsk, Belarus.

The leader of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich has been sentenced to 1.5 years of imprisonment in a minimum security colony. The verdict to the young activist has been passed in a closed trial by a deputy chairperson of the court of Kastrychnitski district Ala Bulash. The cruel verdict to Zmitser Dashkevich caused active protest. More than 300 persons were standing outside the court scanning "Freedom to Dashkevich!"

The trial over the leader of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich started on Monday, October 30, in the court of Kastrychnitski district of Minsk, and lasted for two days only, because of failure to appear in the court of most witnesses. The young activist had been charged with "activities of behalf of an unregistered organization" under Article 193 of the Criminal Code. Zmitser Dashkevich has spent more than a month in the remand prison. The maximum term of imprisonment under this article is two years.

It is not the first political trial under this article of the Criminal Code of Belarus. Activists of the public initiative of elections observation "Partnerstva" Tsimafei Dranchuk and Mikola Astrejka are already serving the sentence of one and two years respectively for participation in an unregistered organization.

"A cynical verdict to Zmitser Dashkevich is still another proof that Lukashenka's regime is not going to play in the game of law. It is quite clear that the Constitution and freedom of associations are trampled upon. It is clear that the regime is afraid of the young people, and first of all, of organized youth. For the democratic countries it is yet another proof that the dictatorship is hopeless, it is not going to be transformed or to be democratized," told the leader of the democratic forces of Belarus Aleksandr Milinkevich.

The US Ambassador to Belarus Karen Stewart said that she is disappointed by it and condemns it.
"We consider the verdict to Zmitser Dashkevich and the whole process to be politically motivated, aimed at preventing Zmitser Dashkevich from expressing his convictions in a non-violent way.
As before, we would consider those who are violating human rights, responsible for this verdict, and call upon the Belarusian authorities to release Zmitser Dashkevich and those people who are imprisoned for political reasons, in particular Alyaksandr Kazulin, Mikalay Astrejka and Tsimafei Dranchuk," American diplomat said in an interview to the BelaPAN.

A New Trial Behind Closed Doors For Zmitser Dashkevich

(October 30th, 2006, Minsk, Belarus)

The trial over the young activist Zmitser Dashkevich is scheduled for October 30. It is to be held behind closed doors, the human rights center Viasna informs. The case is to be considered by judge Ala Bulash, a deputy chairman of the court of Kastrychnitski district of Minsk. The reasons for holding a closed trial haven't been explained by the court representatives. Human rights activists are outraged at that.

- Firstly, the lawyer Valyanitsin Stefanovich says, - Dashkevich is charged under article 193 part 1 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (activities on behalf of an unregistered organization), which violates his right for freedom of association. Secondly, they want to hold a process behind closed doors: without presence of journalists and a wide range of representatives of civil society. It's the style of Stalin times. We believe that he case has a public importance and that is why it should be open. We believe that in this way the authorities want to hide details of investigation methods. Investigative agencies had been summoning young people for interrogations, exerted pressure on activists. Once again we demand immediate release of Zmitser Dashkevich and state that his prosecution is politically motivated.

"Animal Farm" Law Changes in Belarus 2006

Last week Alexander Lukashenko has signed the Decree which radically changes all criminally-remedial system in the Republic of Belarus. Henceforth all government officials who made crimes against a state ownership, including deputies of National Assembly, Prime-Minister and Vice-Premiers, Minsk and regional executive committee Chairmen, Judges and Prosecutors of all levels, the state employees, holding a post of a rank of Minister and its Assistants, and also all without exception Heads and Assistants of power structures (the Ministry of Internal Affairs, KGB, Ministry of Defense, the State Customs Committee and so on), Administration of the President and all its assistants (apparently, the list of untouchable officials is very wide enough and goes on and on) has a chance not to be punished by the belorussian judicial system but by the President Himself if they return stolen money and admit their wrongdoings.

Forget about the Law in Belarus. Who needs the Law? Law is not for everybody there. Criminal prosecution of government officials is possible only with the sanction of the Head of the State. Have you read George Orwell's "Animal Farm"?

Let's say if you are a President of Belarus who steal from Belorussians at least 11,4 billion dollars a year - you are not guilty! Or, you are Galina Zhuravkova, a former Assistant of the President who stole only couple of millions of dollars. Do not need to worry, Galina, you are not guity. Or, let's say you are a former Chief-Prosecutor Victor Sheiman who earned only $397 million a year for prosecuting mostly political prisoners. No worries, Victor, here is your bag of money, take it with you to our main leftist ally Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez because you are assigned a new position as an Ambassador there. Or, you are Belorussian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Filaret with early income of only $47,3 million. Thank you for your spiritual support Mr. Filaret and thank you for decorating me, president Lukashenko, an Orthodox Atheist, with an award of Belarusian Orthodox Church, Cyril of Turau on September 26, 2006. Yes, don't worry, you are not guilty.

Hold on. And who is this guy? Mr. President, Your Majesty, this is Mr. Aleksand Kozulin, Professor, the former Candidate for Presidency. What did he do? He wanted to win your spot, Mr. President during your honest elections campaign and accidentally broke some glass on one of your framed portraits.

Guilty - 5.5 years in prison!

Belarus Presidential Repressions 2006

Belarusian Human Rights Center "Vyasna" has presented the report "President of Belarus Election Campaign Repressions, 2006" in which shows the number of people, who was arrested days before elections, during mass protest actions against falsifications of the results of the elections and after elections.

Before the election campaign on March 19th, 2006 in Minsk 236 youth activists and people representing opposition candidates were penalized and arrested for a period from 4 to 15 days.

From the date of elections on March, 19th till March, 25th - 686 condemned in Minsk, about 50 condemned - in regions, from them only 5 penalties, other administrative punishments - arrests from 4 till 15 day.

Also, according to the Committee of Protection of the Subjected to Repression, 370 students have been excluded from educational institutions during the election campaign. All those students were subjected to repression not only for the participation in presidential campaign but also for taking part in the actions of protest demanding to release political prisoners in Belarus. Thanks to the opposition efforts all of them have an opportunity to continue education in high schools, colleges and universities of the other countries close to Belarus.

Here is the List of Sentenced Political Prisoners (condemned in Belarus on politically motivated criminal cases - leaders and the activists of opposition who are serving time in jails at present):

- Kozulin Aleksandr (5.5 years) - Professor, the former candidate for presidency, former Rector of the Belarusian State University has been sentenced to 5 and a half years in a minimum security prison on July 13, 2006 by the judge Aleksej Rybakov. The politician was arrested during a brutal disband of a peaceful rally on March 25 this year and is in jail now.

- Mikalay Astreyka and Tsimafey Dranchuk (1-2 years), were members of an independent election monitoring group, Initiative Partnership. They were sentenced by the judge Leonid Yasenovich on 4 August, 2006 to two years and one year imprisonment accordingly for their intention to observe the presidential elections in March 2006. Both are in jail now.

 


Here is the List of Sentenced Political Prisoners (condemned in Belarus on politically motivated criminal cases - leaders and the activists of opposition who are serving time in jails at present):

- Severinets Pavel and Mikola Statkevich (2 years). Pavel Severinets is one of the leaders of the youth organization "Malady Front" and Mikola Statkevich, leader of the Belorussian Social-Democratic Party (Narodnaya Gramada) took part in the events of October 18th and 19th, 2004 when thousands of people were protesting against falsified results of referendum to extend Lukashenko's governing and elections of a new parliament. They both were sentenced by the judge Leonid Yasenovich on May 31st, 2005 to two years of imprisonment.

- Klimov Andrey (1.5 years) - a former member of the dissolved Belarusian parliament. Police arrested him on 11 February 1998 for alleged fraudulent business practice. He spent over two years in pre-trial detention before being sentenced to six years imprisonment at a hard labour colony with confiscation of property in March 2000. After the dissolution of parliament he continued his criticism of the President, accusing him of violating the law and the constitution. Andrey Klimov was released in spring 2002 but was back in prison on June 10th, 2005 for taking part in the actions of protest in Minsk on March 25, 2005. He was sentenced by the judge Svetlana Gonchar to 1.5 years. Like most members of Belarus opposition Andrey Klimov is deliberately targeted by the Belarusian authorities to punish him for his opposition activities.

- Skrebets Sergey (2.5 years)- a former member
of the dissolved Belarusian parliament's group "Respublika" was arrested on May 15 2005 for alleged fraudulent business practice and sentenced to 2.5 years on February 14th, 2006.

- Finkevich Artur (2 years) - a youth activist was sentenced to 2 years in prison for a political graffiti on May 10th 2006 by the judge Victoria Zaitseva. Finkevich Artur was arrested on January 30th, 2006 for gaffiti "We Want a New President!" and "Enough is Enough!".

- Razumov Nikolay (3 years) - during the election 2006 compaign Razumov Nikolay was sentenced in Orsha on June 16th, 2006 by the judge Tatyana Rybakova to 3 years in jail for releasing the information that the president Aleksandr Lukashenko was involved in the involuntary disappearance and death of Yury Zakharenko, Viktor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovsky, Dmitry Zavadsky and Gennady Karpenko.