We demand truth and freedom!

Declaration of Human Rights is Banned in Belarus!

Minsk, December 10th, 2008

The vice president of the International Federation for Human Rights comments on the arrests in Minsk at 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights proclamation.

"It is an unpleasant and disappointing fact, that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is banned for distribution in the country that signed it," Ales Byalyatski, vice president of the International Federation for Human Rights, told in an interview to the Charter'97 press center.

On December 10, human rights activists, distributing the Declaration of Human Rights on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of its proclamation, were arrested on Independence Avenue of Minsk. In total, more than 20 people including youth activists, distributing the declaration, were detained. Among the detained were Ales Byalyatski, Uladzimir Labkovich, Aleh Matskevich, Maryna Statkevich, and Syarhei Sys.

"We were handing around texts of the Declaration of Human Rights and leaflets about violations of human rights in Belarus. Unfortunately, we failed to hold an action according to our plan. We were detained by militiamen in mufti and guarded to the Tsentralny District Militia Department where we spent three hours. They wrote down our personal data and we were released without any explanations," Ales Byalyatski said.

Militia officers didn't introduce themselves though they must show their identity documents by law. The human rights activists were released. No reports were drawn up. Physical force was used against them during the detention.

"I can't say exactly who detained us because they were in mufti. Militia officers didn't introduce themselves, though we asked them to. They were rude, shoved the girls," Ales Byalyatski added.

According to him, more than 30 human rights defenders and youth activists took part in the rally.

A great number of militia and riot militia can be seen in the center of Minsk today. They repress all attempts to hold street action on the Human Rights Day.

On December 10, human rights activists of Hrodna organized a street action dedicated to the 60th anniversary of proclamation of the Declaration of Human Rights. Riot militiamen detained Viktar Sazonau, Uladzimir Khilmanovich, Yan Roman, Aleh Kalinkou and other participants of the action.

Actions of the Opposition is The Only Hope to Fight the Dictatorship in Belarus

(by Andrey Sannikov, Civil Campaign European Belarus)

After the explosion in Minsk (on July 3rd, 2008), the regime uses this tragedy for arrests of activists of the democratic movement of Belarus instead of searching for criminals.

An unprecedented campaign on pressing the opposition and the civil society is carried out today. Organising pressing by the financial police of the State Control Committee, the authorities try to discredit the leaders of the democratic forces, human rights activists, journalists, regional opposition activists.

One of the leaders of the "European Belarus" civil campaign Zmitser Bandarenka, leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka, deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front Vintsuk Vyachorka, leader of the Party of Communists of Belarus Syarhei Kalyakin, human rights activists Ales Byalyatski, Valyantsin Stefanovich, Uladzimir Labkovich, Vera Stramkouskaya, head of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Aleh Hulak, BHC members Tatsyana Protska, Harry Pahanyaila, Zmitser Markusheuski, journalist Iryna Khalip, as well as democratic candidates for the autumn "parliamentary elections" and candidates for members of electoral commissions were called to the Department of Financial Investigation and tax offices.

Hundreds of democratic activists in the country suffer from pressure of the financial police. The authorities act in a very cynical way by firing people at first and asking them to account for their financial status after that. Lukashenko has closed down dozens of independent newspapers, liquidated hundreds of non-governmental organisations, shut most of regional offices of opposition parties over the years of his rule. In fact, people who have democratic and pro-European views are banned from their profession. People are dismissed, their business is destroyed, employers are harassed for any activity, different from the ideology of Lukashenko.

The current events in Belarus look liked a carefully rehearsed performance, staged for the people and the international community by the authorities. As soon as Lukashenko begins to speak the elections will be fair and democratic, there comes a new wave of repressions against the opposition and the civil society. The more Lukashenko promises, the stricter actions of the secret services, riot militia, the whole administrative machine become. A list of repression measures that are already in use, namely unlawful arrests, beatings, tortures, trials, fines, prison sentences, firing and expulsion from universities, has been enlarged with tight financial persecution of the democrats and their family members. THE MAIN PURPOSE IS REAL ELIMINATION OF THE OPPOSITION AND THE CIVIL SOCIETY IN BELARUS.

It is played to take attention off secret and unlawful large-scale privatisation, carried out by Lukashenko's "family" and his inner circle. That is why legitimating the regime by means of the coming elections is vital for Lukashenko. The dictator understands his regime doesn't have international legitimacy, neither he nor his "parliament" is recognised nowhere in the democratic world. But without this recognition it is impossible to attract investors for saving the regime from economic collapse. He counts to hold an uncontrolled privatisation with the help of cynical businessmen from the West and the East. Moreover, the Belarusian state property is sold "on the cheap", because Lukashenko needs money right now to pay back foreign loans and credits, he took over the last time in large quantities.

A possible scenario of recognition of dictatorship is known: presence of two or three opposition figures in the "house of representatives" and making the most odious persons from Lukashenko's circle efface. According to the existing information, it is these conditions that are used by business groups to lobby Lukashenko's interests in Europe. It is used to cover up shameless robbing of the Belarusian people. Lukashenko purposefully removes the last areas of civil control: in fact, there are no printed papers in the country, the authorities are trying to destroy the Internet community in Belarus. Absence of freedom of press, flagrant restrictions on activity of opposition parties, factual prohibition on activity of democratic non-governmental organisations, absence of independent legal system are used by the authorities for secret privatisation, saving of the regime and personal gain. One may just recollect the extra-budgetary fund of Lukashenko, look at villas of officials in Drazdy, extra class cars, belonging to them and their family members, to understand who profits from the privatisation.

Even such a sell-out of the Belarusian state property will make the representatives of the authorities and businessmen close to them richer by billions dollars. The people will receive nothing from it. The opposition has always stood against this kind of privatisation. Any machinations with state property will have no legal force without public control. New government of the democratic Belarus won't recognise the results of such privatisation.

Lukashenko had all chances to accept the offers of the opposition and begin phased democratic reforms in the country. He didn't use them and launched a war to destroy the opposition by using his usual methods.

Only restoration of democracy and law in the country will allow to attract really serious foreign investors to our country, improve life conditions of the majority of the Belarusians, make them be shareholders of leading enterprises. That is why the Belarusian democratic opposition, defending interests of the people, has a key to privatisation now.

Andrei Sannikov, civil campaign "European Belarus"