US embassy cable - 05MINSK792

UNCLAS MINSK 000792 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT ALSO FOR DRL/PHD 
DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/OHI 
DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/RPM for CSCE Helsinki Commission Staff 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, BO 
SUBJECT: Roma Update: Belarus 
 
REF: Minsk 0163 
 
1. Summary: On July 5, the DCM met with Belarusian Roma 
leader Oleg Kozlovskiy.  Kozlovskiy requested a meeting with 
the Embassy in order to share recent developments within the 
Roma community, while also reiterating continued concerns 
and problems.  Belarusian authorities generally ignore the 
Roma, but did recently support the publication of a Roma 
newsletter.  On the other hand instances of discrimination 
continue to occur.  One imminent problem concerns Kozlovskiy 
the most - in September funding support for Roma Holocaust 
victims will end.  End summary. 
 
2. Oleg Kozlovskiy, President of the Roma Communities of the 
CIS and the Baltics, requested a meeting with the Embassy to 
provide updated information on the status of the Roma in 
Belarus.  Two competing Roma organizations exist in Belarus 
(reftel).  Kozlovskiy, however, is widely considered to 
represent the majority of Belarusian Roma. [Note: The other 
is led by Nikolai Kalinin, head of the Roma Lawyers' Group.] 
 
 
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The Roma and the Government 
------------------------------ 
 
3. According to Kozlovskiy, the general attitude of the 
government towards Belarusian Roma can be characterized in 
one word - indifference. Although the government 
occasionally aids the Roma community, it has no 
comprehensive policy to support and integrate them into 
Belarusian society. Complicating the situation, Belarusian 
Roma want support, but they do not want to assimilate and 
lose their national and cultural identity.  Kozlovskiy cited 
lack of educational opportunities as the most intractable 
problem the Roma face.  Contrary to myth, the problems stem 
from sheer poverty, and not from cultural prohibitions 
against co-educational learning.  Roma parents are often 
unable to afford textbooks and children leave school early 
to earn money.  Kozlovskiy asserted that, unlike other 
groups, Roma receive no social benefits. 
 
3. In a recent positive step, the Committee on Religious and 
National Affairs (CRNA) provided the equivalent of 
approximately one thousand USD for publication of a Roma 
newsletter, "Roma Word." According to Kozlovskiy, this 
publication helps educate Roma in all areas of life. [Note: 
Illiteracy remains perhaps the greatest constraint on 
Belarusian Roma progress.] 
 
4. Kozlovskiy mentioned a few instances of harassment 
against Roma over the last six months.  In the most serious, 
he claimed in March a Roma family in Brest was taken to a 
police station without cause. Police officers videotaped 
them and took their fingerprints. On the positive side, when 
Kozlovskiy's organization filed a complaint, the Brest 
police did apologize to the family. 
 
5. On the other hand, in May Kozlovskiy sent a request to 
Minsk city authorities for a plot of land for construction 
of a Roma cultural and social center. The authorities never 
officially responded, but unofficially informed Kozlovskiy 
that the Roma would not receive permission. Kozlovskiy 
believes the denial results from the generally biased and 
suspicious attitude of Belarusian authorities to the Roma 
community. 
 
 
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Holocaust Victim Support 
------------------------ 
 
6. Kozlovskiy is IOM's implementer for its Holocaust 
Survivor Assistance to Roma in Belarus (reftel).  IOM 
funding to support these elderly Roma will end in September, 
when the money runs out. Kozlovskiy informed the DCM that he 
still has not found alternative sources for funding. 
 
KROL