US embassy cable - 05MINSK1291

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MINSK 001291 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, ECON, BO 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - October 20, 2005 
 
REF: MINSK 1003 
 
1.  The following are brief items of interest compiled 
by Embassy Minsk over the past week. 
 
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Human Rights 
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2.  Approximately 100,000 Belarusians Unite in 
Solidarity Campaign 
 
On October 16, the "Free Belarus" Coalition, including 
Nikita Sasim, journalist Irina Khalip, and wife of 
"disappeared" businessman Irina Krasovsky, organized a 
commemoration event for missing politicians, political 
prisoners and their families as part of the "day of 
solidarity" with those who have been persecuted by the 
GOB.  Belarusians were asked to turn off their lights at 
home from 8 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. and place a lit candle in 
their window.  According to the organizers, 100,000 
Belarusians participated. Khalip stated, "If we organize 
such events every month, we will be able to bring people 
to the streets next spring....Together...we are the 
majority."  Embassy observers witnessed few candles in 
apartments in downtown Minsk although we have received 
reports that more candles appeared in the apartment 
complexes in the outskirts of the city. 
 
3.  New Life Church Will Get Its Day in Court 
 
On October 17, a Minsk judge agreed to hear the New Life 
Church's complaint regarding the GOB's decision to evict 
it from the cowshed in which the church community 
worships.  The church pastor told the media he is 
optimistic the hearing will show the authorities acted 
illegally.  [Note: The authorities have refused to 
reregister the church because it lacks a legal address.] 
 
4.  No Protection from Triple Jeopardy in Belarus 
 
On October 17, Supreme Economic Court (SEC) Deputy 
Chairman Yevgeny Smirnov appealed the SEC's decision to 
annul the taxes and fines the tax authorities levied on 
the Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC).  Twice in the 
past year and one-half, the SEC annulled the BYR 155 
million [USD 72,000] in taxes the tax authority insisted 
the BHC pay on grants from the European Union (EU).  The 
SEC's past decisions were based on a May 10, 1994, 
memorandum between the EU and Belarus exempting EU 
grants from Belarusian taxes.  However, if the SEC 
overrules its previous decisions - which seems likely 
since the deputy chairman launched the appeal - the 
authorities will reintroduce the former criminal charges 
against the BHC head and chief accountant.  The SEC 
expects to make a decision later this month. 
 
5.  Third Way's Cartoon Website Is Back On-Line 
 
As of October 19, short animated films poking fun at 
Lukashenko and his administration are available again on 
the Third Way's website (http://mult.3dway.org). 
Authorities shut down the website after the Belarusian 
KGB detained the cartoonists and raided their apartment 
on August 16 (reftel).  Prosecutors are still 
investigating the group since the satirical cartoons 
defame and insult the President, a crime punishable by 
jail. 
 
6.  GOB vs. Trade Unions 
 
On October 18, the International Confederation of Free 
Trade Unions (ICFTU) announced that Belarus is the "most 
anti-union country" in Europe.  After documenting 
significant government interference and union rights 
violations, the ICFTU accused Lukashenko of "stifling 
independent trade union activity with the full force of 
the state."  Separately on October 19, the Belarusian 
Congress of Democratic Trade Unions announced it has not 
been able to find a location in Belarus for its charter 
mandated triennial meeting.  [Note: If the BCDTU does 
not hold the conference, the Ministry of Justice will 
issue a warning to the organization for violating its 
charter.]  Citing intense pressure and increased 
scrutiny by authorities, BCDTU head Aleksandr Yaroshuk 
stated BCDTU would have to hold its convention abroad if 
the last venue rejects the organization's application. 
 
7.  Politically Active School Administrator Loses Appeal 
 
On October 14, a Gorodok court rejected Belarusian 
 
MINSK 00001291  002 OF 003 
 
 
Social Democratic Party "Hramada" member Leonid 
Gorovoi's appeal to reinstate him as a principal of a 
Varkhi school.  Gorovoi opines the education 
department's politically motivated decision to dismiss 
him stemmed from his active civic position since the 
education department did not provide any explanation for 
its refusal to renew his contract. 
 
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Civil Society 
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8.  Major Cities Need a Face Lift Before Elections 
 
On October 19, Lukashenko ordered his government to 
renovate Minsk and the regional capitals by June 2006, 
roughly one month before the presidential elections. The 
President stated the capitals should be brought to an 
"ideal state" because "people should live in normal, 
comfortable cities and villages." 
 
9.  Belarus is Among the Who's Who of Corrupt Countries 
 
On October 18, Transparency International (TI) announced 
Belarus ranks 107th among the 158 countries evaluated in 
"perception of corruption."  TI determined the level of 
corruption in Belarus has increased and thus Belarus 
fell 33 spots on the list from last year.  Belarus is 
now on par in perception of corruption with countries 
like Kazakhstan, Palestine, Ukraine and Zimbabwe. 
 
10. Building Bridges Between Syrian and Belarusian 
Political Parties 
 
On October 17, the Al-Baath Arab Socialist Party and the 
pro-government Belarusian Communist Party (BCP) signed 
an agreement aimed at "enhancing ties between both 
parties as well as...developing bilateral relations 
between two friendly countries."  BCP First Secretary 
Natiana Golopiva emphasized her solidarity with the 
Syrian party and expressed her admiration of Syria's 
role in the regional and international arena. 
 
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Economics 
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11. Broke the Law? Receive a Pardon! 
 
On October 17, Lukashenko signed a decree, which allows the 
President to pardon ailing businesses when they receive 
economic sanctions for violation of tax, customs, commerce, 
and banking regulations even if courts imposed the 
penalties.  The decree aims to "prevent unfounded bankruptcy 
of business entities [and to] preserve and develop 
enterprises of key importance to the country and its 
regions." 
 
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Bilateral Relations 
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12. Ukraine and Belarus: Becoming Closer? 
 
On October 17 during Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuriy 
Yekhanurov's visit to Belarus, the GOB and the GOU signed 
several accords including an agreement to establish joint 
military research and development projects.  Yekhanurov 
acknowledged the GOU's USD 134 million debt to Belarus 
dating from 1992 and agreed that Ukrainian businesses and 
not the GOU would pay it off by providing goods and services 
to Belarus.  The debt had hindered the signing of a 
bilateral border treaty, which Ukraine needs to meet EU and 
NATO accession requirements. 
 
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Quote of the Week 
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13. On October 19, after his advisors presented him with 
a weaker economic forecast for the next year, Lukashenko 
expressed his disappointment at the performance of his 
cabinet: 
 
"If the presidential elections turn out well next year, 
I will have to [create] the cabinet.  And while doing 
that, I will see how effective you were during the 
previous five-year period.  Why do I need pole-vaulters 
jumping beneath the bar?  For this reason, I need a[n 
economic] forecast that aims very high." 
 
 
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KROL