US embassy cable - 05MINSK1410

UNCLAS MINSK 001410 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, BO 
SUBJECT: Empty Victory for Narodnaya Volya 
 
REF: A) MINSK 1193  B) MINSK 1387 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: On November 17, the Minsk City Economic 
Court ordered the state-run publishing house, Krasnaya 
Zvezda (KZ), to begin publishing the independent newspaper 
Narodnaya Volya (NV) again after KZ broke its contract with 
the paper.  However, it is unlikely KZ will actually print 
any issues of NV before its original contract expires due 
to the lengthy appeal process that the publisher will 
almost certainly pursue.  Moreover, it is unlikely that NV 
will be able to re-gain access to the state distribution 
network or postal subscription service.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) On November 17, the Minsk City Economic Court ruled 
in favor of the independent newspaper Narodnaya Volya (NV) 
in its case against the state-run publishing house, 
Krasnaya Zvezda (KZ).  The court ordered KZ to begin 
printing NV again after KZ terminated its contract with the 
paper on October 1 because of a EUR 900 debt (ref A). 
[Note: The paper was able to continue printing via a 
publisher in Smolensk, Russia.] 
 
3. (SBU) NV deputy editor-in-chief Svetlana Kalinkina is 
not optimistic about KZ's resumption of printing despite 
the favorable court ruling.  She told Emboff on November 21 
that she fully expects KZ to appeal the court's decision. 
No printing will occur before the appeal is heard.  The 
appeal process most likely will not be concluded before the 
end of the calendar year, which is when NV's original 
contract with KZ expires.  KZ is under no court obligation 
to renew its contract with NV at that time, and therefore 
the independent newspaper regardless could lose access to 
the state publishing house. 
 
4. (U) NV's case against KZ is just one of five that NV 
filed after being excluded from the state distribution and 
newsstand networks.  On November 17, the Minsk City 
Economic Court ruled against NV in the paper's cases 
against Belsoyuzpechat, the state organization running the 
monopoly of kiosks and newsstands - and its Minsk branch, 
Mingorsoyuzpechat.  NV plans to appeal the decision.  NV 
has two additional cases pending; one against 
Minskoblsoyuzpechat, the Minsk regional branch of 
Belsoyuzpechat, and another against Belpochta, the state 
distribution network. 
 
5. (SBU) COMMENT: The court decision forcing KZ to resume 
printing could be an empty victory for NV; even though the 
court has ordered KZ to resume printing of NV, the appeal 
process, if KZ chooses that route, suggests that it will 
probably not happen.  Presumably, KZ was ordered to stop 
the presses and its decision to appeal would also emanate 
from the presidential administration.  With two rulings 
against them and only two decisions pending, it is not 
likely that NV will make much headway against the state 
distribution and postal monopolies.  It appears NV will be 
forced to resort to its plan of establishing its own 
distribution network around the country and asking 
volunteers to hand them out on the street without charge 
(ref B). 
 
KROL