US embassy cable - 05MINSK1462

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MINSK 001462 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, ECON, BO 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - December 02, 2005 
 
 
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.  Stricter Laws on Discrediting Belarus 
 
On December 25, the lower house of PQliament overwhelmingly 
approved the first reading of amendments to Belarus' criminal 
code that would introduce severe penalties for activities 
deemed "revolutionary" and harmful to the public.  On December 
2, the lower house approved the second reading.  The bill now 
only needs the upper house's approval and President's signature 
to become law.  Under the amendments, participating in street 
demonstrations, discrediting Belarus' image abroad, appealing 
to foreign nations and international organizations to "act to 
the detriment of Belarus," and spreading "false" information 
about Belarus would be criminal offenses warranting two to 
three years in prison.  Chief of the BKGB Stepan Sukhorenko 
commented to reporters that the new amendments would help 
prevent the opposition from using street demonstrations to 
interfere with the 2006 presidential election.  When asked by a 
reporter what constitutes "discrediting" Belarus, Deputy Head 
of the Presidential Administration and trained lawyer Natalia 
Petkevych explained, "If you say that bears are walking the 
streets of our city, that is discrediting Belarus.  If you say 
we beat people morning, noon and night, that is discrediting 
Belarus, because it is not true." 
 
3.  Kurapaty Memorial Site Vandalized 
 
During the week of November 27, vandals desecrated crosses and 
monuments at Kurapaty, the memorial site outside Minsk dedicated to 
the tens of thousands of Belarusians executed by Stalin's NKVD in 
the 1930s.  The top of the memorial bench former President Bill 
Clinton presented to Belarus on behalf of the U.S. was knocked 
over.  The vandals also carved a swastika into the face of an icon 
on a cross near the entrance.  Approximately twelve out of the 
hundreds of crosses at Kurapaty were damaged.  Historian and 
researcher Igor Kuznetsov told poloff that a memorial plaque 
disappeared and a number of photographs of victims were destroyed. 
The police denied vandalism had occurred, but admitted that the 
Clinton bench was overturned.  According to on-line independent 
news source Interfax, the police blamed this on severe weather 
conditions [note: the bench is thick granite].  By the following 
morning, most of the damage had been remedied including replacing 
the top of the bench. 
 
4.  Student Expelled for Traveling Abroad 
 
On November 24, Belarusian State Economic University expelled 
straight "A" student Tatiana Khoma after returning from a 
National Union of Students in Europe (ESIB) meeting in France. 
School officials reported that she was expelled for her three- 
day school absence without permission, "flagrant disrespect of 
internal regulations," and for putting herself in danger due to 
the "difficult" internal political situation and France's state 
of emergency.  Teachers and students suspect Khoma was expelled 
for participating in and being elected to the Executive 
Committee of the ESIB, Europe's largest student organization 
committed to defending students' rights and interests. 
 
5.  Employee Issuing New Life Church Document Fired 
 
On November 30, the Minsk city authorities fired the employee 
who issued the new technical passport to the New Life Church. 
The new passport allowed their "cow barn" to be classified as a 
religious building of worship.  The authorities fired the 
employee for issuing the passport illegally.  The passport was 
subsequently annulled.  Without it, the New Life Church will 
not be able to register their "cow barn" as their legal 
address. 
 
6.  Minsk Kiosks Drop Independent Newspaper Salidarnasts 
 
On November 30, the state run newspaper and kiosk network 
Minskgorsouyuzpechat canceled its 2006 distribution contract 
with the independent weekly Salidarnasts.  The editor received 
no explanation for the annulment.  On December 1, the Grodno 
branch of the state subscription monopoly Belpochta canceled 
its distribution contract with the independent newspaper 
"Gazeta Slonimskaya."  [Note: These are the latest examples of 
the state monopolies' trend to drop independent media from 
subscription lists and newsstands.] 
 
7.  Youths Threatened with Expulsion for Supporting Opposition 
 
On November 27, Svetlogorsk schools threatened to expel youth 
group members who participated in the opposition-led November 
 
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16 "Day of Solidarity." The demonstration occurs on the 16th of 
every month and is dedicated to those persecuted by the GOB. 
The youth leaders called the threats attempts to intimidate and 
discourage students from political participation. 
 
8.  No Criminal Investigation into Journalist's Death 
 
On November 28, the Minsk District Prosecutor's Office decided 
not to launch an investigation into the death of free-lance 
Narodnaya Volya journalist Vasily Grodnikov, citing lack of 
crime evidence at the scene.  Grodnikov died from a head injury 
caused by a blunt object on October 18. 
 
9.  Slander Case Against Human Rights Lawyer Dropped 
 
The Minsk City Prosecutor's Office on November 16 dropped its 
slander case against human rights lawyer for the Belarusian 
Helsinki Committee (BHC) Garry Poganyailo.  In May, the 
Ministry of Justice brought charges against the lawyer for 
allegedly slandering Lukashenko while giving an interview on 
Sweden's TV 4 channel in 2004.  In the interview, Poganyailo 
accused Lukashenko and various top GOB officials of being 
involved in the disappearances of several opposition figures. 
The court, in a written statement, concluded that Poganyailo 
slandered no one. 
 
10. BHC Cannot Spend Foreign Aid 
 
The Presidential Administration property management department 
on November 25 rejected the BHC's offer to settle its dispute 
over foreign financial aid out of court.  The department 
rejected BHC's registration of USD 1,000 provided by the 
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights to pay for 
BHC's rent and telephone bills.  BHC's appeal will be held on 
December 7. 
 
11. Belarus Closes 36 NGO's for Major Violations 
 
On December 2, the GOB announced that Belarus liquidated 36 
NGO's in the first nine months of 2005 for violations of 
Belarusian law or their own statutes.  Ten of the 36 NGOs were 
national or international organizations.  None of the appeals 
against the liquidations have been decided. 
 
12. New Charges for Gomel Activist 
 
On November 26, Gomel police officers entered opposition 
activist Maria Bogdanovich's apartment after allegedly 
receiving a tip that she was harboring illegal Vietnamese 
immigrants.  On November 27, the district and criminal police 
officers arrived at Bogdanovich's apartment and accused her of 
distributing leaflets about her November 21 trial (at which she 
was fined USD 95 for distributing fliers without the printer's 
name and address).  The officers seized 1,500 opposition 
leaflets from her residence, claiming several people were 
detained the day before for distributing identical leaflets. 
Her hearing is scheduled for December 7. 
 
13. Czechs Detained 
 
On November 28, Belarusian authorities refused to give passes 
to enter radioactive zones to former deputy environment 
minister of the Czech Republic J. Skalicki and Czech ecologist 
from Charles University in Prague I. Rynda.  After a visit to 
Kamaryn, a village not far from the zone, BKGB agents detained 
the officials for allegedly visiting the border area without 
permission.  The Czech officials were questioned for several 
hours and filmed by the state media. 
 
14. GOB to Control University Admissions 
 
On November 29, Lukashenko informed the Belarusian Council of 
Rectors of Higher Education Institutions that he would 
introduce at the end of December new admission rules for 
vocational and higher education institutions.  The rules would 
require two state commissions to oversee the admission process 
and would rework entrance and exit exams.  The guidelines are 
intended to ensure transparency and control over the admission 
process.  The President opined that the fall of the Soviet 
Union prevented lower-income groups and rural residents from 
entering private universities.  Bribery is also a problem and 
the educational staff does not favor the current system. 
 
15. GOB Warns Unregistered Baptist Church for Illegal Worship 
 
On November 25, the GOB issued a warning to Reformed Baptist 
Church Christ's Covenant's Pastor Gregory Vyazovsky for 
allegedly conducting illegal worship in a private Minsk 
residence.  Belarusian law forbids religious services in 
residential buildings without special permission.  In addition, 
the church received three warnings for failing to register a 
 
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"legal address." 
 
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Civil Society 
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16. A Monument to the Potato 
 
On December 1, several news sources reported that the GOB plans to 
build a monument marking the 150 anniversary of Belarus' first 
potato harvest.  The bronze monument will be in the shape of a half- 
peeled potato and placed on Pobediteli Avenue (formerly Masherov 
Avenue).  The spiral peel would represent the "spiral of time" and 
Belarus' "inseparable" connection to the potato.  The GOB plans to 
imbue the monument with "magic power," bringing luck to everyone 
who touches it.  Minister of Agriculture Leonid Rusak is expected 
to participate its dedication ceremony, which is to be accompanied 
with the soon-to-be-composed "Ode to Potato." 
 
17. KGB Promises No Colored Revolution in Belarus 
 
On November 29, the Belarus Committee for State Security (BKGB) 
promised to prevent anti-government protests during the 2006 
presidential campaigns.  BKBG head Stepan Sukhorenko stated 
that Western countries and the U.S. want regime change in 
Belarus via colored revolutions.  He claimed the West uses 
NGO's, youth groups, the opposition, exchange programs, and 
broadcasting to spread its influence.  Sukhorenko added, "Any 
activity aimed at the violent overthrow of the legitimate 
government is under close watch." 
 
18. An Association of Pensioners 
 
On November 27, a group of retirees applied to the Minsk city 
authorities for permission to hold a founding convention for 
the Association of Pensioners.  On November 28, the Association 
for the Union and the Communist Party of the Union (AUCPU) 
accused the opposition of creating the Association of 
Pensioners to split the national organization of veterans. 
According to AUCPU coordinator Leonid Shkolnikov, the new 
association will weaken the existing organization of veterans 
and its "deserved" support for President Lukashenko. 
 
19. Humanitarian Aid to Pakistan 
 
On November 30, the Ministry of Emergency Situations announced it 
was sending humanitarian cargo to several regions of Pakistan 
affected by the earthquake.  Three trucks and two escort vehicles 
delivered the cargo to Moscow, from where it would be shipped by 
plane to Pakistan.  The cargo, worth USD 200,000, included 8,800 
half-woolen blankets, 24 "extra-large" tents, 9,900 cans of tinned 
beef, 9,000 cans of tinned beef with buckwheat porridge, and 2,000 
packs of bandages. 
 
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Election 
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20. State Polling Links Gay Support to Opposition 
 
On November 24, the state run polling institution ECOOM 
Analytical Center "revealed" that opposition candidate 
Milinkevich's popularity rating would jump six points if he 
supported sexual minorities.  ECOOM also announced that 45 
percent of those polled feel negative about the fact that 
Milinkevich supports homosexuals. 
 
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Economics 
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21. Belarus to Eliminate Customs Duties with Russia 
 
At a November 28 news conference, Deputy Foreign Minister 
Aleksandr Mikhnevich announced that Belarus plans to eliminate 
the differences in custom duties it has with Russia on 1,700 
commodities.  According to Mikhnevich, the differences do not 
affect either country, but 200 duties will be unified while the 
rest will be fixed for "objective reasons."  Mikhnevich claimed 
Belarus would keep duties on oil products lower than those in 
Russia. 
 
22. GOB Progresses in WTO Accession with Cuba and China 
 
On November 28, Belarus and China initialed the necessary World 
Trade Organization (WTO) accession documents outlining China's 
access to Belarus' commodity markets.  Similar negotiations on 
commodity market access were also completed between Cuba and 
Belarus, to be signed in Hong Kong.  This will be the first 
protocol Belarus signs. 
 
 
MINSK 00001462  004 OF 004 
 
 
23. Foreign Companies Petition Economic Court 
 
On November 30, the Supreme Economic Court announced it 
received 76 complaints from foreign companies in 2005.  Most 
cases involved nonpayment by Belarusian partners.  Poland and 
the United States submitted the most claims, 14 and 13, 
respectively.  [Note: Foreign companies account for 
approximately three percent of investment in the Belarusian 
economy.] 
 
24. Money from Industries Will Fund Budget 
 
On November 30, the GOB announced that major industries in 
which the GOB has a majority shareholding will have to use 
their revenues from the first half of the year to supplement 
the budget by BYR 105.2 billion [USD 48.9 million] in addition 
to paying their regular taxes.  Belaruskali, a potassium 
fertilizer producer, and Belarusneft, a petrochemical producer, 
will pay the brunt of the money at BYR 64 billion [USD 30 
million] and BYR 14 billion [USD 6.5 million] respectively. 
 
25. Missiles for Belarus 
 
Chairman of the Belarusian Security Council Gennady Nevyglas 
informed reporters on November 29 that Russia would ship the 
first consignment of S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Belarus 
in March 2006.  Two divisions of S-300s would be shipped to 
Belarus' western borders to counter the "NATO threat" to 
Belarus.  According to Nevyglas, the missiles would double 
Belarus' capability to strike targets.  However, Nevyglas 
admitted that the systems were not yet combat ready. 
 
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Bilateral Relations 
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26. Belarus and China's Partnership 
 
Lukashenko told a visiting Chinese reporter on December 1 that 
Belarus and China's economic cooperation has great prospects. 
Belarus would like to sell its products on the Chinese market, 
buy Chinese goods, and establish joint ventures in China. 
According to the President, because of China's huge economy, it 
would not be difficult for China to "pull up" Belarus' economy. 
GOB figures claim trade between the two countries reached USD 
459 million (up 96 percent) with Belarus' trade surplus 
reaching USD 143 million.  In January-September, the trade 
volume between China and Belarus grew 60 percent on the year to 
USD 502 million.  Belarus exports to China include potassium 
fertilizers, dump trucks, chemicals, and machinery. 
 
27. Chinese Ambassador Dissatisfied with Investment Climate 
 
China's Ambassador to Belarus Wu Hongbin told reporters on 
November 29 that Chinese businessmen would like to invest more 
in Belarus' economy if it were not for Belarus' poor investment 
climate.  Hongbin noted how Chinese companies had the resources 
to invest, but wereQree to decide, based on economics rather 
than governmental influence, where to invest.  According to 
Hongbin, Belarusian-Chinese relations should be based on market 
economy rules with minimal government interference. 
 
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Quotes of the Week 
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28. On December 1, deputy Minister of Justice Aleksandr Petrash 
spoke about the introduction of an amendment to the criminal code 
that mandates severe penalties for participating in street protests 
or telling "lies" about Belarus to foreign countries: 
 
"You do not say anything bad about your family, wife and children 
in public.  You should not say anything bad about your country as 
well." 
 
29. On November 23, Lukashenko reiterated that Belarus and Russia 
would not be a puppet of the West: 
 
"Russia and Belarus are able to chew up and spit out American 
democracy."