All accredited in Belarus Russian TV channels, independent newspapers and radio-stations received today records of the interrogation of SOBR fighter Vitaly Metelsky, who witnessed the events around the assassination of Viktor Gonchar and Anatoly Krasovsky in autumn 1999 at the military base near Begoml. KGB officer Gennady Uglyanitsa and “Krai” activist Andrei Zhernosek, who confirmed this news two days ago, kept their word and presented to the public the video-records of the interrogation of the witness. They also confirmed what they stated before by showing the picture of Vitaly Metelsky. Following read the full text of the records, depicting the details of the incident, that occurred in September 1999 near Begoml.
Minsk city procuracy opened criminal proceedings on the matter of slandering the president and accusing him of heavy crimes (art.367/2 of the Criminal Code). The reason for the legal action was the recently appeared publication in the arrested special issue of the independent newspaper “Rabochy”, entitled “A Thief Must Go to Jail”, disclosing facts of corruption amongst the country’s leadership.
The USA doubt that the presidential election in Belarus scheduled for September 9 could be free and fair, even if the authorities would change the way they act, Press -Secretary of State Richard Boucher said on Tuesday. Boucher enumerated the violations of the Belarusian authorities in the pre-election campaign, and named four steps necessary to free and fair election, Reuters informs.
The opinion poll of Minsk residents by the BelaPAN information agency’s polling service “Zerkalo” revealed that the total number of people trusting in Vladimir Goncharik to a certain extent, is the biggest (34 per cent ), then goes Lukashenko (35 per cent) and Sergey Gaidukevich (23 per cent). More than a half of the interviewed does not trust in Lukashenko at all (58 per cent).
MINSK, 29 August, 2001 (OSCE) -- Kimmo Kiljunen MP (Finland), the Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, visited Minsk on 28 and 29 August 2001. Mr. Kiljunen has been named by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office as Special Co-ordinator for the OSCE Election Observation Mission to Belarus, due to be held on 9 September 2001. The team is being jointly deployed by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Limited Election Observation Mission. It will co-ordinate its activities with the observers from the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
An editorial office of “Belarusky Chas” (Belarusian Time) newspaper obtained a very interesting document. This paper was allegedly worked out in presidential administration. In a “Normative List of Forms of Encouragement for the Executive Power Institutions and Other Categories of the Leadership” contains the scale of forms and methods of encouragement of the executive officeholders, constituency and local election commissions’ members and managers of large industrial state-owned enterprises.
The chairman of Belarusian KGB Leonid Erin today commented on new scandal. It started when his subordinate Gennady Uglyanitsa claimed that the leadership of the country is guilty of the murder of ex-deputy Prime Minister Viktor Gonchar and businessman Anatoly Krasovsky. Leonid Erin admits that Uglyanitsa is one of the best, if not the best officer in the KGB direction for Minsk and Minsk region. He has been absent both at home and at work from August 26. His gun and credentials were found at his working place. “Now everything possible is made for search of the missing. The official investigation is held,” – Leonid Erin notified.
29 August at 12 a.m. in Hague there will take place a picket-line in front of the International Tribunal For Human Rights. This action is organised by the Belarusian Center – association of Belarusian immigrants in Benelux. The refugees will demand to bring A. Lukashenko to justice for setting up a death squad, that is for political murders of his opponents which is treated by the international law as the crime against humanity. Belarusians will demand that International tribunal start proceedings against Lukashenko. He must be brought to trial and be held accountable according to the international law.
Major-general Valery Pavlov, 12th Supreme Soviet deputy, former chief of the department of public security, defense and criminality fighting of the Belarusian Cabinet called upon Alexander Lukashenko to withdraw from race and quite the electioneering. “You brought the country back not even by seven years but decades. In 1994, when you nominated for presidency you could say things which you deemed necessary and could vote the way you wanted. Back then Belarus was still a respected country, while Belarusians were a respected nation. Right now Belarus is a rogue state, while you, as its president – is a hero of anecdotes and Belarusians are the nation, which the whole world feels compassionate with,” – writes major-general Pavlov. Following read the text of his missive:
Over ten riot police officers and plainclothesmen, including five masked OMON (special task police) officers, broke at about 9:40 p.m. on August 27 into the house of Mikhail Rudko – one of the coordinators of the Brest election headquarters of Vladimir Goncharik.
Trade union leader of one of the Gomel companies reported that precinct commissions of the Novobelitsky district of Gomel started cutting down the lists of voters. As a result the total number went 200-300 names down. By so doing they seek to artificially rise the turnout. The trade unionist claims that similar picture can be witnessed all around the town. Lawyers say that if the citizen, upon arrival to the polling station, doesn’t find his name on the list, he has every right to demand that the commission members insert it.
The family of one of Goncharik’s election crew members received notification that the presidential ballot is scheduled for September 9. Except for the citizens, who already reached legal age, the invitations had been forwarded to the underage and deceased family members. Attorneys say that this is yet another proof of low-profile work of the precinct commissions. Given the voters notice some of their passed away relatives on the lists or those, who no longer live where the ballot list says they do, they may submit concomitant complaints over the issue, obliging the Commission to alter the situation.
On the eve of the tenth anniversary of the Belarusian independence the US Secretary of State Collin Powell came up on August 25 with the message, calling upon the Belarusian authorities to stick to the international rules in holding the ballot campaign. He also gave a brief historic outline of the political developments in Belarus. Read below the full text of the statement:
Vladimir Goncharik has been mostly doing trade union work and his name seldom appeared in political ratings. However, a series of crucial events made him attractive for the voters. NISEPI social research institute reports that over the two months, preceding the start of election campaign, Goncharik’s rating rose by 10,2%. Dynamics of his rating’s growth testifies to the fact that the unique candidate is well capable of defeating his opponents in the first round.
Another session of the Political Council of the unique candidate took place on August 28. The assembly, presided by Leonid Lemeshonok (leader of the PC Syamon Domash has been hospitalized), passed the final decision on the timeline of Goncharik’s meetings with voters. The first large-scale meeting will take place on September 2 in the Oktyabrskaya square of Minsk opposite the Republic’s Trade Union Palace. At 12.00-15.00 Vladimir Goncharik will rendezvous with the electorate. The unique candidate has already informed about that the Minsk city territorial commission and Minsk city hall. In accordance with legislation, candidate Goncharik asked these state bodies to “render him assistance in organizing the meeting and help him clarify information on that in mass media.”
Businessman Alexander Smantser was arrested late at night August 28. He’s charged with running entrepreneurial activities, not being a legal entity. The first failed attempt to arrest Smantser was undertaken two days ago, when he showed up at the interrogation in the Committee for financial investigation. They sought to incarcerate him back then for three days, having provided no clear explanations to their actions. However, right from the police office Smantser started telephoning his friends, informing them about the arbitrary detention. As a result, the businessman was set free and handed in KGB subpoena. Yesterday at 11a.m. Smantser arrived in KGB for interrogation.
On August 27 in Myadel “Youth of United Civil Party” activists held an action a “Chain of Those Who Care” by the market place in the framework of the national program “We want to know the truth”. The town dwellers met protesters with great interest and understanding. The action was well-organized and calm. The police have not detained anyone and behaved civilly.
Official Minsk considers “a flagrant interference in the interior affairs of the republic” the statement, voiced on Tuesday by the US State Secretary Collin Powell on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Belarus independence. The official reaction of the Belarusian side, announced by Foreign Minister Khvostov, has been televised on Tuesday night by the state TV. Powell critically spoke about the policy of the current Belarusian leadership. In his report Powell stated that should Belarusian authorities rig the vote, Belarus would automatically get blacklisted as lone European outlaw.
The Belarusian Helsinki Committee has announced that it has received reports of election officials being compelled to rig the forthcoming presidential election.
BelaPAN’s latest poll showed that most Minsk residents believed that a live televised debate between presidential candidates Vladimir Goncharik and Alexander Lukashenko would help them make a better choice.
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