HOCKEY BY THE WALLS OF THE MOSCOW KREMLIN :: Charter'97 :: News

March review of the human rights infringements in Belarus proves that the Soviet traditions of pressure on civil and political freedoms goes on. Belarusian master of ice hockey manages to disobey the rules with blessing from some arbiters close to the Moscow Kremlin.

Lost Case

The theme of the political disappearances and assassinations remains the most important one. It stirs up the public opinion in Belarus. However the government has not carried out proper investigation of the political abductions of Yuri Zakharanka, Viktar Hanchar and Anatol Krasousky. No convincing evidence was provided for the episode with the abduction of Dzmitser Zavadsky, as said by his mother, and the episode was lost in the forty books of the Ihnatovich`s band`s case.

The trial over the former officers of the special squad "Almaz", who were charged with numerous murders, including assassination of Zavadsky, has given new proofs of the authorities` involvement to the extermination of the political opponents. For instance, the criminal action was brought up against attorney Ihar Aksyonchyk, who publicly accused the Prosecutor General Viktar Sheiman in connection to the abductions of the famous people. The former officer of the presidential security service, and now an officer of "Almaz" Levanenka for some reason was not a suspect, but a witness at the trial, though there was significant evidence against him. Paval Sharamet, a journalist of the Russian TV channel ORT, said unambiguously that the gang of Ihnatovich was simply an executor of somebody else`s plan. He named Viktar Sheiman the architect of the crime. As said by the Russian journalist, the court ignored the role of the special services in Zavadsky`s abduction. According to his information, the Russian law enforcing agencies have the corresponding materials, but they are confidential. Sharamet supposes that zZavadsky is dead. "He was tortured, his vertebra was broken, so they decided to kill him, as otherwise it would be impossible to conceal that crime. They tried to make him say what he knew about the secret information of the Belarusian top officials in the Caucasus, in Chechnya. This version was supported by Aleh Bazhelka, and it seems the most convincing for me now".

Staff`s Purges

The Belarusian authorities, following the traditions of Stalin, tries to retain control over the directorship with the help of the purges. In March the heads of the largest medical institutions and factories of mineral processing industries were at risk. Criminal actions were instituted against the management of "Naftan" and "Belaruskalij". Today in the country every director can be easily convicted, as the economical legislation is extremely inconsistent and harsh. Criminal prosecutions and arrests of the directors mostly are consequences of the absurd economical policy and a means of the top directors` intimidation. In the first years of Lukashenka`s rule the chairmen of the collective farms were placed under strict control, then businessmen were targeted, and now it is the turn of the top directors of the manufacturing enterprises.

In March the topic of the purges in medical institutions appeared regularly on the pages of the newspapers. The situation in this sphere is lamentable, as because of lack of funds and great demand for medical services that has grown after Charnobyl disaster. To stifle social dissatisfaction the authorities employed preventive measures, the heads of the medical institutions are made out as the culprits of the situation. Criminal actions were instituted against some of them; others were fired, as the Chief Doctor of the 1st City Hospital of Minsk Mikalai Andreeu.

A Gallery Of Anti-Heroes

To be a judge in Belarus today is not a rewarding position. Inconsistent and cruel legislation, judges` dependence on the authorities makes the judges feel awkward and reduces their authority. Indignation of the society was evoked by the court ruling convicting Alyaxandar Chyhir, the son of the former prime minister, to a seven-year imprisonment term. As said by Anatol Lyabedzka, the chairman of the United Civil Party, a gallery of anti-heroes should be created in the country. One of the first `heroes` of their successors` contempt should become judge Syarhei Khrypach, who has passed the ruling.

Because of accusatory tendency of the Belarusian legislation Belarusian prisons are overcrowded. According to the Interior Minister Uladzimer Navumau, penitentiaries contain by 37% more than they were planned for. 42 thousand convicts are placed there. Very often instead of fines people are sentenced to prison terms. According to the statistics of the Interior Ministry, in 1998 16% of criminals were fined, while in 2001 only 4.9% were fined.

Usual Still Life

The situation with freedom of speech and media in Belarus does not differ greatly from the usual situation in this sphere. Criminal actions against independent journalists, dismissals of the dissenters from the state-run media outlets, reprimands to the newspapers, blocking of the Internet, censorship are plentiful. A criminal trial against reporters of the newspaper "Pahonia" Mikalai Markevich and Paval Mazheika is being prepared. Belarus is the only country in Europe where slandering president is entered to the Criminal Code. The leadership of the direction of the sports programs of the Belarusian TV was fired. Several times in March web-sites of the "Charter`97" and "Viasna" were erased. The editorial board of the newspaper "Nasha Niva" was reprimanded for mentioning on its pages the Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. The editor-in-chief Andrei Dynko says that it is hard for newspapers to continue to exist and inform people, as more than a half of the organizations acting in the country are unregistered. Harmless 400 white-red-white flags that where hanged in the trees on Freedom Day in Mahilyou, frightened the local authorities. The Mahilyou policemen climbed the trees and removed all the flags.

An exhibition of the association of the artists "Pahonia" experienced censorship of the authorities. The works of such artists as Valery Schasny, Ales Pushkin, Ales Tsyrkunou and Alyaxei Marachkin were removed. The symbolic picture by Marachkin "Usual Still Life" that represented a potato and a cucumber, and a hockey game by the walls of the Moscow Kremlin, was banned, and the artist could not display it at the exhibition.

"15 Days Of Imprisonment For One Freedom Day"

These were the words of Paval Sevyarynets after judge pronounced the verdict for his part in Freedom Day celebration. The authorities employed extraordinary measures of coercion to intimidate people and prevent them from coming on demos on April 19 and April 26. On the Freedom Day 33 people were detained in Minsk. Four of them were sentenced to 10-15 days of arrest (Vyachaslau Siuchyk, Paval Sevyarynets, Viktar Dashkevich, Viktar Kaveshnikau). 16 protesters were fined, others were reprimanded. In Hrodna 22 people were detained. Syarhei Malchyk, a leader of the Belarusian Popular Front in Hrodna, was sentenced to 15-days` arrest. Mikalai Statkevich, leader of the "Narodnaya Hramada", was arrested for organization of the demonstration on Constitution Day. Uladzimer Pleschanka, an activist of the Conservative Christian Party BPF from Vitsebsk, was fined an enormous sum for Belarus, 1200$, for unfurling a slogan: "New Extraordinary Presidential Election Under Surveillance Of the International Organizations Required". Uladzimer Plotnikau, an activist of the Conservative Christian Party BPF, was fined for defense of Kurapaty. Zubr activists from Shklou Mikhail Kisyaliou, Dzianis Senakosau, Dzmitser Shalashkou, Ales Paulovich and Maxim Patupchyk were fined for performance on election theme. The leaders of the oppositional organizations and parties were detained and searched at the Belarusian-Lithuanian border.

Besides the authorities employed special measures against active young people. In Mahilyou young people are registered at the commission on juvenile delinquency. In the same city principal of the technical school Alyaxandar Shaptitsa expelled two students. Zubr activists. In Homel university KGB officers carry out "conversations" with the students.

The authorities also do not leave alone politically active pensioners as well. A former head of the Supreme Soviet Stanislau Shushkevich who receives a pension equal to one US dollar, was refused by the court to receive adequate allowance. Another criminal action instigated against former Prime Minister Mikhail Chyhir.

In March oppositional organizations remained in the center of the authorities` attention. In Brest a center of the civil inintiaties "Vezha" was liquidated. A regional branch of the human rights defending organization "Viesna` was raided. The Belarusian union of the entrepreneurs was denied to instigate an action on break-in of its office. The Ministry of Justice reprimanded the "Narodnaya Hramada" for forms and a seal that do not correspond a standard. The authorities of Pinsk demanded to pay for the trade union action held at a stadium as if it were a show. In Barysau authorities denied the right of the Judaic religious association for the building of the former synagogue, it was sold from auction. Zhodzina authorities banned the local branch of the Association of Belarusian Language to hold opinion poll in educational institutions.

Pressure on trade unions continues. "Yellow" trade unions obedient to authorities are being created. The Constitutional court has recognized the ruling of the government banning trade union dues transfer as corresponding to the Constitution. In Minsk and Brest trade union protest actions were banned. In Navapolatsk the chair of the trade union committee of the factory Olha dzmitrychenka was fired.

In Isolation

International community continues to react to the violations of human rights in Belarus. In March important signals from the deputy assistant of the US State Secretary Steven Pfeifer about possible sanctions for arms trade. As said by him, the main concern of the USA in connection to Minsk is human rights violations and absence of democracy. Belarus has isolated itself. Another American diplomat who represents his country in the OSCE, Duglas A. Davidson, called the Belarusian authorities to stop pressure and intimidation of the civil society. A famous human rights organization "Amnesty International" declared that everyone convicted for participation in peaceful demonstrations would be considered a prisoner of conscience.

In response to these statements the Belarusian authorities recalls its ambassador from the USA, meets the Iraqi delegation at the highest level, advocates cancellation of sanctions against Iraq, continues struggle against the OSCE mission. The head of state emotionally asks: "What does the OSCE wants from us? It is a direct intervention to our affairs." In their policy the Belarusian authorities are supported by the Russian Duma, that refuses to accept the special PA OSCE working group on Belarus.

In the aftermath of September 11, 2001 the international community has come to understand the problems of Belarus better, as it experienced the terror. As said by Andrei Sannikau, the "Charter`97" coordinator, the antidemocratic regime is dangerous not only for the country, but for the whole international community.