On October 20 in Washington a consultation of high-ranking members of the National Security Council, the Congress, the State Department, a number of federal and non-state organizations, as well as representatives of Belarusian diaspora was held. Participants of consultation expressed their indignation over unprecedentedly cruel suppression of peaceful protest rallies, and planned concrete measures aimed at speedy and more effective realization of provisions of the Belarus Democracy Act signed b y US President. This information was received by the Charter’97 press center from Washington.
Russia considers that imposing of sanctions against Belarus by Washington is not a method of solving the problem, told Foreign Ministry head Sergei Lavrov at a meeting with journalists after his talks with Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbaev in Alma-Ata. “We believe that sanctions do not solve problems. We oppose the application of the sanctions mechanism in principle,” in this way Lavrov commented on George Bush decision to impose sanctions against Belarusian authorities. “According to UN Statute, the Security Council can impose sanctions. Only when they are approved by the Security Council and express the consolidated opinion of the world community, an effect could be achieved,” underlined the Minister. As said by him, even UN sanctions are not perfect. “It is necessary to follow constantly, how they are applied, so that they were targeted and not damaged interests of citizens,” added the minister.
“Belarus Democracy Act” means exactly what is written in its title: it is giving a strong support to democratic forces in Belarus, a resolute denunciation of Lukashenka’s regime. A key aspect for me is not even the economic sanctions, but a resolute intention of the USA to investigate the people’s disappearances in Belarus and punish the culprits. The statement of Bush regarding this Act also gave emphasis to the character of the Belarusian regime – it is dictatorship, “ told the European coalition “Free Belarus” coordinator Andrey Sannikov, commenting on signing Belarus Democracy Act by President George Bush. “Lukashenka is trying to steal the Belarusian people from future, right of choice, and trying to outlaw the democratic forces, but Belarusian democratic forces have serious international support. If the authorities are pretending that there is no democratic opposition in Belarus, and speak with us with the help of truncheons, they should be ready to a corresponding reaction of the world community. “Belarus Democracy Act” is a support of democratic forces in our country by American nation, as it has been approved by the nationally elected House of Representatives and Senate of the US Congress”
Leader of the civil initiative “We Remember”, member of the European coalition “Free Belarus” Iryna Krasouskaya comment to Radio Svaboda on the signing of the Belarus Democracy Act: “Right now I am directing my steps to the White House to a meeting dedicated to the Act adoption. I think it would be a meeting of all people who work for democracy. That’s the law we have been waiting doe a long time, and its signing by President is a great support for the nation, for all democratic forces, for those normal people who want better future for their children. I think it is also a meaningful sign for Lukashenka and Russia. I think that it’s a beginning of a new epoch in the development of democracy in Belarus, as we feel that the democratic forces have support all over the world, and it is a good thing”.
Syarhei Mikhalenka, arrested for participation in protest rally against the rigged results of parliamentary elections and referendum in Belarus, from the pre-trail detention center was taken to the clinical hospital number 5 in Minsk. He had some heart problems. Syarhei Mikhalenka was detained during the protest action on October 19. On October 20 he was sentenced to 5 days of arrest by the court of Lenin district of Minsk. As we have informed, the UCP leader Anatol Lyabedzka was placed to a hospital after being beaten up by riot police on October 19. He had fractured ribs, kidneys hematoma and craniocerebral injury.
Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka called parliamentary elections and referendum in Belarus a “farce” and called upon the European Union to isolate the regime of Alyaksandar Lukashenka. At the same time, Marek Belka told that it is vitally important to keep in touch with the Belarusian population.
The press center of the Charter’97 have received the information that the Belarusian youth are going to continue protest actions in the October Square in Minsk. They will take place at the traditional time at 6 p.m.
Today the Department of preliminary investigation of the Internal Affairs department of Minsk executive committee had initiated criminal proceedings to investigate and give legal treatment to the offences on October 18-20 during protest rallies against the official results of the elections and referendum, states the official statement of the Internal Affairs Ministry, received by the BELTA agency. About 60 people were detained for participation in the protest actions. About 30 protesters have already been sentenced to imprisonment from 3 to 15 days. Among them are coordinator of the European coalition “Free Belarus”, leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Hramada) Mikola Statkevich, coordinators of Zubr movement Yawhen Afnagel and Pavel Yukhnevich, leader of the Young Front Paval Sevyarynets, one of the leaders of the European coalition “Free Belarus” Dzmitry Barodka. The chairman of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka is placed to a hospital after being beaten up by riot police. He has fractured ribs, kidneys hematoma and craniocerebral injury.
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer expressed his concern over the Belarusian events. Yesterday in Berlin he made a slashing criticism of parliamentary elections and referendum in Belarus. As German agency DPA informs, Mr. Fischer told: “German Government is extremely concerned over the immense shortcomings during Belarusian parliamentary elections, recorded by the OSCE observers. They do not comply with the free elections requirements, which Minsk must follow. The same thing can be said about referendum”. The head of German Foreign Ministry told that imposing sanctions against the Belarusian authorities is not excluded.
One of the leaders of the European coalition “Free Belarus” Dzmitry Barodka was sentenced to 15 days of arrest by the court of the Central district of Minsk for participation in the protest rally in the October Square of Minsk on October 20. The protest rally was organized to show disagreement against the rigged official results of parliamentary elections and referendum. Judge Alyaksey Bychko found the politician guilty of organizing of an unsanctioned rally (Article 167 Part 2 of Administrative Code). The witnesses at the trial were policemen of the riot police Syarhei Mankow, Syarhei Zhulega, and a representative of the police department of the soviet district of Minsk Alyaksandr Slabodnik. Another participant of the rally, Zubr activist Dzmitry Vajtko, was sentenced to 10 days of arrest.
Belarusian journalist Veranika Charkasava (Veronika Cherkasova) was found dead in her apartment in Minsk. She was stabbed with a knife for about 20 times. Her 15-year-old son is left. Recently she contributed to the independent newspaper “Solidarnost” and Russian magazine “Novoe Vremya”. Details of the crime are still to be detected. We express our deep condolences to the relatives of Veranika.
One of the Zubr coordinators, Aleh Myatselitsa, was detained today morning in his house in the town of Byalynichy (Mahilyow region). The arrest of the Zubr activist was carried out personally by the chief of the Interior Affairs Department of Byalynichy. As we have informed, two coordinators of the Zubr movement, Yawhen Afnagel and Pavel Yukhnevich were detained and sentenced to 10 days of arrest in the last two days. About two dozens of Zubrs were sentenced to arrest from 3 to 15 days for participation in protest rallies against rigged results of the parliamentary elections and referendum.
The Belarusian authorities have once again violated the right to peaceful protest for political opponents and human rights activists, Amnesty international and FIDH said today amid reports of arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment of demonstrators. For the past two days hundreds of people have been protesting in the centre of Minsk against the results of parliamentary elections and a controversial referendum that lifted restrictions on President Lukashenka’s term of office.
Belarus police detained a dozen opposition protesters on Wednesday at a banned demonstration against a weekend referendum that allowed President Alexander Lukashenko to extend his rule.
Prosecutor General Viktor Sheiman reported to Aleksandr Lukashenko on October 20 that this past week`s parliamentary elections and national referendum had been held in accordance with the constitution and laws, the Belarusian leader`s press office reported.
The European Union (EU) expressed "serious doubts" as to whether the official results of the October 17 parliamentary elections and referendum "fully reflect the will of the Belarusian electorate."
"All 9.5 million Belarusians were rudely and insolently raped on October 17," said Anatoly Pavlov, head of the Foundation for a New Belarus, at a news conference in Moscow on Tuesday, while commenting on the officially announced results of Sunday`s vote in Belarus.
The Belarus Democracy Act of 2004, which I signed into law earlier today, will help the cause of freedom in Belarus. This bipartisan legislation demonstrates America`s deep concern over events in Belarus and a commitment to sustain those Belarusians who must labor in the shadows to return freedom to their country.
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