Press Accuses Marines of Smuggling, Romance

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001023 SIPDIS SIPDIS FRANKFURT FOR DOD/COA WINTERSTEIN AND GRASS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/15 TAGS: PGOV PREL BO SUBJECT: Press Accuses Marines of Smuggling, Romance Classified by Charge Constance Phlipot for Reasons 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) Summary: The independent, but pro-Lukashenko, weekly newspaper Obozrevatel ("Observer") ran a story August 26 accusing Embassy Minsk's Marine Security Guards and other Emboffs of smuggling campaign literature into Belarus for the opposition in 2001. The paper admits this article is in response to Ambassador's interview to the paper a week earlier. Belarusian state television followed with anti- U.S. and anti-West attacks based on the article on August 26 and 28. While two U.S. Embassy POV's successfully crossed the Lithuanian border August 27, a British Embassy vehicle was stopped and nearly searched, possibly as a result of this article. Post expects such media attacks to increase as the 2006 presidential elections draw near. End summary. Love and Revolution, Marine Style -------------- ¶2. (C) Ambassador gave an interview to Obozrevatel that was published very nearly verbatim August 19. In the forward to an August 26 article, the paper claimed a young Belarusian woman, "Anastasia," saw the interview and told the paper she had dated a Marine Security Guard (MSG) in ¶2001. The newspaper published her interview August 26, entitled, "Leisure Embassy Style: A Touch of Love and Revolution." For most of the article, she described her relationship with Joseph Martin, who the paper describes as head of the MSG detachment. [Note: Martin was a MSG corporal who served at Embassy Minsk in 2000 to 2001. He was not the Detachment Commander.] ¶3. (SBU) Towards the end of the article "Anastasia" described how Martin promised her Belarus would soon have a democratic revolution. She then claims to have often overheard Emboffs discuss frequent shopping trips for food to Vilnius. She added, "So, I hear, they simultaneously brought leaflets and other printed material for the opposition in Belarus. It's not difficult at all. Their white Chevy Blazer has diplomatic plates. These cars don't get examined at customs." The article is accompanied by photos of "Anastasia" and a friend with Martin, of a young woman in lingerie and sun glasses standing in front of an American flag, of the MSG's previous residence, of USAID's white Chevrolet Suburban (which the paper says is the Marine vehicle),and two of "Anastasia" dancing with former Ambassador Kozak. ¶4. (SBU) Obozrevatel concluded the article with a speculative editorial comment. The paper asks why the Belarusian BKGB did not control "Anastasia's" relationship with Martin; wonders about the "coincidence" that Martin was in Belarus October 2000 to October 2001, during Lukashenko's presidential campaign; asks what would happen if U.S. Marines start smuggling money into the country, in violation of Belarusian law, and suggested asking the U.S. Embassy about such activities; and questions, "how are millions of dollars mentioned by George Krol in the interview in the newspaper's last issue to be brought to Belarus?" It concludes by describing the paper's unsuccessful attempts to contact Ambassador Kozak for comment. GOB Responds Over the Top -------------- ¶5. (SBU) On August 26, the day the article was released, three Members of Belarus' Parliament accused the USG of illegally supporting Belarus' opposition [the three were Nikolay Cherginets, Sergey Kastyan, and Sergey Gaidukevich, three of the more outspoken MPs]. The MFA's spokesman officially stated the GOB is investigating the allegations raised in the article. ¶6. (SBU) The evening news on Belarusian state television August 26 and 28 covered the Obozrevatel article and its allegations against the U.S. Embassy. The August 28 broadcast included interviews with Colonel Yury Shcharbakov of the State Border Guard Committee, who announced that the number of diplomatic vehicles crossing Belarus' borders goes up during political campaigns, and with Alexey MINSK 00001023 002 OF 002 Zakharov, deputy chief of counterintelligence for the BKGB, who said Belarusian girls can have relations with foreign diplomats, but the BKGB would not tolerate diplomats breaking the law. The commentator cited documents found on the laptop of Slovak Pontis activist Balasz Jarabik, seized while he crossed the Belarusian border in January, that allegedly show how the USG and U.S. NGOs aid the opposition. ¶7. (SBU) The commentator also raises: the deportation of a U.S. diplomat, Serge Aleksandrov, for his work with the opposition; the deportation of a German diplomat for allegedly using cocaine with his homosexual lover; the deportation of a Czech diplomat for allegedly having homosexual contact with minors; and a former U.S. Embassy assistant Defense Attache, Bruno Sanchez, who allegedly had sex with underage Belarusian prostitutes. [Note: these other allegations are all standard fare Belarusian state TV dredges up from time to time to smear the West and Western diplomats in general. These film clips of Sanchez and the German diplomat were also featured in a Panaroma show last autumn about the West's export of democracy.] UK Diplomatic Vehicle Stopped -------------- ¶8. (C) The United Kingdom's Charge told Poloff that a UK Embassy vehicle was stopped as it tried to cross the border from Belarus into Lithuania at 2200 August 27. Four border guards and a supposed BKGB officer demanded to search the vehicle. The driver called the UK Admin Officer, who refused to allow any search. After nearly an hour of waiting, the border guards apologized, but stated they wanted to search the vehicle "because there has been an incident." [Note: two U.S. Embassy POV's crossed into Lithuania and returned August 27 with no problem.] Who is "Anastasia"? -------------- ¶9. (C) According to Post Consular records, "Anastasia" is really Tatiana Karavaeva, born 13 August 1982. She was denied a visa in May 2001 after Post received information she had worked as a stripper and/or prostitute in Moscow. This was overcome for lack of evidence and she was issued a J-1 in June 2001 to work as a lifeguard, and a B1/B2 in December 2001 to visit Martin in California. ¶10. (C) Comment: The spontaneity of "Anastasia's" offer to provide information to the press after reading the Ambassador's interview is belied by the ready photos of the Marine vehicles, quick reaction by the MFA and parliamentarians, and immediate replay on state TV. Clearly it is part of the orchestrated smear campaign against the West. While an ostensibly independent newspaper, Obozrevatel has always been pro-Lukashenko and pro-GOB. Post expects the frequency and severity of such slanderous reporting to increase as the 2006 presidential elections draw closer. Furthermore, if the MFA spokesman's statement is any guide, we can expect the authorities to use such provocations as a pretext to take active measures against us. Post has no plans to dignify these allegations with a direct response, but will raise the issue with the MFA and continue our efforts to get our message to as many of the Belarusian people as possible. PHLIPOT