Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MINSK1148
2005-09-20 14:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:  

Beaten Zubr Hospitalized

Tags:  PHUM BO PGOV 
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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSK #1148 2631406
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 201406Z SEP 05
FM AMEMBASSY MINSK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3026
INFO RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS 3368
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3140
RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA 1416
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 3037
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KIEV 2919
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0666
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 001148 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/15
TAGS: PHUM PGOVBO
SUBJECT: Beaten Zubr Hospitalized


Classified by Ambassador George Krol for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 001148

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/15
TAGS: PHUM PGOVBO
SUBJECT: Beaten Zubr Hospitalized


Classified by Ambassador George Krol for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)


1. (SBU) Summary: Nikita Sasim, one of the Zubr youth
group's coordinators, was punched several times by OMON
riot police as they dispersed a protest September 16. He
went to the hospital that evening and was diagnosed with a
concussion. He will remain in hospital until September 22.
Zubr claims police hit or kicked six other Zubr members at
the demonstration, although none were seriously hurt. End
summary.


2. (C) The United Civic Party conducted a Chain of Concern
on October Square on September 16, the sixth anniversary of
the disappearance and probable murder of Viktor Gonchar and
Anatoly Krasovsky. Approximately 100 people from the 5+
coalition and the Zubr and Malady Front youth groups
participated. They were met by 25 plainclothes BKGB and 40
uniformed OMON. In recent protests OMON have formed a line
to push protesters off the square and down the street. To
counter this, the opposition protested in four shifts, with
a new line forming each time the previous was pushed away.
Emboff observers stated this new tactic clearly frustrated
the police.


3. (C) Zubr's Aleksandr Atroshchenkau told Econoff the OMON
immediately seized the flag Sasim was waving, but left him
the stick it was hung on. Sasim therefore began to wave
his jean jacket. Atroshchenkau believes this aggravated
the OMON, who punched Sasim several times in the head as
they pushed the protesters off the square. Atroshchenkau
claimed six other Zubr members were also punched or kicked,
but none were seriously hurt. Human rights lawyer Vladimir
Labkovich, from the Vyasna NGO, reported to Econoff that he
witnessed these beatings. Emboffs who attended did not see
any violence, most likely because other demonstrators
surrounded those being hit. There were no arrests.


4. (C) According to Atroshchenkau, Sasim began to feel
unwell after the protest and went to the hospital that
evening, where he was diagnosed with a concussion. He is
expected to be released September 22.


5. (C) Comment: In recent years police have broken up many
protests, but generally left the Chains of Concern alone.
In the past several months OMON have started pushing
demonstrators at the Chains of Concern off the square, in
some cases herding them for over a mile away from the site.
September 16 was the first time OMON used violence against
any of these demonstrators. As the 2006 presidential
elections draw nearer, and Lukashenko becomes more
obviously paranoid about the West and the opposition, such
violence is likely to be repeated.


KROL