Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MINSK1558
2005-12-30 09:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - December 28, 2005
how-toVZCZCXRO9846 RR RUEHCD RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #1558/01 3640929 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 300929Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3549 INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MINSK 001558
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - December 28, 2005
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MINSK 001558
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - December 28, 2005
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by
Embassy Minsk.
--------------
Human Rights
--------------
No Protection from Triple Jeopardy in Belarus
2. On December 20, the Supreme Economic Court (SEC) overturned its
own previous ruling and decided that the Belarusian Helsinki
Committee (BHC) must pay approximately USD 72,000 in fines and back
taxes that it owes on an EU grant that it received. The BHC
chairwoman and chief accountant face possible criminal charges for
tax evasion and the BHC fears liquidation. In the past, courts
have twice ruled that the grant was not taxable under a May 1994
memorandum between the Belarusian government and the EU, but SEC
deputy chairman Yevgeny Smirnov challenged the SEC's own ruling
that BHC was not liable for the taxes, which led to the reopening
of the case.
State Universities Limit Students' Internet Access
3. On December 22, human rights website "Charter 97" published the
text of two emails that they had received from students at the
Belarusian State University (BSU) and the Belarusian State Economic
University (BSEU). The emails claimed that that university
authorities are limiting students' access to internet sites both at
the university and in dormitories. Attempts to visit opposition
sites and post comments are investigated and guilty students are
expelled. [Note: The BSEU is the university where rector Vladimir
Shimov recently expelled a top student for traveling to France for
three days without permission to participate in a European student
conference.]
Belarus Kicks Out Two Catholic Priests
4. On December 22, the GOB refused to renew the visas for two
Catholic priests from Poland. The priests must leave the country
by December 31. Father Robert Krzywicki, who worked in Borisov for
more than 10 years, speculated that the authorities expelled him
due to his work with youth.
Independent Media Takes Another Hit
5. On December 23, the independent weekly Salidarnasts was forced
to suspend publication due to lack of income when the state
distribution monopoly refused to sell the newspaper at kiosks and
the state postal monopoly refused to include the newspaper in its
distribution catalogue. Earlier, on December 16, Minsk Economic
Court Judge Yelena Melnikova refused to hear independent newspaper
Narodnaya Volya's case against the state monopoly postal service
Belpochta, which refused to distribute the paper, claiming the
lawsuit was outside the court's jurisdiction.
Authorities Intimidate Participants in Day of Solidarity
6. Press reports indicated that on December 16 authorities took
steps to intimidate the participants in the "Day of Solidarity,"
commemorating those who persecuted by the GOB. Independent media
source BelaPAN reports that police officers counted the number of
windows with candles in them and recorded the names and addresses
of the Russian journalists who came to cover the event. BelaPAN
also reported that student dormitory wardens required students to
be in their rooms with their lights on during the event.
Opposition Activist Can't Print News Bulletin
7. Press reported that on December 16, police charged opposition
youth activist Pavel Krasovsky with an administrative offense for
defaming public officials after he refused to stop printing his
local news bulletin, "Nablyudatel," that contained caricatures of
local government officials. Krasovsky disputed the charge stating
that the caricatures were intended to be humorous.
Political Prisoner's Son Detained, Charged
8. On December 23, police in Grodno detained Vladimir Levonevsky
for distributing a news bulletin in the city's central market.
Police confiscated 250 copies of the bulletin, held Vladimir for
two hours, and charged him with distributing printed material that
lacked editorial information. This charge carries with it a
possible fine of USD 70. Vladimir insisted his bulletin had the
required information, contained only New Year's greetings and
information on government business regulations, and violated no
laws. Vladimir is the son of Valery Levonevsky, in jail for two
years for writing a poem deemed insulting to Lukashenko.
Residents Protest Paper Ban
MINSK 00001558 002 OF 004
9. On December 22, Vitebskoblsoyuzpechat, the state body that
controls the state monopoly newspaper kiosk system in Vitebsk
oblast, told independent Vitebsk newspaper Vitebskiy Kurier it
could no longer be sold in kiosks. More than 1,600 local residents
immediately signed a letter of protest to regional officials.
Zubr Youths Arrested
10. On December 27, police detained two members of the Zubr youth
group, Aleksandr Kazakov and Dmitry Zubro, for spray painting the
number 16 inside a circle -- a Zubr/Charter 97 campaign to get
Belarusians to remember the victims of the regime on the 16th of
each month. The youth have remained in detention since their
arrest, and on December 30 authorities charged them with the
criminal act of disobeying a police officer.
--------------
Economics
--------------
Another Company Golden Shared
11. On December 20, the Council of Ministers invoked the Golden
Share law to take control of Minsk textile factory Kamvol for
one year. In 2004 Kamvol was added to a list of Belarusian
strategic enterprises, which needed to improve their financial
standing. Despite (or perhaps because of) increasing
production by 33 percent in 2005, the state decided to take
over the company. Immediately after taking control of the
company, the GOB's State Light Industry Concern (Bellegprom)
suggested lending Kamvol money in exchange for the state
receiving 99 percent ownership of the plant. Kamvol has 1,800
employees and is one of the CIS' largest manufacturers of
worsted wool.
De-Privatization to Become Total?
12. The Interfax news service reported a government official
told them about a bill currently being drafted that would allow
the GOB to de-privatize any property that was being mismanaged.
The source claimed the GOB was actively restoring state
ownership of many firms in exchange for paying off their debts
to the state budget, such as through the Golden Share, but that
this approach was taking too long. The new bill would make
this process "less lengthy and more transparent."
Potatoes to Rescue Motorcycle Company
13. Workers at the motorcycle factory Motovelo held a brief
strike on November 25 to protest their not receiving wages for
two months. Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko told a
press conference on December 16 that 95 percent of Motovelo's
equipment was worn out, and that the company would lose BYR 9
billion [USD 4.2 million] in 2005. To solve this problem,
Semashko recommended Motovelo build 20 potato harvesters before
the 2006 sowing season begins. The same day, President
Lukashenko publicly scolded Motovelo's workers for going on
strike, lauded the potato harvester idea, but announced the
plant should continue to build motorcycles. On December 20,
the GOB announced it would erase Motovelo's debts in exchange
for 90 percent of the company (see the two items above). All
the company's shares currently belong to employees.
Belarus to Buy Ukrainian Energy
14. On December 16, the GOB signed a contract to buy 2.5
billion kWh from Ukraine in 2006, for USD 0.022 per kWh. The
contract, worth USD 52 million, would import electricity from
Chernobyl to Mozyr, and from Chernihiv to Gomel.
Less Bankrupt Farms
15. Deputy Agriculture Minister Nadezhda Kotkovets announced
the number of bankrupt state farms fell from 1,203 to 50 in
2005. She claimed that 771 farms became profitable through
their own efforts, while another 425 became profitable after
they were merged with actually profitable farms. [Comment:
Post doubts that 771 state farms became profitable this year
through their own efforts.]
Trade with Moscow Plummets
16. On December 20, Prime Minister Sergey Sidorsky and Moscow
Mayor Yury Luzhkov announced Belarus' trade with Moscow fell by
45.5 percent in the first ten months of the year, to USD 2.5
billion. Belarus' exports fell 8.6 percent to USD 1.6 billion,
while its imports from Moscow fell 65.4 percent to USD 907.6
million. Both blamed the fall on the January switch of VAT to
the country-of-destination principle.
MINSK 00001558 003 OF 004
Tax Arrears Climb
17. The Ministry of Taxes announced that tax arrears in Belarus
climbed 37.6 percent in the first eleven months of the year to
BYR 323.7 billion (USD 150.5 million).
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
Immigration to Israel From CIS Down, Except for Belarus
18. On December 28, the Jewish Agency for Israel announced that
9,124 immigrants moved to Israel from the former Soviet Union (FSU)
in 2005, which is a 10 percent decrease from last year. The number
of immigrants from Belarus to Israel, however, increased by 26
percent.
Belarus al-Qaeda Arrested in Spain
19. Spanish police announced they arrested a Belarusian
chemical weapons expert who was a member of al-Qaeda. Thirty-
year-old Minsk resident Andrey Misyura, aka Sergey Malyshev,
aka Amin al-Ansari reportedly recruited suicide bombers in
Spain, and had fought in Chechnya, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
"Merry Christmas, It's the Fuzz!!"
20. Minsk Police conducted an operation called, "Who's There?
It's the Police Santa Claus!" from December 19 to 23. Dressing
as Santa Claus, police officers went around Minsk trying to
convince homeowners to open their doors to a stranger. Those
who refused to open their door received a prize for having the
correct level of security awareness.
--------------
International Relations
--------------
EU Missions in Minsk Outraged By Misinformation on State TV
21. On December 19 and 23, the German, French and Czech
Embassies issued statements condemning state television
allegations that visa applicants are encouraged to engage in
opposition activities. On December 16 and 18, the Belarusian
State TV program "In Focus" showed a story entitled "Visa
Blackmail" where two unidentified men claim that embassy
officials told them that they must engage in opposition
activity if they wish to receive visas. The EU missions deny
such accusations and reminded the GOB that such lies strain EU-
Belarusian relations.
--------------
Science
--------------
Belarus to Explore Antarctica
22. In Belarus' ongoing quest to gain all the trappings of a
world power, on December 19 National Academy of Sciences
President Mikhail Myasnikovich announced the GOB would open a
research station in Antarctica. Myasnikovich explained,
"Opening a research station in Antarctica is, on the one hand,
political prestige, and on the other hand a scientific
achievement." In another purely prestigious move, Belarus
hopes to launch its first satellite in 2006, on a Russian
booster.
--------------
Quotes of the Week
--------------
23. After naming new Belarusian KGB officials On December 22,
Lukashenko offered advice to the new appointees:
The appointees should "support the freedom-loving independent
nation [of Belarus] that never takes orders from anybody or stands
in somebody's way.... This nation will never let anyone interfere
in its business. This is our simple formula."
24. On December 26 in an interview with "Rossiiskaya Gazeta,"
Lukashenko commented on the impossibility of revolution ever
occurring the US:
"God forbid such a thing [revolution] should happen in the United
States; there would be tanks firing at the opposition."
25. Comparing NATO to Hitler's Germany, state television
MINSK 00001558 004 OF 004
propagandist Yevgeniy Novikov announced on state TV December 23,
"NATO forces are just a few kilometers away from the Belarusian
city of Brest! In this situation it is extremely important that
Russian and Belarus maintain loyalty to each other, no matter what
it takes."
PHLIPOT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - December 28, 2005
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by
Embassy Minsk.
--------------
Human Rights
--------------
No Protection from Triple Jeopardy in Belarus
2. On December 20, the Supreme Economic Court (SEC) overturned its
own previous ruling and decided that the Belarusian Helsinki
Committee (BHC) must pay approximately USD 72,000 in fines and back
taxes that it owes on an EU grant that it received. The BHC
chairwoman and chief accountant face possible criminal charges for
tax evasion and the BHC fears liquidation. In the past, courts
have twice ruled that the grant was not taxable under a May 1994
memorandum between the Belarusian government and the EU, but SEC
deputy chairman Yevgeny Smirnov challenged the SEC's own ruling
that BHC was not liable for the taxes, which led to the reopening
of the case.
State Universities Limit Students' Internet Access
3. On December 22, human rights website "Charter 97" published the
text of two emails that they had received from students at the
Belarusian State University (BSU) and the Belarusian State Economic
University (BSEU). The emails claimed that that university
authorities are limiting students' access to internet sites both at
the university and in dormitories. Attempts to visit opposition
sites and post comments are investigated and guilty students are
expelled. [Note: The BSEU is the university where rector Vladimir
Shimov recently expelled a top student for traveling to France for
three days without permission to participate in a European student
conference.]
Belarus Kicks Out Two Catholic Priests
4. On December 22, the GOB refused to renew the visas for two
Catholic priests from Poland. The priests must leave the country
by December 31. Father Robert Krzywicki, who worked in Borisov for
more than 10 years, speculated that the authorities expelled him
due to his work with youth.
Independent Media Takes Another Hit
5. On December 23, the independent weekly Salidarnasts was forced
to suspend publication due to lack of income when the state
distribution monopoly refused to sell the newspaper at kiosks and
the state postal monopoly refused to include the newspaper in its
distribution catalogue. Earlier, on December 16, Minsk Economic
Court Judge Yelena Melnikova refused to hear independent newspaper
Narodnaya Volya's case against the state monopoly postal service
Belpochta, which refused to distribute the paper, claiming the
lawsuit was outside the court's jurisdiction.
Authorities Intimidate Participants in Day of Solidarity
6. Press reports indicated that on December 16 authorities took
steps to intimidate the participants in the "Day of Solidarity,"
commemorating those who persecuted by the GOB. Independent media
source BelaPAN reports that police officers counted the number of
windows with candles in them and recorded the names and addresses
of the Russian journalists who came to cover the event. BelaPAN
also reported that student dormitory wardens required students to
be in their rooms with their lights on during the event.
Opposition Activist Can't Print News Bulletin
7. Press reported that on December 16, police charged opposition
youth activist Pavel Krasovsky with an administrative offense for
defaming public officials after he refused to stop printing his
local news bulletin, "Nablyudatel," that contained caricatures of
local government officials. Krasovsky disputed the charge stating
that the caricatures were intended to be humorous.
Political Prisoner's Son Detained, Charged
8. On December 23, police in Grodno detained Vladimir Levonevsky
for distributing a news bulletin in the city's central market.
Police confiscated 250 copies of the bulletin, held Vladimir for
two hours, and charged him with distributing printed material that
lacked editorial information. This charge carries with it a
possible fine of USD 70. Vladimir insisted his bulletin had the
required information, contained only New Year's greetings and
information on government business regulations, and violated no
laws. Vladimir is the son of Valery Levonevsky, in jail for two
years for writing a poem deemed insulting to Lukashenko.
Residents Protest Paper Ban
MINSK 00001558 002 OF 004
9. On December 22, Vitebskoblsoyuzpechat, the state body that
controls the state monopoly newspaper kiosk system in Vitebsk
oblast, told independent Vitebsk newspaper Vitebskiy Kurier it
could no longer be sold in kiosks. More than 1,600 local residents
immediately signed a letter of protest to regional officials.
Zubr Youths Arrested
10. On December 27, police detained two members of the Zubr youth
group, Aleksandr Kazakov and Dmitry Zubro, for spray painting the
number 16 inside a circle -- a Zubr/Charter 97 campaign to get
Belarusians to remember the victims of the regime on the 16th of
each month. The youth have remained in detention since their
arrest, and on December 30 authorities charged them with the
criminal act of disobeying a police officer.
--------------
Economics
--------------
Another Company Golden Shared
11. On December 20, the Council of Ministers invoked the Golden
Share law to take control of Minsk textile factory Kamvol for
one year. In 2004 Kamvol was added to a list of Belarusian
strategic enterprises, which needed to improve their financial
standing. Despite (or perhaps because of) increasing
production by 33 percent in 2005, the state decided to take
over the company. Immediately after taking control of the
company, the GOB's State Light Industry Concern (Bellegprom)
suggested lending Kamvol money in exchange for the state
receiving 99 percent ownership of the plant. Kamvol has 1,800
employees and is one of the CIS' largest manufacturers of
worsted wool.
De-Privatization to Become Total?
12. The Interfax news service reported a government official
told them about a bill currently being drafted that would allow
the GOB to de-privatize any property that was being mismanaged.
The source claimed the GOB was actively restoring state
ownership of many firms in exchange for paying off their debts
to the state budget, such as through the Golden Share, but that
this approach was taking too long. The new bill would make
this process "less lengthy and more transparent."
Potatoes to Rescue Motorcycle Company
13. Workers at the motorcycle factory Motovelo held a brief
strike on November 25 to protest their not receiving wages for
two months. Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko told a
press conference on December 16 that 95 percent of Motovelo's
equipment was worn out, and that the company would lose BYR 9
billion [USD 4.2 million] in 2005. To solve this problem,
Semashko recommended Motovelo build 20 potato harvesters before
the 2006 sowing season begins. The same day, President
Lukashenko publicly scolded Motovelo's workers for going on
strike, lauded the potato harvester idea, but announced the
plant should continue to build motorcycles. On December 20,
the GOB announced it would erase Motovelo's debts in exchange
for 90 percent of the company (see the two items above). All
the company's shares currently belong to employees.
Belarus to Buy Ukrainian Energy
14. On December 16, the GOB signed a contract to buy 2.5
billion kWh from Ukraine in 2006, for USD 0.022 per kWh. The
contract, worth USD 52 million, would import electricity from
Chernobyl to Mozyr, and from Chernihiv to Gomel.
Less Bankrupt Farms
15. Deputy Agriculture Minister Nadezhda Kotkovets announced
the number of bankrupt state farms fell from 1,203 to 50 in
2005. She claimed that 771 farms became profitable through
their own efforts, while another 425 became profitable after
they were merged with actually profitable farms. [Comment:
Post doubts that 771 state farms became profitable this year
through their own efforts.]
Trade with Moscow Plummets
16. On December 20, Prime Minister Sergey Sidorsky and Moscow
Mayor Yury Luzhkov announced Belarus' trade with Moscow fell by
45.5 percent in the first ten months of the year, to USD 2.5
billion. Belarus' exports fell 8.6 percent to USD 1.6 billion,
while its imports from Moscow fell 65.4 percent to USD 907.6
million. Both blamed the fall on the January switch of VAT to
the country-of-destination principle.
MINSK 00001558 003 OF 004
Tax Arrears Climb
17. The Ministry of Taxes announced that tax arrears in Belarus
climbed 37.6 percent in the first eleven months of the year to
BYR 323.7 billion (USD 150.5 million).
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
Immigration to Israel From CIS Down, Except for Belarus
18. On December 28, the Jewish Agency for Israel announced that
9,124 immigrants moved to Israel from the former Soviet Union (FSU)
in 2005, which is a 10 percent decrease from last year. The number
of immigrants from Belarus to Israel, however, increased by 26
percent.
Belarus al-Qaeda Arrested in Spain
19. Spanish police announced they arrested a Belarusian
chemical weapons expert who was a member of al-Qaeda. Thirty-
year-old Minsk resident Andrey Misyura, aka Sergey Malyshev,
aka Amin al-Ansari reportedly recruited suicide bombers in
Spain, and had fought in Chechnya, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
"Merry Christmas, It's the Fuzz!!"
20. Minsk Police conducted an operation called, "Who's There?
It's the Police Santa Claus!" from December 19 to 23. Dressing
as Santa Claus, police officers went around Minsk trying to
convince homeowners to open their doors to a stranger. Those
who refused to open their door received a prize for having the
correct level of security awareness.
--------------
International Relations
--------------
EU Missions in Minsk Outraged By Misinformation on State TV
21. On December 19 and 23, the German, French and Czech
Embassies issued statements condemning state television
allegations that visa applicants are encouraged to engage in
opposition activities. On December 16 and 18, the Belarusian
State TV program "In Focus" showed a story entitled "Visa
Blackmail" where two unidentified men claim that embassy
officials told them that they must engage in opposition
activity if they wish to receive visas. The EU missions deny
such accusations and reminded the GOB that such lies strain EU-
Belarusian relations.
--------------
Science
--------------
Belarus to Explore Antarctica
22. In Belarus' ongoing quest to gain all the trappings of a
world power, on December 19 National Academy of Sciences
President Mikhail Myasnikovich announced the GOB would open a
research station in Antarctica. Myasnikovich explained,
"Opening a research station in Antarctica is, on the one hand,
political prestige, and on the other hand a scientific
achievement." In another purely prestigious move, Belarus
hopes to launch its first satellite in 2006, on a Russian
booster.
--------------
Quotes of the Week
--------------
23. After naming new Belarusian KGB officials On December 22,
Lukashenko offered advice to the new appointees:
The appointees should "support the freedom-loving independent
nation [of Belarus] that never takes orders from anybody or stands
in somebody's way.... This nation will never let anyone interfere
in its business. This is our simple formula."
24. On December 26 in an interview with "Rossiiskaya Gazeta,"
Lukashenko commented on the impossibility of revolution ever
occurring the US:
"God forbid such a thing [revolution] should happen in the United
States; there would be tanks firing at the opposition."
25. Comparing NATO to Hitler's Germany, state television
MINSK 00001558 004 OF 004
propagandist Yevgeniy Novikov announced on state TV December 23,
"NATO forces are just a few kilometers away from the Belarusian
city of Brest! In this situation it is extremely important that
Russian and Belarus maintain loyalty to each other, no matter what
it takes."
PHLIPOT