UKRAINE/BELARUS: GOU STATEMENTS ON BELARUSAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIEV 001162

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV PINR KDEM
SUBJECT: UKRAINE/BELARUS: GOU STATEMENTS ON BELARUSAN
ISOLATION


Classified By: Ambassador for reasons 1.4(a,b,d).


1. (SBU) On March 24 DCM relayed concerns (ref A) regarding a
March 21 MFA statement calling the international isolation of
Belarus ineffective (ref B) to MFA Second Territorial
Department Deputy Director Ihor Prokopchuk. DCM
characterized the March 21 statement by GOU spokesman
Filipchuk as unhelpful and requested the GOU refrain from
referring to a Western policy of isolating Belarus, since no
such policy existed and the Belarus regime was isolating
itself. Prokopchuk took note of the request and asked that
we identify for him statment in question for review.


2. (C) Prokupchuk asked for the USG response to the overnight
actions in Minsk, where the GOB removed protestors from the
streets. DCM anticipated USG would condemn the action and
offered to notify GOU when the statement was released.
Prokopchuk said GOU was preparing to release a statement
indicating the GOU was deeply disturbed by the action, asking
Belarus to ensure the right of Belarusans to peaceful
assembly and asking for tolerance and the avoidance of
repressive actions. The GOU statement would also address
concerns over the Ukrainian citizens detained; one had been
detained during the previous night and another on March 22.
In addition, 37 Ukrainian citizens on a train and 16 on a bus
had been prevented from entering Belarus.


3. (U) Visit Embassy Kiev's classified website:
www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/kiev.
Herbst