DAY OF SOLIDARITY EVENT CUT SHORT BY POWER FAILURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001018

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREF ASEC BO
SUBJECT: DAY OF SOLIDARITY EVENT CUT SHORT BY POWER FAILURE

REF: MINSK 951

MINSK 00001018 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Charge Dereck Hogan for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On September 16, youth opposition activists
staged a demonstration and concert on the one-year
anniversary of the first "Days of Solidarity" event. Despite
significant security presence and attempts by the GOB to
impede the rally, the demonstration in Minsk attracted
approximately 2,500 participants. The U.S. and EU heads of
mission observed the event together, and Charge took
questions from independent journalists. United Democratic
Forces leader Aleksandr Milinkevich spoke to the crowd and
encouraged those present to engage in future street protests
to overcome Belarus' dictatorship. The event ended early,
however, due to an "unexplained" power outage that affected
only the park where the demonstration was held. End summary.


Final Day of Solidarity Event Draws 2,500 Participants
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2. (C) On September 16 at 4:00 p.m., youth activists
organized a GOB-sanctioned demonstration and concert called
"Jeans Fest for Freedom" at the People's Friendship Park to
show solidarity with political prisoners and all victims of
the Lukashenko regime on the one-year anniversary of the
first "Days of Solidarity" event. (Note: United Democratic
Forces (UDF) leader Aleksandr Milinkevich told Charge that
this would be the final Day of Solidarity event (reftel).
End note.) Pictures of the four disappeared opposition
activists and business leaders were displayed on the stage
underneath Minsk City and EU flags. The crowd of youth,
numbered at approximately 2,500, displayed signs that read
"For Freedom", waived independent youth and Belarusian
national flags, and later held lit candles, the original
symbol of the Days of Solidarity movement. Charge and EU
heads of mission (HOMs) were present to observe the event.

Milinkevich Calls for Street Protests to Bring About Change
-------------- --------------


3. (U) UDF leader Milinkevich told the crowd that a
dictatorship could only be overcome by street protests of
large numbers of people. He encouraged those present to
gather at the Minsk City Court on September 19 when the court
will hear the appeal against the prison sentence for former
opposition presidential candidate Aleksandr Kozulin. Other
speakers at the demonstration included United Civic Party
leader Anatoly Lebedko, opposition youth leader Nikita Sasim,
and Valeriya Krasovskaya, daughter of disappeared businessman
Anatoly Krasovsky.

Unexplained Power Outage Cuts Concert Short
--------------


4. (U) The second half of the demonstration, which had
turned into a concert, was cut short by an "unexplained"
power outage. According to independent news source Belapan,
electricity was only cut off at the site where the concert
was taking place. The local district power supply office
reported no electricity failures in that district and the
police at the event claimed ignorance and innocence.


5. (C) Independent media reported that concert participants
did not believe the electricity failure to be accidental.
According to Belarusian National Front deputy Viktor
Ivashkevich, the event organizers received permission from
the GOB to hold a demonstration, but not a concert.
Ivashkevich told Pol/Econ Chief and Poloff on September 15
that police verbally warned him that the demonstration would
be shut down should illegal nationalistic symbols be used,
including the Belarusian national flag, or if the event
turned into a concert.

Security Services Ready for Action
--------------


6. (C) Belarusian security forces, including nine
40-passenger police buses, several police cars and an
ambulance, gathered at the Belarusian National Academy of
Sciences (BNAS) prior to the demonstration. (Note: Event
organizers originally asked for permission to stage a march
from the BNAS to the Friendship Park prior to the
demonstration, which the authorities had denied. End note.)
The police also closed the metro and bus stops closest to the
opposition rally.

MINSK 00001018 002.2 OF 002




7. (C) During the demonstration, Poloffs observed that nine
police buses, two five-ton prison vehicles, three city buses
full of police, and numerous rapid response OMON personnel
positioned themselves around the park. Plainclothes security
forces and state media Belarusian Television (BT) videotaped
attendees, including Charge and the EU HOMs who were
observing the demonstration. Yet, despite the significant
security presence, Poloffs did not observe any indications
that violence or force had been used.

Comment
--------------


8. (C) Although the authorities officially granted
permission for the demonstration, their blatant attempts to
impede the event and intimidate the crowd, including closing
the nearest metro stop, cutting power to the park in the
middle of the concert, and staging a significant security
presence, were quite obvious. Post has not received further
indication from contacts whether this event was the final Day
of Solidarity event. It appears that after a year of work
and several months of virtual inactivity, however, the
movement has finally gained some momentum, as evidenced by
the freedom-themed T-shirts, buttons, stickers, and bandanas
that are becoming increasingly more popular among the general
public. (Note: Post will provide an overall assessment of
the Days of Solidarity movement in septel. End note.)
Additionally, it was encouraging to see opposition leaders
and youth activists finally coordinating their efforts.
Hogan