U.S.-EU AMBASSADORS PRESS FOR ACCESS TO OPPOSITION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001162 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BO SUBJECT: U.S.-EU AMBASSADORS PRESS FOR ACCESS TO OPPOSITION YOUTH LEADER TRIAL SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PROTECT ACCORDINGLY Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On October 30, Ambassador and EU Heads of Mission in Minsk continued their assertive and collaborative approach to spotlighting the Lukashenko regime's politically motivated imprisonments by coordinating their attempts to gain access to the criminal trial against Dmitriy Dashkevich, the most visible leader of the opposition youth organization Malady Front. Authorities denied access to international observers, but the Chiefs of Mission spoke with Dashkevich supporters and independent media and, in so doing, communicated to the authorities that the U.S. and EU will follow Dashkevich's trial as closely as the regime's pre&ious politically motivated show trials. End summary. Daskevich Arrested, Embassy Requests Access -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On September 24, Belarusian authorities formally accused Dashkevich of running an illdgal organization, a charge for which he could receive up to three years in prison, in connection with pro-democracy demonstrations during the run up to and immediately after Belarus' fraudulent March 19 presidential elections. (Note: On October 24, upon learning that authorities planned to conduct the trial behind closed doors, the Embassy sent the MFA a diplomatic note requesting permission to observe Dashkevich's trial. The Embassy has received the MFA's formal acknowledgMent, but no definitive answer. End note.) U.S. and EU Meet with Dashkevich Supporters -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Following consultations with German Ambassador Martin Hecker, who represents the Finnish EU presidency in Minsk, Ambassador and the Heads of Mission (HOMs) of Germany, Sweden, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic arrived simultaneously at the Oktyabrskiy District Court. Despite the freezing temperature and the presence of OMON special riot police, about 60 activists, wearing red and white Malady Front T-shirts, stood in two rows on either side of the court entrance and held red and white roses and images of Dashkevich. As Ambassador and her European counterparts walked between these rows to approach the authorities at the entrance, the activists began cheering and chanted "Freedom to Dashkevich!" ¶4. (SBU) While Ambassador waited at the court entrance for ;authorities to respond to her request for access( she communicated her sympathies to Dashkevich's father and several Dashkevich supporters at the courthouse. She also consulted with the EU HOMs and OSCE representatives and greeted the leaders of the opposition United Democratic Forces cnalition, including coalition leader Aleksandr Milinkevich, Milinkevich's wife and NGO leader Inna Kulei, United Civic Party Chair Anatoliy Lebedko, and Belarusian Popular Front Chair Vintsuk Vyachorka. Ambassador also spoke with the mothers of former independent NGO "Partnership" political prisoner Enira Bronitskaya and Bronitskaya's still imprisoned Partnership colleague Nikolay Astreyko. Former "Partnership" political prisoner Aleksandr Shalayko was also present at the courthouse. ¶5. (SBU) After repeated polite requests for access, court authorities eventually permitted Ambassador, OSCE representatives, and German diplomats permission to enter the courthouse. However, GOB security at the doors of the courtroom denied our requests to enter. Ambassador remained at the courthouse for almost an hour to speak with Dashkevich supporters and observe the growing number of activists who had begun clapping and marching in a circle as they continued their chant. Most of the activists appeared to be of college age; however, several older acquaintances of Dashkevich's father also participated in the protest. Ambassador Speaks with Independent Media -------------- ¶6. (SBU) In response to questions from independent journalists observi.g the trial, Ambassador stated that the diplomatic missions of the United States and the European Union were following t`e trial closely. She expressed regret that the trial was closed, noting that the closure disadvantaged both international observers and the family MINSK 00001162 002 OF 002 members of the accused. Within an hour, international media, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Ratsia, accurately reported Ambassador's interview via internet. Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The GOB most likely suspendeD criminal cases against the organization's other leaders to minimizeQ comparisons with the politically motivated criminal trials ofQ former opposition preridential candadate Alekrandr KozUlinQ and the four "Partnership" leaders in July and August. However, the regime just as likely could not resist pressing forward with its prosecution /f Dashkevich bdcause the regime considers him to be a more serious threat, as a symbol not /nly of Malady Front but also of the Belarusian youth opposition movement writ large. The coordinated U.S.-EU visit sent a clear signal to the GOB that the international community is 7atching Dashkevich's trial no less closely than the KozElin and Partnership trials. End comm%nt. Stewart