Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK1235
2006-12-01 14:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:  

LUKASHENKO ADMITS RIGGING ELECTIONS

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL BO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0006
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSK #1235/01 3351404
ZNY CCCCC ZZH (CCY ADX541F66 MSI6608 425A)
P 011404Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY MINSK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5387
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1362
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 001235 

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (TEXT)

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BO
SUBJECT: LUKASHENKO ADMITS RIGGING ELECTIONS


Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reaqon 1.4 (d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 001235

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (TEXT)

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BO
SUBJECT: LUKASHENKO ADMITS RIGGING ELECTIONS


Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reaqon 1.4 (d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) President Lukashenko admitted during a press
conference with Ukrainian journalists in Minsk that he rigged
the March 2006 presidential electionq. Lukashenko claimed
that the GOB deliberately understated the official vote tally
to satisfy European Q 9QI9M9 The dictator also criticized
Russia for threatening the future of the proposed
Russian-Belarusian Union State by raising gas prices for
Belarus and the Belarusian opposition for allegedly reveling
in those price hikes. End Summary.

Lukashenko Votes Underreported to Gain EU Recognition
-------------- --------------


2. (U) On November 23, during a press conference with
Ukrainian journalists in Minsk, President Lukashenko said
that the GOB falsified the March 19, 2006 presidential
election results, allegedly in favor of the opposition.
Asserting that he had actually won as much as 93.5 percent of
the vote, Lukashenko claimed that the regime deliberately
underreported his tally by seven points because EU members
had pledged to recognize such election results. Lukashenko
lamented that his efforts to make the election results "more
European" had failed. The following day, Central Election
Commission Secretary Nikolay Lozovik publicly denied any
election rigging and insisted that authorities had conducted
the election in strict adherence to Belarusian law.

Lukashenko Belittles the Opposition
--------------


3. (U) Following his claims of understated popularity,
Lukashenko attempted to present himself as open-minded and
tolerant toward his opponents by acknowledging that his
government should hear alternative points of view lest GOB
policymakers be "overrun with mud." Nevertheless, he
demeaned what he termed the "so-called opposition" for
"running away" from supporting Lukashenko when he was a
member of the opposition. Moreover, he excoriated opposition
leaders, whom he refused to name on the grounds that they
were not worthy of being named, for allegedly lobbying the
West for sanctions against Belarus and rejoicing in the rise
of gas prices for Belarus.

Rising Gas Prices Threaten Belarusian-Russian Union State
-------------- --------------


4. (U) In response to a reporter's question about gas
prices, Lukashenko criticized the Putin government for
reneging on energy agreements signed by former President
Yeltsin and thereby endangering Belarusian-Russian economic
integration leading to the creation of a Union State.
Lukashenko claimed that the price of gas itself was not at
issue but that Belarus was arguing on a broader principle of
equal energy prices. Implying that Russian gas subsidies had
been a form of compensation to Belarus for overpaying Russia
for petroleum, he claimed that Belarus currently pays USD 40
per ton more for Russian oil than does Ukraine.

Union of Belarus and Ukraine?
--------------


5. (U) Noting that Russia charges Ukraine more than USD 140
above cost for oil and calling Ukraine the "jugular of Russia
and Europe," Lukashenko called upon Belarus and Ukraine to
coordinate their energy policies so as to strengthen their
economic negotiating positions with Russia. Tracing Belarus
and Ukraine's common history to the medieval Kyivan Rus and
highlighting their common interests areas besides energy,
Lukashenko expressed hope that a Belarusian-Ukrainian Union
State would be created in the future and that such a union
would enhance both countries' influence throughout the world.
Lukashenko insisted that Ukraine's desiderata to join NATO
and the EU would not adversely affect future
Belarusian-Ukrainian political-economic integration and
predicted that Belarus would likely join the WTO sometime
after Russia and Ukraine.

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


6. (C) Lukashenko is renowned for making off the wall and
provocative statements, but the admission that his regime
tampered with the March 19 presidential election results is
surprising even by his "standards." His calls for closer
coordination with Ukraine are part of his broader strategy to
compensate for inevitable increases in Russian energy prices.
Stewart