Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK1299
2006-12-22 07:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - DECEMBER 22, 2006
how-toVZCZCXRO7732 RR RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #1299/02 3560717 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 220717Z DEC 06 ZDK ALL DUE NUM SVCS FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5462 INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 MINSK 001299
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - DECEMBER 22, 2006
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MINSK 00001299 002 OF 004
Ukrainian border on their way to Gomel from Chernihiv, where they
attended a founding convention for Belarusian left-wing parties'
union. Belarusian customs officers had them get off the train
citing a need to look more closely at the activists' printed
materials. The activists boarded a Minsk-bound train roughly two
hours later.
6. Oppositin Activists Detained in Gomel
On December 18, idependent media reported that authorities
detaine Belarusian Party of Communists members Valery Rybhenko
and Viktor Balenkov in Gomel as they traveed to Rechitsa with
copies of pro-opposition newpapers "Tovarishch" and "Narodnaya
Volya," publihed in Russia, and a booklet by prominent
Belarusan sociologist Oleg Manayev. Police claimed to hae
received a tip-off that the men were carrying angerous goods in
the car. Authorities held Rybhenko and Balenkov for more than
an hour before eleasing them without charges.
7. Ammunition "iscovered" During Opposition Search
On December18, police and BKGB officers in Baranovichi, Brest
region, searched the apartment of opposition actvist and the
leader of the local organization of the Francis Skaryna
Belarusian Language Society, Viktor Syritsa in connection with a
handbag theft. Instead of the purse, authorities allegedly
discovered 20 rounds of ammunition in the linen closet.
Authorities held Syritsa at the police department for an hour and
he may now face a charge of illegal possession of ammunition.
Baranovichi State University's Economy and Law Vocational School
dismissed Syritsa from his post as a history teacher this spring
after he arranged a meeting between students and presidential
candidate Aleksandr Milinkevich.
8. Youths Demonstrate Solidarity With Kozulin
On the night of December 16, several dozen opposition youths lit
candles in front of the house of imprisoned former presidential
candidate Aleksander Kozulin in Minsk to display solidarity with
the imprisoned politician and his family. Approximately a dozen
more activists formed a line in front of the National Library in
eastern Minsk, holding lighted candles as well. Police did not
interfere with either event.
9. Minsk City Court Upholds Dashkevich's Sentence
On December 15, the Minsk City Court upheld the prison sentence
against opposition youth leader Dmitry (Zmitser) Dashkevich who
was found guilty of running an unregistered organization (Malady
Front) and sentenced to 18 months in November. According to
independent media approximately a dozen youth attempted to
demonstrate near the Minsk City Court during the trial
displaying Dashkevich's images and chanting `Shame on you!' The
protest was quickly broken up, but no arrests were reported.
10. Former Jewish Ghetto to Become Holocaust Memorial
On December 18, the director of a local history museum in
Novogrudok, Grodno region, Tamara Vershitskaya, told independent
media that she expects a Holocaust memorial to be built at the
site of a former Jewish ghetto. The plans are to reconstruct two
barrack rooms as well as workshops where the ghetto's prisoners
worked during the Nazi occupation.
11. Workers to Stand Trial Over Death of Chickens
On December 18, independent media reported that the regional
prosecutor's office was taking two poultry plant workers in the
Gomel region to trial for giving the wrong feed to broiler
chickens. The workers are being charged with neglect of duty as
more than 90,000 birds died of heart failure this past August
costing the company approximately USD 235,000. The accused could
be required to compensate the plant for the damage.
12. Three Opposition Parties Form Union
On December 17, independent media reported that the leaders of
three opposition left-wing parties, the Belarusian Party of
Communists, the Belarusian Women's Party "Nadzeya" and the
Belarusian Social Democratic Party "Gramada," signed an agreement
formalizing the establishment of a union at a convention in
Ukraine. Although many had trouble crossing the border,
convention organizers reported that at least 500 delegates were
able to attend the convention
13. Opposition Activist Sivchik's Brother Arrested
On December 19, authorities arrested Konstantin Lukashov,
Vyacheslav Sivchik's half-brother in connection with the
prominent opposition activist's arrest escape this past March.
Sivchik told independent media that his brother is accused of
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* Missing Section 003 *
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* Missing Section 004 *
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SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - DECEMBER 22, 2006
***********************
* Missing Section 001 *
***********************
MINSK 00001299 002 OF 004
Ukrainian border on their way to Gomel from Chernihiv, where they
attended a founding convention for Belarusian left-wing parties'
union. Belarusian customs officers had them get off the train
citing a need to look more closely at the activists' printed
materials. The activists boarded a Minsk-bound train roughly two
hours later.
6. Oppositin Activists Detained in Gomel
On December 18, idependent media reported that authorities
detaine Belarusian Party of Communists members Valery Rybhenko
and Viktor Balenkov in Gomel as they traveed to Rechitsa with
copies of pro-opposition newpapers "Tovarishch" and "Narodnaya
Volya," publihed in Russia, and a booklet by prominent
Belarusan sociologist Oleg Manayev. Police claimed to hae
received a tip-off that the men were carrying angerous goods in
the car. Authorities held Rybhenko and Balenkov for more than
an hour before eleasing them without charges.
7. Ammunition "iscovered" During Opposition Search
On December18, police and BKGB officers in Baranovichi, Brest
region, searched the apartment of opposition actvist and the
leader of the local organization of the Francis Skaryna
Belarusian Language Society, Viktor Syritsa in connection with a
handbag theft. Instead of the purse, authorities allegedly
discovered 20 rounds of ammunition in the linen closet.
Authorities held Syritsa at the police department for an hour and
he may now face a charge of illegal possession of ammunition.
Baranovichi State University's Economy and Law Vocational School
dismissed Syritsa from his post as a history teacher this spring
after he arranged a meeting between students and presidential
candidate Aleksandr Milinkevich.
8. Youths Demonstrate Solidarity With Kozulin
On the night of December 16, several dozen opposition youths lit
candles in front of the house of imprisoned former presidential
candidate Aleksander Kozulin in Minsk to display solidarity with
the imprisoned politician and his family. Approximately a dozen
more activists formed a line in front of the National Library in
eastern Minsk, holding lighted candles as well. Police did not
interfere with either event.
9. Minsk City Court Upholds Dashkevich's Sentence
On December 15, the Minsk City Court upheld the prison sentence
against opposition youth leader Dmitry (Zmitser) Dashkevich who
was found guilty of running an unregistered organization (Malady
Front) and sentenced to 18 months in November. According to
independent media approximately a dozen youth attempted to
demonstrate near the Minsk City Court during the trial
displaying Dashkevich's images and chanting `Shame on you!' The
protest was quickly broken up, but no arrests were reported.
10. Former Jewish Ghetto to Become Holocaust Memorial
On December 18, the director of a local history museum in
Novogrudok, Grodno region, Tamara Vershitskaya, told independent
media that she expects a Holocaust memorial to be built at the
site of a former Jewish ghetto. The plans are to reconstruct two
barrack rooms as well as workshops where the ghetto's prisoners
worked during the Nazi occupation.
11. Workers to Stand Trial Over Death of Chickens
On December 18, independent media reported that the regional
prosecutor's office was taking two poultry plant workers in the
Gomel region to trial for giving the wrong feed to broiler
chickens. The workers are being charged with neglect of duty as
more than 90,000 birds died of heart failure this past August
costing the company approximately USD 235,000. The accused could
be required to compensate the plant for the damage.
12. Three Opposition Parties Form Union
On December 17, independent media reported that the leaders of
three opposition left-wing parties, the Belarusian Party of
Communists, the Belarusian Women's Party "Nadzeya" and the
Belarusian Social Democratic Party "Gramada," signed an agreement
formalizing the establishment of a union at a convention in
Ukraine. Although many had trouble crossing the border,
convention organizers reported that at least 500 delegates were
able to attend the convention
13. Opposition Activist Sivchik's Brother Arrested
On December 19, authorities arrested Konstantin Lukashov,
Vyacheslav Sivchik's half-brother in connection with the
prominent opposition activist's arrest escape this past March.
Sivchik told independent media that his brother is accused of
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* Missing Section 003 *
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* Missing Section 004 *
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