March Madness: Mass Opposition Arrests

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MINSK 000292 SIPDIS KIEV ALSO FOR USAID SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO SUBJECT: March Madness: Mass Opposition Arrests Refs: (A) Minsk 259, (B) Minsk 262 ¶1. In the past two weeks authorities have arrested at least 150 opposition activists, jailing many of them for up to 15 days each on charges ranging from participating in an unsanctioned protest, to urinating or shouting obscenities in public. Police allegedly beat several during their arrests. Milinkevich's team announced on March 17 that in the past couple of days alone more than 30 of their campaign activists and another 40 youth activists have been arrested. This cable presents a compilation of such cases since March 1. This list is not exhaustive, as Belarusian human rights groups and political parties have also not been able to fully tabulate the number of their members that have been detained. One human rights group reported that at least 50 Milinkevich supporters were arrested on March 15 alone. Both Milinkevich's and Kozulin's campaigns are trying to account for all their members in jail, but both reported to Post on March 16 that even they do not know how many of their activists have been jailed. ¶2. Below is as complete an accounting of recent arrests as Post can provide at this point, based on lists provided by the Milinkevich campaign team, human rights groups, independent observers and independent press: March 16: At Least 9 Arrests -------------- Other than Milinkevich's campaign head for Ivanova, these are believed to be lower level activists for the opposition. --Artur Smetanim, 7 days, petty hooliganism; --Vladimir Kazeka (Milinkevich's campaign head in Ivanova),pre- trial detention); --Aleksandr Vasilev, pre-trial detention; --Andrey Melshko, pre-trial detention; --Viktor Akhramchuk, pre-trial detention, unsanctioned demonstration; --Telman Maslukov, pre-trial detention, unsanctioned demonstration; --Natalya Bordok, pre-trial detention, unsanctioned demonstration; --Evgeny Lyasotski, pre-trial detention; --Svetlana Mikhalchenko, pre-trial detention, unsanctioned demonstration. March 15: At Least 33 Detentions -------------- Police arrested at least five local heads of opposition campaigns, in addition to temporarily detaining Milinkevich deputy Anatoly Lebedko, as well as the editor of an independent newspaper. --Anatoly Lebedko (Milinkevich deputy),detained for eight hours while police searched his car and garage. He was released but must return to court March 21 to face charges of petty hooliganism, illegal distribution of election materials, and a parking violation. On March 16 authorities announced they had seized 50,000 campaign leaflets from Lebedko's car. Also on that day the head of the BKGB accused Lebedko of participating in a plot to blow up four schools on Election Day. --Igor Maslovsky and Valentin Lazarenkov (Kozulin's campaign head in Brest Oblast),police claimed these two were drunk and brought them to a drug and alcohol treatment center. After doctors found no signs of intoxication, police searched their office and seized campaign materials; --Dmitry Shymansky, 10 days, unsanctioned demonstration after 12 Milinkevich activists came to their Brest office to receive campaign materials; --Valery Putitsky (Milinkevich's campaign head in Rechitsa),7 days, disorderly conduct and public urination; --Vasily Khramtsov (Milinkevich's campaign head in Novopolotsk),5 days, disobeying police; --Vadim Saranchukov (Milinkevich's campaign head in Grodno),5 days, petty hooliganism; --Vyacheslav Bolbat (Kozulin's campaign head in Baranovichy),pre- trial detention, unsanctioned demonstration; --Yury Gubarevich (Milinkevich's campaign head for Brest Oblast), released after ODIHR observers arrived; --Andrzej Pisalnik (editor, Glos znad Niemna in Exile),5 days, petty hooliganism after allegedly swearing at a bus stop; --Valery Schukin (human rights activist),7 days, petty hooliganism; --Igor Lednik, 10 days; --Ryhor Bakievich, 7 days, petty hooliganism after being attacked on the street by a drunk; --Sergey Malchik, 7 days in jail, petty hooliganism (swearing in MINSK 00000292 002 OF 004 public); --Viktor Sazonov, 7 days, petty hooliganism (swearing in public); --Nikolay Lemenovsky, 7 days, petty hooliganism; --Aleksey Trubkin, 7 days, petty hooliganism; --Evgeny Vaukavets, 7 days, petty hooliganism; --Aleksey Chyreika, 7 days, petty hooliganism; --Vitaly Brouka, 7 days, petty hooliganism; --Vitaly Leuchanka, 7 days, unsanctioned meeting; --Anton Stolyar (Zubr),7 days; --Olga Sakalova (Zubr),7 days; --Cyarzhuk Gudzilin, 7 days, petty hooliganism; --Konstantin Chuvak, 5 days, disobeying police; --Sergey Kastsyukevich, 5 days, disobeying police; --Viktor Yarashuk, 5 days, disobeying police; --Pavel Lyakhnovich, 5 days, disobeying police; --Dmitry Bardelich, 5 days, disobeying police; --Mark Sannikov, fined BYR 310,000 [USD 144], unsanctioned demonstration; --Tatiana Klimovich, fined BYR 155,000 [USD 72], violation during signature collection; --Sergey Nyarouny, pre-trial detention; --Denis Latysh, released after three hours. March 14: At Least 21 Detentions, 8 Deportations -------------- Authorities detained another two local heads of campaigns, as well as one of the heads of the Zubr youth group. --Nikita Sasim (a Zubr leader),fell sick immediately after his arrest. He was taken to hospital where his appendix was removed. After the surgery Sasim was reportedly tied to his bed and under guard. On March 16 plainclothes police came to his room, ordered him to follow them, and drove him to Baranovichy, 100 km southwest of Minsk, even though Sasim had been placed on bed rest. Sasim has been charged with dodging the draft, even though he received a medical deferment after police gave him a concussion during a beating in September. --Nikolay Voron, police arrested him for passing out Kozulin leaflets in his dormitory. During the arrest several sources say a police officer violently beat Voron's head into the wall many times. Voron was taken to the hospital and has been sentenced to seven days in jail for petty hooliganism. --Vasily Levchenkov (Milinkevich's campaign manager in Orsha),pre- trial detention, unsanctioned demonstration; --Vasily Beresnev (Kozulin's campaign manager in Orsha),7 days, petty hooliganism; --Stepan Novoselchan, 10 days, petty hooliganism after police tried to detain him for a parking violation; --Sergey Semyonov, 10 days, insulting a government official; --Andrzej Poczobut (Union of Belarusian Poles),10 days, petty hooliganism for swearing in the presence of police officers; --Jozef Porzecki (Union of Belarusian Poles),7 days, petty hooliganism for swearing in public; --Maksim Gubarevich, 7 days, petty hooliganism for allegedly shouting obscenities in public. --12 Milinkevich activists in Brest were detained but released after trying to collect election materials from their office, (Milinkevich's Brest office said that 100 of their 156 campaign volunteers had been arrested since February 17. Most are believed to have been released without charge). --On March 14, the GOB also expelled two members of Sweden's Liberal Party and six Danes from the Silba NGO who had separately planned to observe the elections. March 13: One Sentence, One Massive Fine -------------- --Andrey Klimov, 7 days for allegedly verbally abusing his guards. Klimov has been in a prison work camp since June for organizing an unsanctioned demonstration. He will spend this 7-day sentence in a higher security prison. --Boris Khamaida, fined BYR 5,332,000 [USD 2,480] for illegally selling newspapers and for an unsanctioned demonstration. Khamaida had earlier been fined on March 10. March 12: At Least 22 Arrests, One Beating -------------- MINSK 00000292 003 OF 004 Milinkevich held three campaign rallies in Minsk on this day. Security services detained a number of people after at least two of the rallies, including a Ukrainian journalist as she broadcast live to Kiev. --Mikhail Volchek, sentenced to 12 days in jail for petty hooliganism. Police severely beat him during his detention, breaking one of his fingers. Police took him to a hospital, which refused to treat him, so police brought him immediately to court. He received medical treatment after he was sentenced. --Aleksandr Makayev, 15 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Ales Hoishyk, 15 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Mykola Karpinsky (Ukrainian),10 days, unsanctioned demonstration (Karpinsky told the court police beat him during his arrest); --Anatoly Yatsenko (Ukrainian),10 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Natalya Kosarchuk (Ukrainian),10 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Dmitry Fabishevsky, 10 days in jail for petty hooliganism, arrested for passing out Kozulin literature; --Aleksandr Prismakov, 10 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Pavel Kiruschanka, 10 days for an unsanctioned demonstration; --Sergey Lavrenkin, 10 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Matsvey Chystsik, 10 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Ilya Petravets, 8 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Ivan Scharbakov, 3 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Vladimir Vysotsky, 3 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Ales Labaty, 3 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Vladimir Valodzin, fined USD 435, unsanctioned demonstration; --Ales Larychov, fined USD 290, unsanctioned demonstration; --Sergey Matskoits, fined USD 290, unsanctioned demonstration; --Maksim Vinyarsky, sentence pending, unsanctioned demonstration and littering; --Hanna Horozhenko (Ukrainian journalist),arrested with her cameraman while in the middle of a live broadcast to Kiev, released after several hours; --Timur Lytvin (Ukrainian),released for being underaged, unsanctioned demonstration. March 10: At Least 7 Arrests -------------- --Sergey Antonchik (ran for president in 2001),15 days, disobeying a police officer; --Aleksandr Antonchik (Sergey's son),15 days, disobeying a police officer; --Denis Rabinok, 15 days, shouting obscenities (according to witnesses he did shout obscenities after police started throwing snowballs at him); --Aleksey Manevich, 15 days, shouting obscenities (according to witnesses he did shout obscenities after police started throwing snowballs at him); --Aleksey Lyakovich, 15 days, petty hooliganism for allegedly shouting obscenities in public; --Boris Khamaida, fined BYR 496,000 [USD 231], unsanctioned demonstration; --Pavel Yukhnevich, unknown, petty hooliganism for allegedly shouting obscenities in public. March 9: At Least One Arrest -------------- --A Milinkevich activist in Kalinkovichy was sentenced to 15 days. March 8: At least 10 Arrests -------------- --Vintsuk Vyachorka (Milinkevich deputy),15 days, unsanctioned demonstration (ref B); --Aleksandr Pavlovsky, 15 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Pyotr Babareko, 15 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Vladimir Gridin, 15 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Aleksey Makovich, 15 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Pyotr Tolar, 15 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Dmitry Kudravtsev, 15 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Artyom Litvinko, 15 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Sergey Lyantsevich, 15 days, unsanctioned demonstration; --Aleksandr Zelko, 15 days, unsanctioned demonstration. March 7: At Least One Arrest, One Large Fine -------------- MINSK 00000292 004 OF 004 --Anatoly Lebedko, fined BYR 1,550,000 [USD 721], unsanctioned demonstration; --Vladimir Shantsov, 15 days, unsanctioned demonstration. March 3: At Least One Arrest, Four Charged -------------- --Oleg Metelitsa, a member of Zubr, was released from jail after serving 15 days for allegedly swearing in public. In truth he had lit a candle in front of BKGB headquarters to protest political persecution. After his release, police brought him to the police station in Belynichi for questioning. On his way out of the station he passed two apparently drunk people on the steps, who fell as he walked past. Police immediately detained him and, even though it was 2000 at night, brought him before a judge who immediately sentenced him to another 15 days in jail for disorderly conduct. --Authorities formally charged Timofei Dranchuk, Aleksandr Shalaika, Nikolay Astreiko, and Enira Bronitskaya, arrested on February 21, with running an illegal organization that infringes on citizen's rights (Article 193 of the Criminal Code). This carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison. March 2: At Least 43 Detentions, Several Beatings, and 6 -------------- Deportations (Kozulin was beaten and arrested, and Milinkevich held a large rally) --Police arrested 28 people gathering outside the jail where they were holding Kozulin. They were charged with participation in an unsanctioned demonstration. They were released from custody and none have yet been sentenced. Among this group were: --Nikolay Tetyorkin --Sergey Kostylenko --Ivan Lobachev --Vladimir Kozulin (Kozulin's brother) --Oleg Ulevich, a journalist with Komsomolskaya Pravda, was beaten by police during the above mentioned detentions. He remains in hospital with a broken nose and concussion. --Aleksandr Kozulin, presidential candidate, was arrested and beaten (ref A). He was subsequently charged with two counts of hooliganism and one of disorderly conduct. Police also beat several of his supporters and journalists while detaining Kozulin. --In addition, police arrested Yury Radivill and are threatening to charge him with committing violence against a police officer. Radivill is a Kozulin activist who drove away from plainclothes police officers, who subsequently opened fire on his car. --The BKGB's Alfa anti-terorrist squad detained and deported three Ukrainian Pora activists and three Ukrainian journalists after their plane landed in Minsk. --Police in Vitebsk detained eleven BNF activists for several hours to prevent them from driving to Minsk for a Milinkevich rally. Post has heard several other reports of such temporary detentions. ¶3. Comment: The GOB is arresting opposition activists and leaders, mostly from Milinkevich's campaign, and jailing them to keep them from participating in the elections. Post expects this pace of detentions to continue through Election Day, with a large number of arrests likely during and after voting. KROL