Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK343
2006-03-28 16:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:  

Candidates React to Regime Crackdown

Tags:  PGOV PREL BO 
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281610Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY MINSK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4128
INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1045
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MINSK 000343 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

KIEV ALSO FOR USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BO
SUBJECT: Candidates React to Regime Crackdown

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MINSK 000343

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

KIEV ALSO FOR USAID
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL BO
SUBJECT: Candidates React to Regime Crackdown


1. (U) On March 26, opposition presidential candidate Aleksandr
Milinkevich issued a statement expressing solidarity with all
those beaten and arrested by authorities on March 25, including
his rival opposition leader Aleksandr Kozulin. Expressing his
desire to continue to challenge the illegitimate Lukashenko
regime, but acknowledging the still relatively small number of
people willing to protest publicly, Milinkevich announced he
would initiate an information campaign to expose the Belarusian
people to the truth about Lukashenko's misrule. He added his
team had made a list of those officials responsible for the
arrests and violence and had forwarded it to relevant
international organizations. Lastly, while expressing
solidarity with Kozulin in jail, Milinkevich implicitly rebuked
his rival for leading the doomed march to a police detention
center by stating that Belarusian opposition politicians should
behave responsibly. (See paragraph 4 for an informal
translation of the text.)


2. (SBU) On March 26, a strongly worded statement appeared in
the state and independent media, purportedly issued by Kozulin's
staff, calling Milinkevich a traitor to the cause of freedom.
However, a senior aide to Kozulin told Poloff March 28 that no
one on the Kozulin staff had authored this statement, suggesting
that the GOB fabricated it to stoke the flames of tension
between Kozulin and Milinkevich. (See paragraph 5 for an
informal translation of the text.)


3. (U) The Kozulin team did claim authorship of a March 26
press statement protesting Kozulin's March 25 arrest and
announcing that no one still knows Kozulin's whereabouts. This
statement blamed police Colonel Dmitry Pavlichenko for again
leading police violence, and expressed support with all those
detained. The statement concluded with calls upon the EU, U.S.
and Russia to help prevent future political repression in
Belarus, but made no criticism of Milinkevich's earlier radio
interview statements rebuking Kozulin for leading the march.
(See paragraph 6 for an informal translation of the text.)


4. (U) Begin informal translation of Milinkevich's statement:

"Statement of Alexander Milinkevich on the harsh break-up of a
peaceful demonstration in Minsk on March 25.

The Belarusian regime has once again shown us, citizens of

Belarus, and the world community its true face. The beating of
peaceful people is yet another attempt of the authorities to
return the society to the state of total fear, which it started
to decisively and irrevocably come out from.

The use of force against the group of peaceful demonstrators
shows cowardice of the ruling regime, which is incapable of
controlling of the situation in the country through common
democratic procedures. The government, which used militia and
special means and dispersed peaceful demonstrators with animal
cruelty, fully annihilated its prestige and lost people's
support.

Such actions cannot be forgiven. Such a government is worth the
people's contempt.

I state my full solidarity with the people beaten up and
arrested on March 25. Citizens of Belarus took to the streets of
Minsk to express their protest to the regime which rigs
elections, lies daily on the situation in and outside the
country, arrests and jails its opponents on far-fetched grounds.
The right to protest peacefully is granted by the main law of
our country, the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus. The
actions of peaceful demonstrators posed no threat to public
order; the accusations brought against them by state bodies is a
blatant lie voiced by the law-enforcement top-brass.

I will forward the full names of masterminds, organizers and
executors of the break-up of a peaceful demonstration to the
relevant international organizations for the purpose of applying
appropriate sanctions against them. The actions of these
individuals will be adjudicated in a democratic Belarus.

Similarly, I believe that in conditions of open aggression
towards civil society shown by the government, every Belarusian
politician should care about the fate of his fellow countrymen,
make balanced and responsible political decisions, calculate in
advance all consequences of his statements and activities.

We are committed to continue peaceful mass protests against
rigging presidential election results, for the reestablishment
in the country of constitutional law and democracy. We will not
wait another five years to liberate the people of Belarus from

MINSK 00000343 002 OF 003


the power of those who long ago lost the legal and moral rights
to this power. I am convinced that a broad all-national movement
for the freedom of Belarus, whose establishment I announced at
the March 25 rally, will perform it historic mission for the
sake of the people and the state." End text.

End Text.


5. (U) Begin informal translation of the alleged March 25
Kozulin campaign team statement:

COWARDS PROVE THEIR INNOCENCE, HEROES ARE SILENT

Today, March 25, 2006 the regime removed the last barrier that
separated it from the abyss.
It started murdering, crippling and trampling peaceful citizens.
With the hands of its dogs led by Pavlichenko and Karpenkov it
leveled with the asphalt of Minsk streets law, justice, freedom,
life and health of those, whom it hysterically fears. It fears
our people, our citizens!

Today's march to Okrestina for the purpose of supporting its
inmates and all political prisoners in Belarus was totally
peaceful. People marched with smiles, flowers and were
accompanied by clergy. Not even traffic regulations were
violated; there were no violations whatsoever. Passers-by and
vehicle drivers felt solidarity with people marching to
Okresitna. The regime was scared, it provoked a clash. It
attacked a peaceful protest; negotiators led by Kozulin, clergy
and threw grenades at demonstrators.

The regime got frightened with what its dog Pavlichenko did and
squirms trying to blame Kozulin and people who followed him.
This is disgusting; this is not nice, but not surprising.
We have known this regime long ago and have no illusion about
them. They will find themselves behind bars. The Lord's and
people's trials are only a matter of time for them.

Even more disgusting was the behavior of the so-called democrat
Milinkevich and a group of his accomplices. He felt jealous of
Kozulin all along since March 19 and had no will-power to become
the first, despite all the money, PR, support of all Europe and
the U.S.. Milinkevich realized that and played dirty tricks on
his colleague/competitor. Kozulin never hit him back, he
tolerated all that for the sake of unity of people, for victory,
for people that follow them. Today, however, Milinkevich
apparently got frightened.

Milinkevich did not allow Kozulin to use a microphone at a rally
near Kupala monument and explain to people what should be done.
Milinkevich ignored the people's intention to go liberate their
brothers and sisters imprisoned at Okrestina. Thus, Milinkevich
betrayed the course of freedom. Now, Milinkevich is at large,
while Kozulin was beaten up and his whereabouts are not known.
Pavlichenko personally handles his case. Now, Milinkevich gives
interviews trying to justify himself and "stay away" from
Kozulin's "provocations". Milinkevich plays for the regime and
blames those who cannot talk back. He acts against conscience,
blaming without basis his colleague, who finds himself in
trouble.

Kozulin never called upon anyone to remove Lukashenko or seize
state organizations. He marched with people observing all rules.
He walked with flowers with a smile on his face and wanted to
support people at Okrestina and demand decent prison conditions.

Milinkevich was not with the people, while Kozulin was. He did
his utmost to avoid violence. He walked with a group of clergy
and youth and intended to stop Pavlichenko.

Milinkevich's statement, in which he virtually blamed Kozulin
for clashes with the regime is nothing by lies and provocation.
Kozulin has always been an opponent of violence. There are
hundreds of witnesses, who can confirm that this protest was
peaceful.

Most of the detained are Milinkevich's supporters. Still, they
followed Kozulin and their eyes opened. Maybe Milinkevich is the
regime's project? Now, we have all reasons to think about it.

End Text.


6. (U) Begin informal translation of the March 25 Kozulin
campaign team statement:

" Statement of the Presidium of the Belarusian social Democratic
party (Gramada)

MINSK 00000343 003 OF 003



On March 25, 2006, at the time of a peaceful demonstration many
participants of the protest, including the leader of the
Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Gramada) were detained.

While law-enforcement bodies must within three hours advise
people of their relatives' detention and must advise of their
whereabouts, Alexander Kozulin's relatives and party members
were not informed of his fate.

Belarusian authorities demonstrated again their readiness to
secure a bankrupt regime with the use of truncheons and muscles
of special forces. Again, Colonel Dmitry Pavlichenko got into
the spotlight; he personally commanded the cruel break-up of a
peaceful protest. Many participants of the demonstration,
including the leader of the Belarusian Social Democrats were
beaten up.

The Belarusian Social Democratic party expresses its support to
their leader, his fellow party members and all citizens, who
find themselves in limited-freedom facilities or prisons for
political reasons. We demand their immediate release.

We appeal to the leaders of the EU member states, presidents of
the Russian Federation and the United States of America to
prevent stronger political repression in the Republic of Belarus
and cease the harassment of dissidents."

End text.

Krol