Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK521
2006-05-16 14:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - May 12, 2006
how-toVZCZCXRO2269 RR RUEHAST DE RUEHSK #0521/01 1361426 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 161426Z MAY 06 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4408 INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MINSK 000521
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - May 12, 2006
Ref: Minsk 459
MINSK 00000521 001.12 OF 003
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MINSK 000521
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - May 12, 2006
Ref: Minsk 459
MINSK 00000521 001.12 OF 003
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by
Embassy Minsk.
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
2. Zubr Leader Nikita Sasim Sentenced to Three Months in Jail
On May 12, Zubr youth leader Nikita Sasim was sentenced in
Baranichsky Regional Court to three months arrest for draft
evasion. Sasim had received a waiver from military service due
to head injuries caused by police during a peaceful protest in
September 2005. Sasim spent two months in pre-trial detention,
which counts as time served.
3. Kalyakin and Vyachorka Released, Ready to Continue Struggle
On May 11, a Minsk police vehicle brought Sergei Kalyakin,
leader of the Belarusian Party of Communists, and Vintsuk
Vyachorka, leader of the Belarusian Popular Front, home after
they served 14 and 15 days, respectively, for participating in
an unauthorized opposition demonstration commemorating the
twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Journalists were unable to speak with Kalyakin and Vyachorka
upon their release since police freed them 30 minutes early.
Kalyakin later returned to the Okrestina Street detention
center to speak with journalists. Kalyakin said that
conditions in the jail had been normal but that he and other
opposition leaders were put in separate cells a few days after
detention. Kalyakin stated, "Probably authorities were afraid
that we would devise a plan to fight the regime.but such a plan
does exist and we will carry on our struggle."
4. Lebedko, Twelve Others Detained Before Demonstration
On May 12, Anatoly Lebedko, leader of the United Civic Party,
was released three hours after police detained him at 6 p.m. as
he traveled to Oktyabrskaya Square to participate in a
demonstration commemorating the anniversary of the 1999
disappearance of Yury Zakharenko. Police dispersed the
demonstration when several people displayed images of
Zakharenko and jailed opposition politicians and activists
including Sergei Kalyakin, Aleksandr Bukhvostov, and Nikita
Sasim. Police also detained twelve others before the
demonstration and later released them.
5. Ten Youths Reported Arrested after Meeting with Milinkevich
On May 12, police arrested and later released ten youth activists
at a public bus stop following their meeting with opposition leader
Aleksandr Milinkevich near the detention center on Okrestina Street
from which he was released earlier that day. Milinkevich had
returned to Okrestina Street four hours after his release to meet
with several dozen supporters. The police declared the gathering
to be unauthorized and made the arrests.
6. Police search Lew Sapeha Foundation and Home of Deputy Head
On May 11, policed searched the Grodno office of Belarus' Lew
Sapeha Foundation officially connected to a criminal case opened in
March against four members of Partnyorstvo (Partnership),an
unregistered group that tried to organize independent observation
in March's presidential election. With a search warrant issued by
the Minsk City Prosecutor's Office, police also searched the
apartment of Vladimir Khilmanovich, deputy chairman of the Lew
Sapeha Foundation, and seized computer equipment and documents. Two
years ago, police searched Mr. Khilmanovich's home and seized
computer equipment, which they returned three months later.
--------------
Human Rights
--------------
7. Helsinki Committee Chair Detained, Report Seized at Airport
On May 12, border officials barred human rights NGO Belarusian
Helsinki Committee (BHC) chairwoman Tatiana Protko from
traveling abroad as she attempted to board an airplane for
Germany to deliver a report on Belarus. The border guards
prevented her from departing while police seized the BHC human
rights report and a documentary about the recent presidential
elections from her. The authorities released Protko without
charges after she missed her flight. She claimed the illegal
detention was a GOB effort to prevent BHC from providing
information about the human rights situation in Belarus to the
international community. Protko was allowed to travel the next
day.
MINSK 00000521 002.2 OF 003
--------------
Elections
--------------
8. Local Election Date May Be Announced in November
On May 11, Nikolai Lozovik, secretary of the Central Election
Commission, said that the date of Belarusian local elections
must be announced in November. According to Lozovik, three
months are required to prepare for elections and the elections
must be held no later than one month before the current elected
councils' mandate runs out under the country's Electoral Code.
Therefore, local elections must be held before February 2,
2007.
--------------
International Relations
--------------
9. Belarus and China Seek More IT Cooperation
On May 10, the Chinese ambassador to Belarus, Wu Hong Bin, said
that Zhong Xing Telecommunications Corporation (ZTE) has made a
first step in developing IT cooperation between China and
Belarus. ZTE donated more than USD one million of equipment to
a training center at Higher State Communications College in
Minsk. Ambassador Wu expressed hope that the IT sector will
accelerate economic growth in Belarus. According to the
Belarusian ambassador to China, Anatoly Tozik, Belarusian-
Chinese relations have reached a serious and strategic level.
According to Tozik, two Belarusian banks, Belarusbank and
Belvneshekonombank, expect to open offices in China later this
year for financing joint projects. [Note: Lukashenko previously
ordered his government to open bank branches in China.]
10. Belarus Wants More Cooperation with Israel
Deputy Foreign Minister Viktor Gaisenok announced that Belarus
is interested in closer cooperation with Israel through top-
level contacts and international organizations. Gaisenok
suggested expanded economic, scientific, technical and
environmental relations and proposed cooperation between
Belarus and Israel in fighting terrorism. The Israeli
Ambassador to Belarus, Zeev Ben Arie, reportedly was open to
expanded cooperation, particularly in agriculture. [Note: The
government of Belarus is currently strengthening its already
close ties with Syria and Iran, while it allows a Palestinian
AuthoriTy "embassy" to operate in Minsk.]
--------------
Economy
--------------
11. Belarus' VAT May Rise to 21% to Cover Gas Prices
On May 11, the Belarusian Finance Ministry proposed raising
Belarus' Value-Added Tax (VAT) from 18% to 21% in 2007 to
compensate for losses caused by the expected three-fold rise in
prices of Russian gas. The rise in the VAT rate will allow the
government to form a reserve of about 1.22 trillion Belarusian
rubles, the equivalent USD 560-570 million, most likely to
subsidize gas for certain customers.
12. Belarusian Gasoline Prices Increase 2.5%
On May 10, the Belarusian State Petrochemical Concern
(Belneftekhim) raised wholesale and retail prices of gasoline
and diesel fuel by an average 2.5%. Depending on grade,
Belneftekhim sells gasoline at 1,200-1,720 rubles (between 50
and 75 US cents) per liter. Belneftekhim last raised gasoline
prices on January 11.
--------------
Health Issues
--------------
13. 300 New Cases of HIV Since Beginning of the Year
On May 11, Mikhail Rimzha, Deputy Minister of Health, said that
almost 300 new HIV cases have been recorded in Belarus since
January 1; 7,309 people were diagnosed HIV positive as of May 1
compared with 7,014 at the end of 2005. More than 1,500 people
with AIDS have already died in Belarus. According to Mr. Rimzha,
teenagers have begun listening to warnings about the risks of HIV
infection. He advocated involvement of young people in
implementing health promotion projects on the grounds that peer
education is much more effective than lectures from adults.
14. More Than One Million Belarusians Have Drinking Problems
On May 12, Vladimir Maksimchuk, the chief addictions officer in the
MINSK 00000521 003.2 OF 003
Belarusian Health Ministry, said that about one million people in
Belarus have drinking problems. Maksimchuk said that 171,000
people, including 39,000 women, have been officially diagnosed with
alcohol addiction and 60,000 others risk develkping addiction.
However, he estimated that the actual number may be as high as one
million. According to Maksimchuk, there are also 10,000 registered
drug addicts in the country. [Note: Belarus' population is just
under 10 million.]
--------------
Quote of the Week
--------------
15. On May 12, while speaking to a gathering of residents in the
Mogilev region of Belarus on Friday, Aleksandr Lukashenko promised
housing incentives to encourage women to mother more children.
Lukashenko explained, "If a woman knows that an apartment will cost
5@percent less after the birth of the third child and will be
given for free after the birth of the fifth child, she will give
birth to more children."
KROL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - May 12, 2006
Ref: Minsk 459
MINSK 00000521 001.12 OF 003
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by
Embassy Minsk.
--------------
Civil Society
--------------
2. Zubr Leader Nikita Sasim Sentenced to Three Months in Jail
On May 12, Zubr youth leader Nikita Sasim was sentenced in
Baranichsky Regional Court to three months arrest for draft
evasion. Sasim had received a waiver from military service due
to head injuries caused by police during a peaceful protest in
September 2005. Sasim spent two months in pre-trial detention,
which counts as time served.
3. Kalyakin and Vyachorka Released, Ready to Continue Struggle
On May 11, a Minsk police vehicle brought Sergei Kalyakin,
leader of the Belarusian Party of Communists, and Vintsuk
Vyachorka, leader of the Belarusian Popular Front, home after
they served 14 and 15 days, respectively, for participating in
an unauthorized opposition demonstration commemorating the
twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Journalists were unable to speak with Kalyakin and Vyachorka
upon their release since police freed them 30 minutes early.
Kalyakin later returned to the Okrestina Street detention
center to speak with journalists. Kalyakin said that
conditions in the jail had been normal but that he and other
opposition leaders were put in separate cells a few days after
detention. Kalyakin stated, "Probably authorities were afraid
that we would devise a plan to fight the regime.but such a plan
does exist and we will carry on our struggle."
4. Lebedko, Twelve Others Detained Before Demonstration
On May 12, Anatoly Lebedko, leader of the United Civic Party,
was released three hours after police detained him at 6 p.m. as
he traveled to Oktyabrskaya Square to participate in a
demonstration commemorating the anniversary of the 1999
disappearance of Yury Zakharenko. Police dispersed the
demonstration when several people displayed images of
Zakharenko and jailed opposition politicians and activists
including Sergei Kalyakin, Aleksandr Bukhvostov, and Nikita
Sasim. Police also detained twelve others before the
demonstration and later released them.
5. Ten Youths Reported Arrested after Meeting with Milinkevich
On May 12, police arrested and later released ten youth activists
at a public bus stop following their meeting with opposition leader
Aleksandr Milinkevich near the detention center on Okrestina Street
from which he was released earlier that day. Milinkevich had
returned to Okrestina Street four hours after his release to meet
with several dozen supporters. The police declared the gathering
to be unauthorized and made the arrests.
6. Police search Lew Sapeha Foundation and Home of Deputy Head
On May 11, policed searched the Grodno office of Belarus' Lew
Sapeha Foundation officially connected to a criminal case opened in
March against four members of Partnyorstvo (Partnership),an
unregistered group that tried to organize independent observation
in March's presidential election. With a search warrant issued by
the Minsk City Prosecutor's Office, police also searched the
apartment of Vladimir Khilmanovich, deputy chairman of the Lew
Sapeha Foundation, and seized computer equipment and documents. Two
years ago, police searched Mr. Khilmanovich's home and seized
computer equipment, which they returned three months later.
--------------
Human Rights
--------------
7. Helsinki Committee Chair Detained, Report Seized at Airport
On May 12, border officials barred human rights NGO Belarusian
Helsinki Committee (BHC) chairwoman Tatiana Protko from
traveling abroad as she attempted to board an airplane for
Germany to deliver a report on Belarus. The border guards
prevented her from departing while police seized the BHC human
rights report and a documentary about the recent presidential
elections from her. The authorities released Protko without
charges after she missed her flight. She claimed the illegal
detention was a GOB effort to prevent BHC from providing
information about the human rights situation in Belarus to the
international community. Protko was allowed to travel the next
day.
MINSK 00000521 002.2 OF 003
--------------
Elections
--------------
8. Local Election Date May Be Announced in November
On May 11, Nikolai Lozovik, secretary of the Central Election
Commission, said that the date of Belarusian local elections
must be announced in November. According to Lozovik, three
months are required to prepare for elections and the elections
must be held no later than one month before the current elected
councils' mandate runs out under the country's Electoral Code.
Therefore, local elections must be held before February 2,
2007.
--------------
International Relations
--------------
9. Belarus and China Seek More IT Cooperation
On May 10, the Chinese ambassador to Belarus, Wu Hong Bin, said
that Zhong Xing Telecommunications Corporation (ZTE) has made a
first step in developing IT cooperation between China and
Belarus. ZTE donated more than USD one million of equipment to
a training center at Higher State Communications College in
Minsk. Ambassador Wu expressed hope that the IT sector will
accelerate economic growth in Belarus. According to the
Belarusian ambassador to China, Anatoly Tozik, Belarusian-
Chinese relations have reached a serious and strategic level.
According to Tozik, two Belarusian banks, Belarusbank and
Belvneshekonombank, expect to open offices in China later this
year for financing joint projects. [Note: Lukashenko previously
ordered his government to open bank branches in China.]
10. Belarus Wants More Cooperation with Israel
Deputy Foreign Minister Viktor Gaisenok announced that Belarus
is interested in closer cooperation with Israel through top-
level contacts and international organizations. Gaisenok
suggested expanded economic, scientific, technical and
environmental relations and proposed cooperation between
Belarus and Israel in fighting terrorism. The Israeli
Ambassador to Belarus, Zeev Ben Arie, reportedly was open to
expanded cooperation, particularly in agriculture. [Note: The
government of Belarus is currently strengthening its already
close ties with Syria and Iran, while it allows a Palestinian
AuthoriTy "embassy" to operate in Minsk.]
--------------
Economy
--------------
11. Belarus' VAT May Rise to 21% to Cover Gas Prices
On May 11, the Belarusian Finance Ministry proposed raising
Belarus' Value-Added Tax (VAT) from 18% to 21% in 2007 to
compensate for losses caused by the expected three-fold rise in
prices of Russian gas. The rise in the VAT rate will allow the
government to form a reserve of about 1.22 trillion Belarusian
rubles, the equivalent USD 560-570 million, most likely to
subsidize gas for certain customers.
12. Belarusian Gasoline Prices Increase 2.5%
On May 10, the Belarusian State Petrochemical Concern
(Belneftekhim) raised wholesale and retail prices of gasoline
and diesel fuel by an average 2.5%. Depending on grade,
Belneftekhim sells gasoline at 1,200-1,720 rubles (between 50
and 75 US cents) per liter. Belneftekhim last raised gasoline
prices on January 11.
--------------
Health Issues
--------------
13. 300 New Cases of HIV Since Beginning of the Year
On May 11, Mikhail Rimzha, Deputy Minister of Health, said that
almost 300 new HIV cases have been recorded in Belarus since
January 1; 7,309 people were diagnosed HIV positive as of May 1
compared with 7,014 at the end of 2005. More than 1,500 people
with AIDS have already died in Belarus. According to Mr. Rimzha,
teenagers have begun listening to warnings about the risks of HIV
infection. He advocated involvement of young people in
implementing health promotion projects on the grounds that peer
education is much more effective than lectures from adults.
14. More Than One Million Belarusians Have Drinking Problems
On May 12, Vladimir Maksimchuk, the chief addictions officer in the
MINSK 00000521 003.2 OF 003
Belarusian Health Ministry, said that about one million people in
Belarus have drinking problems. Maksimchuk said that 171,000
people, including 39,000 women, have been officially diagnosed with
alcohol addiction and 60,000 others risk develkping addiction.
However, he estimated that the actual number may be as high as one
million. According to Maksimchuk, there are also 10,000 registered
drug addicts in the country. [Note: Belarus' population is just
under 10 million.]
--------------
Quote of the Week
--------------
15. On May 12, while speaking to a gathering of residents in the
Mogilev region of Belarus on Friday, Aleksandr Lukashenko promised
housing incentives to encourage women to mother more children.
Lukashenko explained, "If a woman knows that an apartment will cost
5@percent less after the birth of the third child and will be
given for free after the birth of the fifth child, she will give
birth to more children."
KROL