Jeans Campaign: Youth Try To Unite Through Denim

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000056

SIPDIS

KIEV FOR USAID

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/15
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR BO
SUBJECT: Jeans Campaign: Youth Try To Unite Through Denim

Ref: 05 Minsk 1419

Classified by Ambassador George Krol for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) Summary: The human rights NGO Charter97 recently
reported that on January 16 the Free Belarus Coalition
launched the "jeans campaign." The youth-driven jeans
campaign, which grew out of the Day of Solidarity
nonviolent resistance campaign, aims to provide Belarusians
a safe way to express their support for democratic change.
Supporters of the campaign only have to wear denim.
According to the website, a "jeans flash mob" of youth
activists on January 16 decorated the entrance of Belarus'
State Department Store with denim ribbons, although
independent witnesses or evidence of such decorations have
not been located. In a January 19th meeting with
Ambassador, however, Charter97 international relations
coordinator Andrei Sannikov confirmed the launch of the
jeans campaign and discussed the Free-Belarus Coalition's
coordination with 10+ Coalition candidate Alexandr
Milinkevich. Although the idea is fresh and unique, few
Belarusians appear to be drawn into the jeans campaign.
End Summary.

Jeans Flash Mob Attacks GUM with Denim Ribbons
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2. (C) On January 19, Ambassador met with international
relations coordinator Andrei Sannikov of the human rights
NGO Charter97 to discuss the Free-Belarus Coalition (FBC)
sponsored "jeans campaign." [Note: The FBC is comprised
of Charter97, the youth group Zubr, and the NGO "We
Remember."] Sannikov confirmed reports from youth group
Zubr and Charter97 that at approximately 6:00 p.m. on
January 16 (the fourth Day of Solidarity),a "jeans flash
mob" of youth activists approached the State Department
Store (GUM) in Minsk and tied jean ribbons to the trees,
benches, rails and door handles nearby. This jeans
campaign is the latest component of the monthly Day of
Solidarity campaign, i.e., the nonviolent resistance
movement enabling Belarusians to show solidarity with the
families of the politically oppressed (reftel). The
Charter97 website reported that the denim-clad group of
approximately 200 youth decorated a nearby Christmas tree
with denim ribbons and jean pockets with an encircled 16
printed on them Q the symbol of the Day of Solidarity
campaign. Sannikov said security forces watched the event
and then started to remove the denim pieces shortly after
the activists put them up. This process continued until
the security officials received inquiries from the
journalists covering the event as to why they were removing
the denim ribbons.


3. (C) [Note: Poloff visited GUM on January 17 to inquire
about the "flash mob" and the denim-decorated Christmas
tree. Poloff spoke with several employees who are posted
in the GUM entrance hall and who claimed to have worked on
January 16, but none of them saw a flash mob or a Christmas
tree decorated with jeans. Ambassador mentioned to
Sannikov poloff's trip to GUM, but Sannikov affirmed that
the jeans flash mob descended on GUM. End Note.]

The Birth of the Jeans Campaign
--------------


4. (C) Sannikov explained that the jeans campaign was born
at a rally on September 16 - the first Day of Solidarity.
The police dispersed the crowd several times and
confiscated all flags and paraphernalia. Sannikov
explained that at that point, Zubr activist Nikita Sasim
tied his denim shirt to a flagpole and waved it at a rally.
Sannikov told Ambassador that the Free Belarus Coaltion had
400,000 stickers made up depicting the image of Sasim
waving his impromptu denim flag. [Note: Sannikov also
presented Ambassador a high quality orange sweatshirt with
a blue "jeans campaign logo" that the FBC had made up to
support the campaign. Post has not noticed any Belarusians
wearing such sweatshirts.]


5. (C) Sannikov explained that the FBC chose jeans as the
campaign symbol because they offer Belarusians a safe way
to show resistance. He pointed out that it is not illegal
to wear jeans and the officials cannot do anything legally
to those wearing jeans. [Note: The police have found ways
to punish denim wearing supporters. The independent media
reported that one jeans flash mob activist was charged with
littering after passing out denim ribbons and even Sannikov
admitted that two other activists were charged with
loitering after the January 16 event.]

Foreign Response To Campaign Outstrips Domestic Response
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Sannikov stated that he was very pleased with the
domestic reactions to the campaign. Ambassador, however,
noted that there seems to be more reaction to the Day of
Solidarity campaign outside Belarus Q namely in Poland Q
than inside the country. [Note: Those who do support the
jeans campaign seemed to be confined to Minsk. Grassroots
leader in Vitebsk Olga Karach told Ambassador on January 20
that no one even knows about the campaign in her region.]
Sannikov assured Ambassador that Belarusians are
participating in the campaign domestically, but that their
efforts Q mainly the candles in the windows Q are not
always visible from the street. Sannikov stated the
campaigns encourage a type of mobilization that is becoming
more important in the run up to the election because they
serve as information channels to tell the people that the
opponents of the regime and the supporters of change are
many.

Coordinate with the Opposition: Milinkevich Wears Jeans Too
-------------- --------------


7. (C) Sannikov stated that the FBC views Milinkevich as
the one legitimate opposition candidate. Sannikov
confirmed that the FBC has direct contact and regular
meetings with Milinkevich's team, during which the FBC
offers advice to the opposition's team. Sannikov also
stressed, however, that FBC is not working directly for
Milinkevich's team. Instead, Sannikov said the FBC tries
coordinating its efforts with Milinkevich's team. For
instance, Sannikov told Ambassador that Milinkevich
produced his 2006 calendar on a jeans background and that
Milinkevich himself wears jeans. [Note: Milinkevich
officially confirmed his support of the jeans campaign
during his December press conference.] Currently, Sannikov
is trying to get Milinkevich's team to agree to have their
signature collectors wear denim ribbons, but still do not
have a response from Milinkevich's headquarters.

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


8. (C) The nearly invisible Day of Solidarity and the
"jeans campaign" reflect the participation of youth in the
democratic movement. These nonviolent resistance efforts
currently represent the only nationally coordinated
campaigns enabling Belarusians to stand together in
solidarity against the GOB. The projected results of the
campaign, however, are questionable. Given the popularity
of denim and that many people wear jeans without a
political agenda, it is not possible to distinguish between
those choosing solidarity over fashion. The inability to
make this distinction easily results in the lack of an
accurate mechanism to measure participation and might lead
to inflated reports on the level of support for the
campaign. In addition, the FBC still seems more focused on
impressing foreign donors than on mobilizing a "grass-root"
youth solidarity campaign. Regardless, few Belarusians,
even youth, seemed to be attracted to either the jeans
campaign or Day of Solidarity. Apathy, fear and perhaps
relative satisfaction with the status quo continue to
dominate Belarusian society.

KROL