BSDP Says Kozulin Not Vote Splitting, Supports Hunger

UNCLAS MINSK 000603

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BO

SUBJECT: BSDP Says Kozulin Not Vote Splitting, Supports Hunger
Strikers



1. SUMMARY: On June 1, the Belarusian Social Democratic (Gramada)
Party (BSDP) held a press conference to discuss March's
presidential elections. BSDP described the elections as neither
fair nor democratic and argued that Kozulin's candidacy motivated
significant participation by Belarusian voters outside the segment
that supported rival opposition candidate Aleksandr Milinkevich.
BSDP also expressed their solidarity with hunger-striking
opposition activists throughout Belarus. END SUMMARY.


BSDP on the 2006 Elections
--------------


2. BSDP Deputy Chairman Aleksey Korol presented a newly published
book on BSDP's findings regarding the presidential election. Korol
stated that the Belarusian Central Electoral Commission's conduct
of signature collection and candidate registration contravened
electoral law and the Belarusian Constitution. Furthermore, he
complained that the Belarusian Ministry of Interior (MVD),
Committee for State Security (KGB),and other special services
became "instruments of political struggle" for Lukashenko's
campaign that used violence and other illegal measures to restrict
the freedom of the political opposition. Korol said that for the
foreseeable future free and democratic elections in Belarus are not
possible. In its published analysis presented at the press
conference, BSDP declared, "The official results of the elections
do not correspond to the true, expressed will of the Belarusian
people."


4. Korol stressed to reporters that Kozulin did not split the
opposition vote with Aleksandr Milinkevich. He said that BSDP's
analysis of the election and polling data demonstrated that
Kozulin's campaign energized electoral participation by Belarusians
outside the segment of pro-democratic society that supported
Milinkevich.


BSDP on Kozulin in Prison and Hunger Strikers
--------------


5. Korol also predicted that no other opposition politician would
face criminal prosecution as long while Kozulin remained in jail.
Korol explained that arrests of other party leaders would draw the
international community's attention.


6. Following an emotional question/statement by a mother of a
youth activist on hunger strike, Korol also said that the BSDP
supports those who are on hunger strike for the release of
political prisoners. Korol said that the BSDP has proposed
establishing a coordinating center composed of representatives of
all organizations working on the problem of political prisoners and
assisting victims of repression, particularly protestors. He added
that the protection of political prisoners must be more systematic.
Korol said that his party would soon issue a statement in support
of the hunger strikers. [Note: On May 29, opposition youth
activists in Soligorsk announced a hunger strike and demanded the
release of all political prisoners. Since then, youth activists in
in Minsk, Grodno, Lida and KYIV joined the hunger strike. As of
June 7, the number of hunger strikers reportedly reached 45.]

KROL