Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK785
2006-07-27 08:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
POLICE BRIEFLY DETAINED OPPOSITION LEADER
how-toVZCZCXYZ0015 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSK #0785 2080852 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 270852Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4784 INFO RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KIEV PRIORITY 3376 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 3526 RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA PRIORITY 1740 RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS PRIORITY 3752 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW PRIORITY 3392 RUEHBS/USMISSION USEU PRIORITY 0120 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000785
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREF BO
SUBJECT: POLICE BRIEFLY DETAINED OPPOSITION LEADER
MILINKEVICH
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Constance Phlipot for Reasons 1.4 B and
D
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000785
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREF BO
SUBJECT: POLICE BRIEFLY DETAINED OPPOSITION LEADER
MILINKEVICH
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Constance Phlipot for Reasons 1.4 B and
D
1. (C) On July 26, two Polotsk traffic police officers
stopped a vehicle carrying former opposition presidential
candidate Aleksandr Milinkevich, his wife Inna Kulei, press
secretary Pavel Mazheiko, and Belarusian Popular Front deputy
SIPDIS
chairman Aleksey Yanukevich on their way to visit political
prisoner Pavel Severinets in the Vitebsk region. Poloff
confirmed with Mazheiko on July 27 that another car arrived
on the scene shortly after police stopped Milinkevich's
vehicle and several individuals in plainclothes got out to
"control the situation." The police searched the vehicle and
found among other things old leaflets from Milinkevich's
election campaign. The traffic police escorted Milinkevich's
vehicle to the local Polotsk police station before allowing
them to proceed on their way. Mazheiko reported that the
group was detained for approximately one hour.
2. (C) According to Mazheiko, Milinkevich will probably not
make a statement about the brief detention given that the
police treated the group professionally and courteously.
Although the local authorities failed to provide a motive for
stopping his vehicle and Milinkevich intends to speak with a
lawyer, Mazheiko noted that the opposition coalition leader
will likely not pursue any legal action since he has little
confidence in Lukashenko's legal system.
3. (C) Comment: The GOB's harassment of Milinkevich occurred
against the backdrop of several other recent repressive acts
by the GOB, including the sentencing of opposition
presidential candidate Aleksandr Kozulin to five and one-half
years imprisonment, opposition leader Anotoly Lebedko's
10-day sentence, and the commencement of the trial of
Partnership NGO activists on July 28. The brief detention of
Milinkevich could have served as a warning to the opposition
leader to refrain from engaging in more high-profile
activities, but Milinkevich's calm reaction to the incident
serves as some indication that he does not believe his
detainment was a particularly egregious act.
Phlipot
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREF BO
SUBJECT: POLICE BRIEFLY DETAINED OPPOSITION LEADER
MILINKEVICH
Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Constance Phlipot for Reasons 1.4 B and
D
1. (C) On July 26, two Polotsk traffic police officers
stopped a vehicle carrying former opposition presidential
candidate Aleksandr Milinkevich, his wife Inna Kulei, press
secretary Pavel Mazheiko, and Belarusian Popular Front deputy
SIPDIS
chairman Aleksey Yanukevich on their way to visit political
prisoner Pavel Severinets in the Vitebsk region. Poloff
confirmed with Mazheiko on July 27 that another car arrived
on the scene shortly after police stopped Milinkevich's
vehicle and several individuals in plainclothes got out to
"control the situation." The police searched the vehicle and
found among other things old leaflets from Milinkevich's
election campaign. The traffic police escorted Milinkevich's
vehicle to the local Polotsk police station before allowing
them to proceed on their way. Mazheiko reported that the
group was detained for approximately one hour.
2. (C) According to Mazheiko, Milinkevich will probably not
make a statement about the brief detention given that the
police treated the group professionally and courteously.
Although the local authorities failed to provide a motive for
stopping his vehicle and Milinkevich intends to speak with a
lawyer, Mazheiko noted that the opposition coalition leader
will likely not pursue any legal action since he has little
confidence in Lukashenko's legal system.
3. (C) Comment: The GOB's harassment of Milinkevich occurred
against the backdrop of several other recent repressive acts
by the GOB, including the sentencing of opposition
presidential candidate Aleksandr Kozulin to five and one-half
years imprisonment, opposition leader Anotoly Lebedko's
10-day sentence, and the commencement of the trial of
Partnership NGO activists on July 28. The brief detention of
Milinkevich could have served as a warning to the opposition
leader to refrain from engaging in more high-profile
activities, but Milinkevich's calm reaction to the incident
serves as some indication that he does not believe his
detainment was a particularly egregious act.
Phlipot