LATVIAN DIPLOMAT HAS RESIDENCE RAIDED, IS MALIGNED

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000796 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2016 TAGS: PGOV ASEC PREL PHUM BO SUBJECT: LATVIAN DIPLOMAT HAS RESIDENCE RAIDED, IS MALIGNED BY STATE MEDIA REF: MINSK 784 Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Constance Phlipot for Reasons 1.4 B and D ¶1. (C) On July 30, Belarusian Television's (BT) analytical program "Center of Attention" - a program known for its anti-Western shows - broadcast an expose on the Latvian diplomat accused of distributing pornographic materials (reftel). The program targeted the Latvian diplomat for his sexual orientation and showed hidden camera footage of him watching pornographic videos and engaging in sexual acts in his Minsk apartment. ¶2. (C) According to the state media, the Latvian diplomat's illegal activities first came to the Belarusian authorities' attention during an alleged investigation of the increased sale and distribution of pornographic materials in Belarus. The authorities "identified" the diplomat as a distributor of pornographic materials after a witness confessed to purchasing a pornographic DVD at diplomat's apartment and engaging in sexual activities with the diplomat. BT aired the witness's confession and showed footage of the July 25 raid on the diplomat's apartment where law enforcement authorities and a cameraman - in violation of the Vienna convention - searched the apartment and seized pornographic materials. ¶3. (C) BT presenter Yury Prokopov denounced Western diplomats for violating Belarusian laws and referred to the story of a former Czech diplomat accused of having sex with Belarusian minors to emphasize, "Those who are trying to teach us democracy are perverted and immoral." In addition, after showing footage of EU diplomats at the October Square presidential election protests, BT commentators intimated that diplomats used their passports to smuggle alcohol, contraceptives, and pornographic materials into the tent city. ¶4. (C) Comment: The state media reached new lows in displaying with such detail the private lives of individual diplomats on prime time television. The methods used by state media eloquently illustrate the constant harassment and improper treatment EU and U.S. diplomats in Belarus face. The Latvian DCM confirmed for Pol/Econ Chief that the Latvian diplomat has already left the country. Phlipot