TO ROCK OR NOT TO ROCK?

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001030

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KPAO BO
SUBJECT: TO ROCK OR NOT TO ROCK?

REF: 04 Minsk 1189

Summary
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1. Following a banned rock concert November 14, several blacklisted
rock musicians met with Chief State Ideology Officer and Deputy Head
of the Presidential Administration Oleg Proleskovskiy November 21.
Proleskovskiy acknowledged the alleged ban, committed to lifting it,
and encouraged the musicians to refrain from participating in
opposition events. The visit raised heated debate in internet and
print media. Few voices overtly welcomed the meeting. The
musicians mostly were criticized for betraying their audience,
following GOB orders, and becoming supporters of the regime. The
diverse reaction suggests the GOB may offer dialogue as a means to
further divide civil society. While the talks occurred three weeks
ago, the Presidential Administration has yet to cancel the ban. End
Summary

Make Music Not Politics
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2. On November 14, 2007, BKGB officers reportedly annulled
permission for a rock concert at a nightclub. The action came after
authorities had recently lightened up on a de facto ban preventing a
number of rock bands and singers from legally performing in Belarus.
To clarify the situation, rock musicians Pete Paulau, Lyavon
Volski, Alyaksandr Kullinkovich, Ihar Varashkevich, and folk
musician Aleh Hamenka accepted Proleskovskiy's invitation to meet
and speak at a press conference November 23 following the meeting.
According to Paulau, Proleskovskiy apologized for the unwritten ban,
committed to dialogue, and noted President Lukashenko had sanctioned
the meeting. Kullinkovich called Proleskovskiy "an acceptable
person" who welcomed and respected the musicians' opinions. He
described the regime as "bloody" and was surprised the official made
no attempts to "shut him up."


3. The musicians reportedly rejected Proleskovskiy's offer to
participate in the concert "Rock for Belarus" to be aired on
state-owned television. Volski emphasized they neither talked
politics nor concluded an agreement; however, Proleskovskiy
recommended that they not play at opposition events. The musicians
emphasized that as common citizens they did not support the regime,
but never expressed their opposition in their lyrics. Hamenka noted
they also touched upon broader issues of modern Belarusian culture
at the meeting. He underlined that the musicians are "creators" not
"politicians" and only engage in "cultural politics." Despite
expressed skepticism about the meeting's possible outcome, Paulau
maintained the GOB was ready to compromise. He also admitted they
could have been called "to be used" but made no steps forward to
change their perspectives and beliefs.


4. Paulau also participated in a roundtable November 27 to discuss
modern music and "ways to survive" organized by the pro-presidential
newspaper "Sovietskaya Belarus." He again reiterated that the
system worked against certain musicians preventing them from earning
a living. Paulau noted he did not ask for help from the GOB and
expected no hindrance. The only place available to rent for his
band to play is a 60-person nightclub in central Minsk.
Nevertheless, the band would gather up to 6,000 fans if it were not
blacklisted.

Is Rock-n-Roll Dead?
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5. The musicians' meeting with a top GOB official continues to
raise heated public debate and fierce criticism. Many prominent
artists and civil society leaders lashed out at them. Opposition
Free Theater Director Nikolay Khalezin called the meeting "amoral"
and the musicians "weak" for seeking the GOB's favor and funding.
Renowned rock singer Kasya Kamotskaya suggested it was "a
cat-and-mouse dialogue" and said politicians should be responsible
for negotiating with the GOB. Freelance journalist and human rights
advocate Irina Khalip vehemently criticized the meeting with
Proleskovskiy in an internet article entitled "Rock-n-Roll is Dead."
Khalip claimed the musicians went for "grub" and "crumbs," betrayed
their fans, and lost respect for their courage and civic stands.
She maintained the musicians failed to defend the rights of banned
rock groups and to put forward political claims for the release of
prisoners of conscience. Music critic Maksim Zhbankov sarcastically
noted the meeting served as a search for a new business partner not
"a political demobilization" of rockers who "simply scanned the
market."

Supporters Protest Reasonableness of Rock Musicians
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6. A few ardent supporters of the rock musicians welcomed the
meeting with Proleskovskiy as a step toward mutual understanding and
a sign of "reasonable pragmatism." Rock concert promoter Vitaliy

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Supranovich elaborated that the GOB should perceive dissident
musicians as their citizens, and "we should accept them as our
government." He defended the "terrorized" musicians saying it was
impossible to take a neutral stand in dictatorial Belarus whether in
the opposition or pro-regime camp. Prominent poet Genadz Buraukin
urged against hasty conclusions and expressed trust in the musicians
taking steps beneficial for Belarus and its culture. Acclaimed
playwright Andrey Kureichik supported the musicians saying they
managed to "rise above foolish politicians and their shallow
interests." Kureichik praised the possible lifting of the ban and
called it "the first step to rock music revival."

Comment
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7. Securing the loyalty of rock bands has been on the minds of
apparatchiks throughout the CIS since Ukraine's "Orange Revolution"
when ethno-pop star and Eurovision Song Contest Champion Ruslana
performed at opposition demonstrations. Russian officials sought
"detente" with their rockers in March 2005 and Belarusian officials
hoped for the same in organizing this meeting. Some officials say
superiors praised Proleskovskiy for the meeting and suggested that
the musicians would no longer play "at the U.S. Ambassador's
residence for hours." [Note: This refers to the independent music
festival sponsored by the Embassy and held this September at the
EMR. End note.] Some Minsk pundits labeled the Belarusian
musicians "beggars" who fundamentally "adjusted" political views to
suit GOB needs. In addition, a vehement discussion on the
suitability of dialogue with the GOB divided dissidents into two
camps.


8. Comment cont. Unfortunately, while the musicians emphasized the
fact that they did not concede to GOB offers, they also failed to
identify clearly the purposes of their visit to the Presidential
Administration. Except for invitations to take part in state TV
Christmas shows, the black list remains in place and most doubt that
it will be lifted anytime soon. This is a cautionary tale for those
who support dialogue with the GOB for its own sake, without clear
demands. End comment.

Stewart