Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MINSK256
2007-03-23 16:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
VYACHORKA AND SIVCHIK SKIP COURT HEARINGS ON EVE
how-toVZCZCXRO4088 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #0256 0821616 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231616Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5828 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1478 RUEHBS/USMISSION USEU 0169 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000256
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV BO
SUBJECT: VYACHORKA AND SIVCHIK SKIP COURT HEARINGS ON EVE
OF DEMONSTRATION
REF: A. MINSK 218
B. MINSK 221
C. MINSK 228
D. MINSK 249
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000256
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV BO
SUBJECT: VYACHORKA AND SIVCHIK SKIP COURT HEARINGS ON EVE
OF DEMONSTRATION
REF: A. MINSK 218
B. MINSK 221
C. MINSK 228
D. MINSK 249
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (U) On March 23, the Sovetskiy district court postponed
the planned hearing for youth opposition activist Vyacheslav
Sivchik and Belarusian National Front (BNF) leader Vintsuk
Vyachorka to April 4 after both activists failed to show up.
Vyachorka and Sivchik face hooliganism charges after security
services arrested them on March 13, a move that many view as
the GOB's measure to "neutralize" opposition leaders ahead of
the March 25 demonstration (refs A-C).
2. (C) DCM and Poloff and a number of other diplomats (French
Ambassador and DCM, British and Czech Charges, OSCE DCM,
German First Secretary) waited outside the courtroom for
proceedings to begin. However, after two hours, both
defendants had not shown up and the judges did not know when
they would receive the evidence and other case-related
materials. Earlier at a March 21 press conference, Vyachorka
told DCM that he planned to skip his court hearing in order
to participate in the March 25 demonstration, claiming he
would receive no more than a fine for his absence. Sivchik
did show up, but 40 minutes late.
3. (C) Comment: We will see how authorities respond to
Vyachorka and Sivchik on March 25; we expect both to be
arrested on the square and sentenced to brief jail terms for
organizing and participating in an "unsanctioned"
demonstration.
Stewart
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV BO
SUBJECT: VYACHORKA AND SIVCHIK SKIP COURT HEARINGS ON EVE
OF DEMONSTRATION
REF: A. MINSK 218
B. MINSK 221
C. MINSK 228
D. MINSK 249
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (U) On March 23, the Sovetskiy district court postponed
the planned hearing for youth opposition activist Vyacheslav
Sivchik and Belarusian National Front (BNF) leader Vintsuk
Vyachorka to April 4 after both activists failed to show up.
Vyachorka and Sivchik face hooliganism charges after security
services arrested them on March 13, a move that many view as
the GOB's measure to "neutralize" opposition leaders ahead of
the March 25 demonstration (refs A-C).
2. (C) DCM and Poloff and a number of other diplomats (French
Ambassador and DCM, British and Czech Charges, OSCE DCM,
German First Secretary) waited outside the courtroom for
proceedings to begin. However, after two hours, both
defendants had not shown up and the judges did not know when
they would receive the evidence and other case-related
materials. Earlier at a March 21 press conference, Vyachorka
told DCM that he planned to skip his court hearing in order
to participate in the March 25 demonstration, claiming he
would receive no more than a fine for his absence. Sivchik
did show up, but 40 minutes late.
3. (C) Comment: We will see how authorities respond to
Vyachorka and Sivchik on March 25; we expect both to be
arrested on the square and sentenced to brief jail terms for
organizing and participating in an "unsanctioned"
demonstration.
Stewart