EMBASSY VISITS POLITICAL PRISONER

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000373 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO SUBJECT: EMBASSY VISITS POLITICAL PRISONER REF: A. 06 MINSK 513 ¶B. MINSK 352 ¶C. MINSK 228 Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d). ¶1. (C) DCM and POLOFF met with opposition youth leader Artur Finkevich on April 26 in the eastern city of Mogilyov, where Finkevich is serving two years of internal exile on trumped up charges of malicious hooliganism and large-scale property damage (ref A). Upon our arrival at his detention facility, correctional authorities questioned the purpose of the Embassy visit and insisted on observing our meeting, just as they had observed OSCE Ambassador Ake Peterson's March 23 visit. Throughout the meeting, authorities frequently interrupted Finkevich and highlighted his numerous alleged "violations" of facility regulations, including several late-night attempts to leave his room to use the lavatory. ¶2. (C) The facility commander - a police lieutenant colonel - and a plainclothes BKGB were present during our meeting, which took place in the commander's office. Reiterating EUR DAS David Kramer's recent strong message to GOB Presidential Administration Deputy Natalya Petkevich in Minsk, the DCM expressed to Finkevich the USG's moral support for him and Belarus' other political prisoners, encouraged him to apply to the GOB for amnesty, and reassured him that the Embassy would continue to follow his situation very closely (ref B). In response to a question from the DCM, Finkevich requested the Embassy to continue showing its support for five of his fellow opposition youth organization "Malady Front" members who face up to two years in prison (ref C). He thanked the Embassy for focusing international attention on his situation. Comment -------------- ¶3. (C) During our visit, Finkevich understandably appeared subdued and wary of the intimidating presence and demeanor of the correctional authorities. Nevertheless, we were deeply moved by the youth leader's resilience and his single-minded concern for his fellow pro-democracy activists. We will observe their upcoming trial - scheduled for May 30 - and continue our efforts to visit other Belarusian political prisoners. Moore