Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MINSK746
2007-08-31 11:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
BELARUS'"FREE THEATER" DEFIES REPRESSION
how-toVZCZCXRO5597 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #0746 2431129 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 311129Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6438 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY 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 000746
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO
SUBJECT: BELARUS'"FREE THEATER" DEFIES REPRESSION
Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000746
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO
SUBJECT: BELARUS'"FREE THEATER" DEFIES REPRESSION
Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (C) On August 29, Charge met with representatives of the
Belarus' independent Free Theater (FT) to express the
Embassy's moral support after authorities raided a private
residence where they were performing the play "Eleven Vests."
Police detained and later released over 40 Belarusian actors
and theatergoers and five foreign nationals, including three
French theater-studio managers, on August 22. Describing the
disproportionate raid as "strange" even in comparison with
previous GOB raids, FT Art Director and principal actor
Nikolay Khalezin recalled to Charge how minutes before the
show began GOB police used buses to block the venue's
entrance, but still allowed the foreign nationals to enter.
Revealing that the performance had been quietly coordinated
with the French Embassy, Khalezin speculated that GOB is
concerned about growing European interest in the FT.
2. (C) According to Khalezin, GOB efforts to suppress the FT
also reflect FT's pro-European (pro-Western) orientation.
The art director elaborated that FT's staff and fans strongly
support the October 14 European March being organized by
Belarus' democratic opposition. He added that FT would
perform plays whose themes explore Belarusian identity within
European civilization with the aim of encouraging support for
Belarus' EU integration. When Charge asked about FT's
financial circumstances, FT Manager Nataliya Koleda and
Director Vladimir Shcherban concurred that the self-financing
FT lacked funds for its eight to nine planned productions
that cost about USD 500 to 600 each and noted that FT would
be very grateful for any outside assistance. Remaining
upbeat, Khalezin noted that his theater enjoys strong moral
support from many Western artists (including playwright Tom
Stoppard and, most recently, singer Mick Jagger) and
unequivocally pledged that Free Theater's shows would go on.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The courage, resilience, and sense of purpose of
these pro-democracy activists -- in light of the enormous GOB
harassment they have faced since FT's founding in 2005 -- is
impressive. Whereas Belarusian opposition parties and civil
society groups seek to democratize and reform Belarus'
institutions, the Free Theater dramatizes the need to
liberate Belarusians' social and cultural consciousness.
Moore
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO
SUBJECT: BELARUS'"FREE THEATER" DEFIES REPRESSION
Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).
1. (C) On August 29, Charge met with representatives of the
Belarus' independent Free Theater (FT) to express the
Embassy's moral support after authorities raided a private
residence where they were performing the play "Eleven Vests."
Police detained and later released over 40 Belarusian actors
and theatergoers and five foreign nationals, including three
French theater-studio managers, on August 22. Describing the
disproportionate raid as "strange" even in comparison with
previous GOB raids, FT Art Director and principal actor
Nikolay Khalezin recalled to Charge how minutes before the
show began GOB police used buses to block the venue's
entrance, but still allowed the foreign nationals to enter.
Revealing that the performance had been quietly coordinated
with the French Embassy, Khalezin speculated that GOB is
concerned about growing European interest in the FT.
2. (C) According to Khalezin, GOB efforts to suppress the FT
also reflect FT's pro-European (pro-Western) orientation.
The art director elaborated that FT's staff and fans strongly
support the October 14 European March being organized by
Belarus' democratic opposition. He added that FT would
perform plays whose themes explore Belarusian identity within
European civilization with the aim of encouraging support for
Belarus' EU integration. When Charge asked about FT's
financial circumstances, FT Manager Nataliya Koleda and
Director Vladimir Shcherban concurred that the self-financing
FT lacked funds for its eight to nine planned productions
that cost about USD 500 to 600 each and noted that FT would
be very grateful for any outside assistance. Remaining
upbeat, Khalezin noted that his theater enjoys strong moral
support from many Western artists (including playwright Tom
Stoppard and, most recently, singer Mick Jagger) and
unequivocally pledged that Free Theater's shows would go on.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The courage, resilience, and sense of purpose of
these pro-democracy activists -- in light of the enormous GOB
harassment they have faced since FT's founding in 2005 -- is
impressive. Whereas Belarusian opposition parties and civil
society groups seek to democratize and reform Belarus'
institutions, the Free Theater dramatizes the need to
liberate Belarusians' social and cultural consciousness.
Moore