YOUTH MOVEMENT CHAIR DEFIANT AHEAD OF SHOW TRIALS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000747

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO
SUBJECT: YOUTH MOVEMENT CHAIR DEFIANT AHEAD OF SHOW TRIALS

REF: A. MINSK 733

B. MINSK 457

Classified By: Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d).


1. (C) On August 31, Charge and Poloff met with opposition
youth organization Malady Front (MF) Chair Dmitriy (Zmitser)
Fedaruk on the eve of the trials of three MF regional leaders
(ref A). When Charge pledged the Embassy's presence at the
trials, Fedaruk expressed his deepest gratitude to the
Embassy for its unwavering moral support during his own
recent trial on the same charge and credited the United
States with his freedom (ref B). The 18-year-old opposition
leader observed that the USG's attention-raising efforts were
particularly important now because of noticeably less active
support currently for MF from Belarus' democratic opposition
parties than he received during his trial. Fedaruk added
that apart from MF founder and Belarusian Christian Democracy
Party (BCDP) Co-Chair Pavel Severinets, opposition movement
"For Freedom" leader Aleksandr Milinkevich is the only major
opposition leader to visit with Fedaruk's indicted MF
compatriots.


2. (C) Turning to opposition politics, Charge noted that MF
had recently signed cooperation agreements with BCDP and "For
Freedom" and asked whether MF intended to become a part of
those organizations. Acknowledging a very close relationship
between MF and BCDP and reiterating MF's strong support for
Milinkevich, Fedaruk unequivocally pledged that MF would
always remain an independent youth organization separate from
partisan politics. Fedaruk further distanced MF from the
parties by expressing ambivalence about the 2008
parliamentary elections. Fedaruk intimated that his
organization might boycott the elections, especially if MF
senses that the United Democratic Forces would simply
withdraw its candidates days before the election. Recalling
how the GOB had stolen previous elections, Fedaruk wondered
aloud if democracy might be better served if Belarusians went
to the square instead of the polls. Charge countered, noting
that the political parties saw the campaign season as an
important opportunity to s
peak to the general public.

Comment
--------------


3. (C) Throughout the meeting, the young opposition leader's
thoughts clearly remained with his persecuted compatriots.
In this context, his current frustration with political
parties and election campaigns is understandable.
Nevertheless, Fedaruk's poise and determination are
inspiring; he was remarkably upbeat, and invited the Embassy
to help mark Malady Front's 10th anniversary on September 6.
We will continue our efforts to drum up more moral support
for the indicted activists by attending their trials
scheduled for September 4 and 10.
Moore