EMBASSY MINSK'S 2008 WOMAN OF COURAGE NOMINEE

UNCLAS MINSK 000885

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAO KWMN CG BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK'S 2008 WOMAN OF COURAGE NOMINEE

REF: STATE 142614


1. (SBU) Embassy Minsk's nominee for the International Woman of
Courage Award is Enira Bronitskaya, former political prisoner, human
rights advocate, civil society activist, and International
Coordinator for the Belarusian NGO Committee for Defense of the
Repressed "Salidarnasts." Nominee is willing to be considered for
the award and agrees if selected to travel to Washington, DC.


2. (SBU) Biographical data as requested in reftel:


A. Full Name: Enira Viktorovna Bronitskaya

B. Job Title: International Coordinator, Committee for Defense
of the Repressed "Salidarnasc"

C. Date of Birth: 31 August 1981

D. Country of Birth: Belarus

E. Citizenship: Belarusian

F. Telephone: (375 29) 183-5623

G. Address: P.O. Box 148, Minsk, Belarus

H. Email: b_enriaa@hotmail.com

I. Passport Number: MP2032130


3. (SBU) In a country where politically-motivated imprisonments and
KGB harassment of pro-democracy activists is commonplace, Enira
Bronitskaya has been a powerful advocate for victims of political
persecution and has been persistent in her efforts to fight
injustice in the Belarusian electoral and legal systems. She was
jailed twice for her work with the election monitoring NGO
"Partnership" which observed several elections in Belarus.
Nevertheless, she emerged from imprisonment an even more determined
civil rights activist, continuing her work as International
Coordinator for the Committee for Defense of the Repressed
"Salidarnasts." She leads the group's efforts in assisting
political prisoners, defendants charged with political crimes, and
students expelled from universities for political reasons. She
continues to face ongoing harassment by the authorities for her
activism, and was once accused by the KGB of plotting a coup.

From Imprisonment For Seeking Fair Elections...
-------------- ---


4. (SBU) Ms. Bronitskaya began her activism as one of the main
leaders of the election monitoring NGO "Partnership." Her
organization observed several Belarusian elections, including the
2003 local elections, the 2004 Parliamentary elections, and a
national referendum allowing the president to stand for a third
term. Despite constant harassment from authorities, her monitoring
team managed to gather evidence to conclude that the Parliamentary
elections and referendum were rigged. "Partnership" published a
report of its findings and circulated it in Belarus and throughout
the international community.


5. (SBU) Subsequent to the elections, authorities banned her
organization. Though political activity by its members thus became
illegal, Bronitskaya continued to develop and strengthen the
organization. She and other leaders of "Partnership" were jailed
twice for their persistence, once in 2005, and again for six months
in 2006.
...To Advocating For Political Defendants and Students
-------------- --------------


6. (SBU) Bronitskaya is currently the International Coordinator for
"Salidarnasts", a group that secures legal help for defendants
charged with political crimes, exposes injustice in the court
system, and assists students expelled from universities for
political reasons.


7. (SBU) Through persistent pressure on school administrators and
other authorities, she has led the organization's effort to fight
politically-motivated expulsions from Belarusian universities. Over
100 students have been expelled for their political activities in
the past year, but through her efforts, many have been able to find
educational opportunities and funding abroad. She works with
foreign governments to accept dissident students into universities
abroad and advocates for scholarship support. She has also
spearheaded the effort to procure legal counsel for defendants
accused of political crimes. Such defendants have often had
difficulty obtaining assistance from lawyers who are reluctant to
get involved in dissident activities. She has successfully
persuaded several lawyers to remain on retainer to defend political
activists. The result has been that many young dissidents have been
able to avoid more severe sentences they surely would have received
if unrepresented. She is now spearheading an effort to publicize
the names of police officers and officials who provide false
evidence in cases against dissidents.


8. (SBU) Enira Bronitskaya is a strong example of an ordinary
citizen who makes great personal sacrifice -- including imprisonment
-- to further democracy and civil rights in her country.
High-profile victories against the regime in Belarus have proven
difficult to achieve. Bronitskaya has shown that brave individuals
can make a difference through a series of smaller victories, helping
to prepare Belarus for a future without dictatorship.


9. (SBU) Political Officer Stephen Kovacsics is post's point of
contact for this nomination. He can be reached via telephone (375
17) 210-1283 or email kovacsicssg2@state.gov.

Stewart