Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MINSK95
2007-02-01 19:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
GOB RENEWS LEASE OF LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS NGO
how-toVZCZCXRO5871 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #0095 0321906 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 011906Z FEB 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5585 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1407 RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000095
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BO
SUBJECT: GOB RENEWS LEASE OF LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS NGO
REF: MINSK 066
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000095
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BO
SUBJECT: GOB RENEWS LEASE OF LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS NGO
REF: MINSK 066
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On January 31, the GOB reversed a December 2006
decision and announced that it would renew the lease contract
for the offices of the prominent human rights organization
the Belarus Helsinki Committee (BHC) for one more year. The
GOB denied any political motivation in its original
cancellation of the lease, claiming that the decision
resulted from the BHC's repeated late rental payments. In
the context of recent difficulties with Russia, the GOB's
concession to the BHC coupled with its repeated calls for
dialogue with the U.S. and EU underscore the regime's efforts
(albeit weak) to pretend that its image in the West is not
completely tarnished. End summary.
GOB Extends BHC's Lease for One Year
--------------
2. (U) On January 31, the Belarusian authorities informed
Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) head Tatyana Protko that
the lease on the BHC's office, which the GOB had annulled in
December 2006 (reftel),had been extended for one more year
under the current terms. The contract renewal ensures that
the BHC, one of the three remaining registered human rights
NGOs in Belarus, will possess a legal address for the next
year, thus eliminating the immediate threat of liquidation.
(Note: The BHC still faces a court trial over unpaid taxes on
a foreign grant, but this case has been sitting for months.
End note.) Protko commended the GOB's response as a step
towards "understanding the European system of values" and
thanked the U.S. and the EU for their strong public
statements condemning the BHC's eviction.
GOB Denies Political Motivation in Lease Cancellation
-------------- --------------
3. (U) On January 31, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
spokesperson Andrey Popov dismissed allegations that the GOB
intentionally evicted the BHC from its offices. Instead, he
sought to explain to Belarus' "EU and U.S. partners" that the
cancellation of the lease resulted from the BHC's constant
late rent payments, despite a low rent subsidized by
government discounts. (Note: BHC deputy Oleg Gulak told
Emboff on January 26 that the BHC was late paying its rent
only one time in 2006. End note.) Popov denied any
political motivation in the GOB's original decision to cancel
the lease and chastised the BHC leadership for duping the
European Commission and the Department of State into "making
strident political statements on a matter that does not
exist."
Comment
--------------
4. (C) The renewal of the BHC's lease is a small victory for
that NGO. The authorities' concession may be an indication
that the GOB is concerned about its international reputation.
Given Belarus' recent difficulties with Russia, this
concession to the BHC is aimed at encouraging the West to
relax its restrictive measures against the regime. Only many
additional and far more comprehensive concessions from the
GOB, including the release of all political prisoners, would
constitute a clear reversal from Lukashenko's repressive
tactics.
Moore
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL BO
SUBJECT: GOB RENEWS LEASE OF LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS NGO
REF: MINSK 066
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On January 31, the GOB reversed a December 2006
decision and announced that it would renew the lease contract
for the offices of the prominent human rights organization
the Belarus Helsinki Committee (BHC) for one more year. The
GOB denied any political motivation in its original
cancellation of the lease, claiming that the decision
resulted from the BHC's repeated late rental payments. In
the context of recent difficulties with Russia, the GOB's
concession to the BHC coupled with its repeated calls for
dialogue with the U.S. and EU underscore the regime's efforts
(albeit weak) to pretend that its image in the West is not
completely tarnished. End summary.
GOB Extends BHC's Lease for One Year
--------------
2. (U) On January 31, the Belarusian authorities informed
Belarusian Helsinki Committee (BHC) head Tatyana Protko that
the lease on the BHC's office, which the GOB had annulled in
December 2006 (reftel),had been extended for one more year
under the current terms. The contract renewal ensures that
the BHC, one of the three remaining registered human rights
NGOs in Belarus, will possess a legal address for the next
year, thus eliminating the immediate threat of liquidation.
(Note: The BHC still faces a court trial over unpaid taxes on
a foreign grant, but this case has been sitting for months.
End note.) Protko commended the GOB's response as a step
towards "understanding the European system of values" and
thanked the U.S. and the EU for their strong public
statements condemning the BHC's eviction.
GOB Denies Political Motivation in Lease Cancellation
-------------- --------------
3. (U) On January 31, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
spokesperson Andrey Popov dismissed allegations that the GOB
intentionally evicted the BHC from its offices. Instead, he
sought to explain to Belarus' "EU and U.S. partners" that the
cancellation of the lease resulted from the BHC's constant
late rent payments, despite a low rent subsidized by
government discounts. (Note: BHC deputy Oleg Gulak told
Emboff on January 26 that the BHC was late paying its rent
only one time in 2006. End note.) Popov denied any
political motivation in the GOB's original decision to cancel
the lease and chastised the BHC leadership for duping the
European Commission and the Department of State into "making
strident political statements on a matter that does not
exist."
Comment
--------------
4. (C) The renewal of the BHC's lease is a small victory for
that NGO. The authorities' concession may be an indication
that the GOB is concerned about its international reputation.
Given Belarus' recent difficulties with Russia, this
concession to the BHC is aimed at encouraging the West to
relax its restrictive measures against the regime. Only many
additional and far more comprehensive concessions from the
GOB, including the release of all political prisoners, would
constitute a clear reversal from Lukashenko's repressive
tactics.
Moore