Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MINSK11
2008-01-04 15:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
REGIME ANNOUNCES STEPS TO LIQUIDATE OPPOSITION COMMUNISTS
how-toVZCZCXRO4888 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSK #0011 0041556 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 041556Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6786 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1784 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS MINSK 000011
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PHUM BO
SUBJECT: REGIME ANNOUNCES STEPS TO LIQUIDATE OPPOSITION COMMUNISTS
Ref: A) 07 Minsk 686
B) 07 Minsk 865
UNCLAS MINSK 000011
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PHUM BO
SUBJECT: REGIME ANNOUNCES STEPS TO LIQUIDATE OPPOSITION COMMUNISTS
Ref: A) 07 Minsk 686
B) 07 Minsk 865
1. (U) On January 2, the Belarusian Justice Ministry announced
plans to initiate liquidation proceedings against the opposition
Belarusian Party of Communists (BPC). The announcement came one
month before the party's six-month suspension is set to expire (ref
A). Authorities allege that the party has failed to correct the
violations that caused its suspension, namely that offices are still
located at non-registered addresses, that the BPC member list still
includes the names of deceased people, and that it failed to improve
its membership fee registration practices.
2. (SBU) BPC Deputy Chairman Valeriy Ukhnalyov told poloff that his
party has received notification from authorities, but that a date
for the liquidation hearing has not yet been set. Ukhnalyov stated
that party leadership expected the move, and assumed that
authorities would initiate liquidation hearings around the time the
suspension was to expire. He said they are already preparing their
defense, and are ready to fight. In a separate media interview,
Ukhnalyov asserted that the announcement, though expected, was
premature given the fact that the party is required to submit
documents outlining steps it has taken to improve flaws to the
Justice Ministry ten days before expiration of the suspension, which
the party plans to do by January 21.
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) In the run-up to parliamentary polls to be held later this
year, the regime continues its efforts to eliminate parties with
recognizable brands. Authorities have already liquidated the Green
Party and the women's party "Nadzeya" (ref B),and the Communists
have long been a likely target. Liquidation of the BPC -- chaired
by Sergey Kalyakin, a member of the opposition delegation that
visited Washington December 3-8, 2007 -- would also mean that the
only member of the opposition Coalition of Leftist Parties that
remained registered would be Belarusian Social Democratic Party
"Gramada," headed by former presidential candidate and political
prisoner Aleksandr Kozulin.
Moore
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PHUM BO
SUBJECT: REGIME ANNOUNCES STEPS TO LIQUIDATE OPPOSITION COMMUNISTS
Ref: A) 07 Minsk 686
B) 07 Minsk 865
1. (U) On January 2, the Belarusian Justice Ministry announced
plans to initiate liquidation proceedings against the opposition
Belarusian Party of Communists (BPC). The announcement came one
month before the party's six-month suspension is set to expire (ref
A). Authorities allege that the party has failed to correct the
violations that caused its suspension, namely that offices are still
located at non-registered addresses, that the BPC member list still
includes the names of deceased people, and that it failed to improve
its membership fee registration practices.
2. (SBU) BPC Deputy Chairman Valeriy Ukhnalyov told poloff that his
party has received notification from authorities, but that a date
for the liquidation hearing has not yet been set. Ukhnalyov stated
that party leadership expected the move, and assumed that
authorities would initiate liquidation hearings around the time the
suspension was to expire. He said they are already preparing their
defense, and are ready to fight. In a separate media interview,
Ukhnalyov asserted that the announcement, though expected, was
premature given the fact that the party is required to submit
documents outlining steps it has taken to improve flaws to the
Justice Ministry ten days before expiration of the suspension, which
the party plans to do by January 21.
Comment
--------------
3. (SBU) In the run-up to parliamentary polls to be held later this
year, the regime continues its efforts to eliminate parties with
recognizable brands. Authorities have already liquidated the Green
Party and the women's party "Nadzeya" (ref B),and the Communists
have long been a likely target. Liquidation of the BPC -- chaired
by Sergey Kalyakin, a member of the opposition delegation that
visited Washington December 3-8, 2007 -- would also mean that the
only member of the opposition Coalition of Leftist Parties that
remained registered would be Belarusian Social Democratic Party
"Gramada," headed by former presidential candidate and political
prisoner Aleksandr Kozulin.
Moore