POLICE PREVENT DEMONSTRATION ON CENTRAL SQUARE

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000119

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV ECON PINR BO
SUBJECT: POLICE PREVENT DEMONSTRATION ON CENTRAL SQUARE

REF: A. MINSK 017


B. MINSK 090

Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).

Summary
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1. (C) On February 18, security forces prevented several
dozen protestors from gathering on October Square in central
Minsk, although a small group was allowed to protest
elsewhere. Police took in eight persons, including Aleksandr
Milinkevich, for several hours of questioning to prevent them
from joining the demonstration. Restraint by the security
services likely reflects a decision not to foul up attempts
to achieve concessions from the West in return for the
release of political prisoners. End summary.

Police Head of Off Latest Entrepreneurs' Protest
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2. (SBU) Police used overwhelming numbers to non-violently
move about 50 protestors opposed to restrictions on small
businesses from Minsk's October Square. Some protestors
dispersed, but a group of approximately 15 proceeded under
heavy police escort to walk away from October Square. They
stopped for about 10 minutes at a major intersection and held
up signs, before moving along to another intersection where
they protested for half an hour.


3. (C) Police picked up at least eight opposition activists,
including Aleksandr Milinkevich, Olga Kozulina and Vyacheslav
Sivchik on the way to the demonstration. Authorities
released them all a couple hours after the demonstration
disbanded. Allegedly police wanted to question them
regarding a previous entrepreneurs' demonstration on January
10 (ref A). However, Kozulina told reporters no one asked
her any questions. Sivchik pointed out to Acting DCM and
Acting Pol/Econ Chief that he was in police custody January

10. Milinkevich told A/DCM his interrogators could not or
would not tell him what alleged crime they were investigating
or who the suspect was. Milinkevich added that police
officials were almost apologetic toward him because they knew
the questioning had nothing to do with law enforcement.
Several entrepreneurs in the regions were prevented from
coming to Minsk the day of protests either through arrests or
house arrests.


4. (C) Milinkevich noted that while riding in a police car
to the station he could overhear orders radioed to officers
policing the demonstration. He said the commands called for
pushing protestors at least a kilometer from October Square,
but to avoid provocation to violence and to perform their
duties with a smile.

Comment: Dictatorship with a Kinder Face?
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5. (C) As predicted, splits between leaders of entrepreneurs
and fading hopes for a quick compromise naturally drove down
turnout (ref B). Quick action by security forces against the
boldest demonstrators, combined with paddy wagons positioned
on October Square, deterred other would-be protestors from
expressing their opinions. The regime's decision to forgo
violent tactics and to limit arrests most likely demonstrates
a desire not to alienate the West and spoil any good will
generated by the recent release of political prisoners.
STEWART