Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MINSK79
2008-02-05 15:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
GOB RELEASES FOURTH POLITICAL PRISONER: YOUTH
how-toVZCZCXRO9887 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSK #0079 0361511 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 051511Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6877 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1817 RUEHBS/USMISSION USEU 0273 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000079
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINR BO
SUBJECT: GOB RELEASES FOURTH POLITICAL PRISONER: YOUTH
ACTIVIST ARTUR FINKEVICH
REF: A. 07 MINSK 1049
B. MINSK 051
C. MINSK 024
D. STATE 10777
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000079
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINR BO
SUBJECT: GOB RELEASES FOURTH POLITICAL PRISONER: YOUTH
ACTIVIST ARTUR FINKEVICH
REF: A. 07 MINSK 1049
B. MINSK 051
C. MINSK 024
D. STATE 10777
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The regime released political prisoner Artur
Finkevich February 5, making him the fourth political
prisoner freed since January 18. The move suggests the GOB
will move forward with its plan to liberate all political
prisoners, although the most difficult cases remain. End
summary.
Artur Finkevich Sentence Commuted to Time Served
-------------- ---
2. (U) On February 5, the Mogilyov oblast court of appeals
upheld the conviction of youth activist Artur Finkevich on
charges of violating the terms of his previous sentence to
hard labor (ref A). However, the court -- at the
recommendation of the prosecution -- commuted the sentence
from 18 months to time served, and announced that the
decision would become effective the same day. Finkevich was
released just two hours later, becoming the fourth
internationally recognized political prisoner released by the
GOB in less than three weeks.
Comment: Four Down, Two Plus to Go
--------------
3. (C) From start to finish, Finkevich's hearing, attended
by Pol/Econ Chief, took less than two hours. The speed at
which the appeals court reached the decision to release
Finkevich indicates clear instructions from Minsk. In
finding a means to release Finkevich, the regime hopefully
foreshadowed its modus operandi to release journalist
Aleksandr Sdvizhkov (ref B),whose appeal should be heard
this month. (Note: Finkevich had been visited by DCM in
April 2007; we will seek a meeting with him this week. End
note.)
Comment (cont.)
--------------
4. (C) The GOB must also release the two long-term political
prisoners, former presidential candidate Aleksandr Kozulin
and former MP Andrey Klimov, who previously attracted strong
political support from beyond the ranks of idealistic youth.
Fortunately, Finkevich's release also suggests that the
German Ambassador's ill-timed meeting with Lukashenko (ref D)
has not dissuaded the regime from following through with the
release of additional political prisoners.
STEWART
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2018
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINR BO
SUBJECT: GOB RELEASES FOURTH POLITICAL PRISONER: YOUTH
ACTIVIST ARTUR FINKEVICH
REF: A. 07 MINSK 1049
B. MINSK 051
C. MINSK 024
D. STATE 10777
Classified By: Ambassador Karen Stewart for reason 1.4 (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) The regime released political prisoner Artur
Finkevich February 5, making him the fourth political
prisoner freed since January 18. The move suggests the GOB
will move forward with its plan to liberate all political
prisoners, although the most difficult cases remain. End
summary.
Artur Finkevich Sentence Commuted to Time Served
-------------- ---
2. (U) On February 5, the Mogilyov oblast court of appeals
upheld the conviction of youth activist Artur Finkevich on
charges of violating the terms of his previous sentence to
hard labor (ref A). However, the court -- at the
recommendation of the prosecution -- commuted the sentence
from 18 months to time served, and announced that the
decision would become effective the same day. Finkevich was
released just two hours later, becoming the fourth
internationally recognized political prisoner released by the
GOB in less than three weeks.
Comment: Four Down, Two Plus to Go
--------------
3. (C) From start to finish, Finkevich's hearing, attended
by Pol/Econ Chief, took less than two hours. The speed at
which the appeals court reached the decision to release
Finkevich indicates clear instructions from Minsk. In
finding a means to release Finkevich, the regime hopefully
foreshadowed its modus operandi to release journalist
Aleksandr Sdvizhkov (ref B),whose appeal should be heard
this month. (Note: Finkevich had been visited by DCM in
April 2007; we will seek a meeting with him this week. End
note.)
Comment (cont.)
--------------
4. (C) The GOB must also release the two long-term political
prisoners, former presidential candidate Aleksandr Kozulin
and former MP Andrey Klimov, who previously attracted strong
political support from beyond the ranks of idealistic youth.
Fortunately, Finkevich's release also suggests that the
German Ambassador's ill-timed meeting with Lukashenko (ref D)
has not dissuaded the regime from following through with the
release of additional political prisoners.
STEWART