Bargaining for Political Prisoners Has Begun? – Digest of Belarusian Analytics
Belarusian analysts began discussing the reasons why Lukashenka pardoned nine participants of protests against falsification of elections in December 2010. Others analyze why those protests have not materialized in political changes and what comes next as the economic crises deepens.
Official Minsk starts bargaining for political prisoners? Alexander Zaitsev, a columnist of naviny.by, examines the possible reasons for Lukashenka’s pardon of nine participants of Ploscha events on December 19, 2010. The journalist believes that the first batch of the amnesty "is likely to be a trial balloon, an attempt to assess the reaction of the West, to throw the hook for a possible dialogue". Over thirty people, including several presidential candidates, remain in Belarusian prisons.
What is happening in Belarus explains Alexander Feduta, political analyst who works for Vladimir Nyaklyaeu's team. According to him, the crisis in the Belarusian economy is payback for populism, and the violent suppression of silent protests linked to the authorities' fear of any public expression of discontent. Unlike in Ukraine during the Orange revolution, there is no independent television in Minsk, nearly anybody can be dismissed from work for political reasons and no rich people who could support the opposition. Feduta hints that they will come up with an alternative strategy to combat the crisis in September.
Delayed revolution. Moscow-based Andrey Suzdaltsev writes about the completion of the Internet revolution in Belarus. He considers silent protests campaign successful, because it demonstrated the protest potential of ordinary Belarusians. Political analyst predicts that suppressing peaceful protests, the government thus could provoke people protests of force format.
The dangerous passivity. Sergei Nikolyuk disagrees that protests will revive to the autumn: "We still observe the reverse process: authoritarian regime is not “crumbled” under pressure by people on squares, but on the contrary, the people come out to the squares after the regime is “scattered”. The cornerstone of a contemporary state regime can only constitute active citizens who are ready to bear responsibility. The economic crisis, however, makes Belarusians to distance themselves from the state and they become very passive. At some point the quantity of those who distance themselves from the state will turn into quality and the state will start crumbling. This is when according to Nikolyuk squares in Belarus will be filled with protesters.
Vain hopes on the German-Russian agreements on Belarus. Mikhas Ilyinsky points out that the Belarusian issue was not on the agends of German-Russian consultations at the highest level in Hanover, held on July 18-19. In any case, the analyst is sure that “the hope for the advent of democracy from the East (Russia) is at least dangerously naïve, and intentionally or not – in fact, encourages Belarus to the loss of state sovereignty”.
Public Councils in Belarus. Olga Smolyanka, director of Legal Transformation Center, writes on legal regulation of the formation and activities of the public councils in Belarus. These councils function under auspices of state institutions, such as ministries to reflect pubic opinion in decision-making by official bodies. She concludes that the lack of clear regulation of activities of public councils and the possibility of state organs to ignore recommendations hinders their effectiveness.
State of gender policy in Belarus – Lyudmila Petina analyzes the state of gender equality and women's rights in Belarus. She thinks the Belarusian experience of recent years has no significant positive changes. Moreover, the last period should be called “the time of missed opportunities and the destruction of gender education”. There are no legislative mechanisms to address domestic violence against women and no attention to gender issues on the labour market. Prosecution of a number of NGOs, including working on gender issues, absence of transparency and civil dialogue affected position of women on the labour market.
Belarus Digest prepared this overview on the basis of materials provided by Pact. This digest attempts to give a richer picture of the recent political and civil society events in Belarus. It often goes beyond the hot stories already available in English-language media.
Mixed Message from Minsk – Politics & Civil Society Digest
Belarus authorities send a mixed message about their willingness to soften repressions against their opponents. On the one hand, nine participants of December 2011 protests against falsification of elections were pardoned last week.
On the other hand, criminal investigation proceedings are now under way against two other participants of the December protests, including a prominent opposition figure. Instead of closing two leading opposition newspapers, Nasha Niva and Narodnaya Volya, Belarusian courts imposed fines against them.
POLITICS
Lukashenka grants pardon to nine Ploscha protesters. On August 11 Alexander Lukashenka signed a decree to pardon nine people convicted on the mass riot case of the Ploscha events on December 19.Among them are Dzmitry Drozd, Artsyom Hrybkow, Syarhey Kazakow, Yawhen Sakret, Uladzimir Yaromenak. Uladzimir Khamichenka was also released. He is widely believed to have been planted among protesters to provoke them into smashing windows in the House of Government during the December 19 demonstration in Minsk.
Two additional Ploscha participants may face prison terms. The case of a new defendant Svyatoslav Baranovich has been directed to the court. Baranovich, a participant of Ploscha events, is charged under Article 293-2 of Criminal Code (participation in mass riot), provided from 3 to 8 years of imprisonment. Criminal investigation on the case of UCP leader Anatoly Lebedko has been reinstated. Lebedko is suspected on criminal case on the Ploscha events on December-19, 2010.
In total, 43 people were convicted under articles of the Criminal Code for organization or participation in the Ploscha events on December-19. 30 of them got various prison terms (from 2 to 6 years), including three ex-presidential candidates: Andrey Sannikov (5 years), Nikolay Statkevich (6 years), Dmitriy Us (5.5 years).
Ales Bialiatsky, Head of Human Rights Centre Viasna, is in custody in Minsk since 5 August 2011. He is suspected under article 243-2 of the Criminal Code (tax evasion on a large scale). Within 10 days he must either be indicted or released. Belarusian authorities accuse Ales Bialiatsky of evading to pay taxes on Br 143.7 million (approx. $28 700) which were channeled through his personal bank account. Human rights defenders and civil society activists began a campaign to collect pledges for the release of Ales Byalyatsky. On August 10 well-known Iranian human rights activist and lawyer Shirin Ebadi, awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, joined the campaign.
Participants of the action at "Bruzgi" border crossing are to pay more than Br 4.3 million. 32 participants of protest at the border crossing in Bruzgi were ordered to pay Br 4 277 000 334 ($855) on the suit of Grodno Department of Internal Affairs (police) and Br 52 000 443 ($10) – on the suit of urban customs. These are the results of the trial which ended on 5 August in the Leninsky district court of Hrodna. The trial was held behind closed doors.
Punishment for a message in Vkontakte. On 8 August Gomel court sentenced 36-year Dmitry Shevchenko to 3 days of administrative arrest under Article 23.34 (violation of order of conducting mass events). The reason for the punishment was a message in the social network "VKontakte" where Shevchenko urged citizens to gather for an unauthorized action on Gomel central square.
Narodnaya Volya was fined of Br 14 million. Edition of Narodnaya Voly should pay Br 14 million ($ 2 800). It was decision of the Supreme Economic Court on August 8. The fine was imposed because, according to the Ministry of Information, the date was improperly put on the front page of the newspaper. Edition is not going to appeal because they do not believe in the independence of the Belarusian court.
CIVIL SOCIETY
A Week of Non-formal Education-2011. On September 24-October 2, 2011 in Belarus a Week of Non-formal Education will be held. Organizers of the 6th NFE Week put on the agenda the issue of availability of non-formal education in Belarusian regions. The organizing committee consists of the following organizations: the State Institution BelTUF, commercial training Center "Square Orange", the Association of Long-Life Education (ADOP) Representation of Association "Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband"(Germany).
The 15th School of Young Journalists. Grodno NGO "Center “Third Sector” announces call for School of Young Journalists. Project School of Young Journalists exists since 1997. Over 14 years about 300 Grodno young people from 16-25 years studied in the School. The graduates work in Belarusian and foreign media.
4th Congress of the new Belarusian Diaspora. The Belarusian NGO "Third Way", the Estonian NGO «Valgevene Uus Tee" invite active Belarusians from around the world to participate in the socio-cultural marathon "Bridges of Solidarity with Belarus in Nordic region". The event will be held on September 14-18, 2011 in Tallinn (Estonia). During the marathon, participants will get acquainted with projects of new generation of the Belarusian Diaspora in the region, meet with prominent politicians and experts.
Belarus Digest prepared this overview on the basis of materials provided by Pact. This digest attempts to give a richer picture of the recent political and civil society events in Belarus. It often goes beyond the hot stories already available in English-language media.
