The Paper-Based Eurasian Union – Digest of Belarusian Analytics
Belarusian analysts discuss new integration initiatives in the post-Soviet Space and the promise of Europe's Eastern Partnership. Other topics include Mink Gay Pride 2011, the profile of an average internet user in Belarus and the effect of proposed legislation amendments targeting NGOs and foreign aid.
The paper-based Eurasian Union. Andrei Fyodarau analyzes Vladimir Putin and Alyaksandr Lukashenka's recent articles on the creation of the Eurasian Union. Fyodarau thinks that at the basis of the Eurasian Union initative is the Russian imperial idea of "collecting the lands." Alexander Lukashenka also understands it. In his publication Lukashenka keeps returning to the idea that "only equality of partners, including the equality of economic conditions with equal access to a common energy and transport system, will create a solid foundation for our union". Fyodarau questions the economic viability of the Eurasian Union idea.
Summit of the Eastern Partnership and Belarus: Nothing for Nothing Aalyst Dzianis Melyantsou thinks that the Eastern Partnership fails to offer the stimuli necessary for the Belarusian authorities to embark upon reforms. The financial and other possibilities of the EaP remain very much limited. He thinks that there is little chance Belarus will withdraw from the Eastern Partnership because of the potential significance of Minsk’s engagement in the partnership program with the European Union and the need to counterweigh pressures from Moscow.
Belarusian opposition is to be cooked like a frog. Political columnist Pavlyuk Bykovsky and human rights defender Vladimir Labkovich comment on the recent amendments to the legislation. Bykovsky is inclined to not overstate the real effect of the "anti-revolutionary package", since much of the amendment follows the existing rules. According to Labkovich, the situation is fraught as it marks the final reduction of political alternatives and the transition of civil society structures into an underground dissident movement.
Olga Smolianko: freedom of association depends on the will of state. A lawyer and expert in the field of freedom of association, Director of the Legal Transformation Center Olga Smolianko reflects on the problems existing in the registration system for public associations. The process of establishment and registration in very difficult in practice and often differs from the law in the books. Belarusian legislation imposes criminal liability for organizing and participating in the activities of unregistered organizations. Although the authorities rarely invoke this article, many activists and initiatives are under constant threat of criminal prosecution. Even registration of an organization abroad is not an absolute defense against it.
Who uses the Internet in Belarus? The European Radio for Belarus along with Mikhail Doroshevich, Head of Gemius-Belarus, have composed a portrait of a Belarusian internet user. 33% of Belarusian internet users live in Minsk. The most active group are users of 25-34 years (28%), who make up 34% of all views and spend 33% of their time on the web. The most popular websites in Belarus include portal tut.by and social networks vkontakte.ru and odnoklassniki.ru.
Vyacheaslau Bortnik: Will Belarusian authorities love gays? Human rights activist Vyacheslav Bortnik analyzes recent remarks by Lukashenka and the political situation, and concludes that the authorities will not ban the scheduled "Minsk Gay Pride 2011" march on 22 October. Bortnik thinks that the Belarusian authorities are less homophobic than the Belarusian opposition and that allowing a gay parade in Minsk would be the best present for German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
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.
Criminal Case against a Prominent Musician – Politics and Civil Society Digest
Syarhei Mikhalok
Last week the Belarusian authorities initiated a criminal case against a prominent Belarusian musician for insulting Lukashenka. They also imposed fines on organizers of the People's Assembly and introduced controversial amendments to strengthen security services. The main civil society developments included appeals against a Russian-built nuclear station in Belarus and Minsk Gay Pride-2011.
POLITICS
Criminal case initiated against Mikhalok. According to Belaruski Partyzan, a criminal case was opened against Syarhei Mikhalok, the leader of the iconic Belarusian music band Lyapis Trubetskoy. He is charged with insulting Lukashenka. The musician is famous for his audacious remarks criticizing the authorities. In one video interview he said that Lukashenka organized a cultural genocide against Belarusians and the best thing he deserved was a fair trial.
Last defendant in December 19 case was not sentenced to imprisonment. On 12 October, one more participant of a protest rally against the rigged presidential election has been convicted for "taking part in mass riots". Svyataslau Baranovich was sentenced to three years of restriction of freedom but without sending him to a penal facility. Human Rights Center Viasna considers the conviction of Svyatoslav Baranovich to be unlawful and politically motivated.
The total number of political prisoners. There are no less than ELEVEN political prisoners in prison: ex-presidential candidates Andrey Sannikov, Nikolay Statkevich; leader of the campaign “European Belarus” Dmitry Bondarenko; Paval Seviarynets; Head of the Human Rights Centre “Viasna” Ales Byalyatsky; youth leaders Zmitser Dashkevich and Eduard Lobov; entrepreneur Nikholay Autukhovich. Anarchists Igor Olinevich, Nikholay Dedok and Alexander Frantskevich are recognized as political prisoners of the Belarusian regime by human rights of Viasna and BHC. Three more anarchists from Bobrujsk Yauhen Vaskovich, Pavel Syramalotau and Artiom Prakapenka are under discussion.
People’s Assembly. On 8 October, an opposition rally called "Narodny Skhod" (People’s Assembly) was held in Minsk. The event, which took place in the remote People's Friendship Park in Bangalore Square and was attended by a crowd estimated by reporters at 500 to 700, resulted in the adoption of a resolution containing a series of demands to be put forward to the government. Assemblies were also held in four regional centers – Vitebsk (300 participants), Mogilev (250 participants), Gomel (400 participants), Brest (250 participants) – and 11 other cities: Vileika, Slutsk, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, Bobruisk, Baranovichi, Slonim, etc. Organizers of People’s Assembly were detained across the country.
Fines for the People's Assembly. On 13 October, Victor Ivashkevich, a coordinator of People‘s Assembly, was fined Br1,4 million for “violation of the order of organizing and holding mass events”. For the same offence a number of other people were fined in Belarusian regions: Uladzimir Katsora and Uladzimir Niapomniashchykh in Homel (October 10, resp. Br350,000 and Br175,000); Valery Sliapukhinin Gomel (October 11, Br1,4 million); Viktar Myazyak in Baranavichy (October 11, Br350,000); Ales Masiuk in Slonim (October 12, Br175,000).
New amendments to legislation. New amendments are to tighten conditions for public and political activity in Belarus. This is provided for by the law “On amendments to the law of the Republic of Belarus”. The document was adopted by the House of Representatives and approved by the Council of the Republic on 3 October 2011. The law confirms amendments to a number of laws forbidding any protests without permission and imposing criminal responsibility for foreign financing of NGOs. In addition, the draft law “On amendments to the law of the Republic of Belarus on bodies of state security of the Republic of Belarus” was introduced to the parliament. The document will significantly extend the power of the State Security Committee.
The leaders of Belarusian NGOs and human rights activists urge the authorities to repeal repressive laws. The joint statement was signed on 13 October. Among the signatories are "Human Rights Alliance", Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Rada of the Belarusian intelligentsia, Belarusian Association of Journalists, Belarusian PEN-Center, the Assembly of Democratic NGOs, the Center for Legal Transformation, initiative "For free exercise of religion", Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, the Center "Viasna".
CIVIL SOCIETY
Environmentalists appeal against nuclear power plant. Belarusian and Russian environmental activists have expressed concern about a "contract agreement" on the construction of the first two units of a nuclear power plant in Belarus that was signed with Russia on 11 October. On 12 October, the appeal to Russia’s finance and foreign ministries, Russia`s Atomstroiexport (the prime contractor in the project), and the Directorate for the Construction of a Nuclear Power Plant was signed by more than 50 activists of various environmental groups, including Belarus’ Ecodom, the Belarusian Party of the Greens and the Movement of Scientists for Nuclear-free Belarus.
Aleh Manayeu held briefing for diplomats. On 12 October, Professor Manayeu told diplomats at the Embassy of Poland in Minsk about the results of the latest poll by the IISEPS. The conversation attracted about 25 diplomats from different countries and lasted two hours. The briefing was not held last Thursday, because Professor Manayeu was detained by police just before it was scheduled to start.
About 300,000 USD allocated to projects of the International Children's Fund in Belarus. USAID has allocated 300,000 USD for the projects of the International Children's Fund in Belarus. As part of this support, International Children's Fund has called for proposals aimed at preventing child abandonment and institutionalization.
Gay Pride in Minsk. On 11 October, the opening ceremony of the Minsk Gay Pride-2011 was held in a Minsk club. Minsk Gay Pride, held from 11 to 23 October, is supported by human rights activists, political, social, and cultural figures. The Pride program includes the Congress of a human rights project "GayBelarus" as well as the demonstration in support of tolerance towards the LGBT community and the protection the rights of LGBT people in Belarus. The march is scheduled for 22 October.
BISS Conference Statement – In Search of Space. On 5-6 October, the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies was supposed to conduct its annual conference entitled Belarus in 2011: Out of Crisis and Uncertainty. The conference, co-organized by the EU Delegation and supported by a number of distinguished international organizations, has been postponed for November given the sudden cancelation of the premises reservation. The final decision will be made at the end of October by the BISS Board.
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.
