CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
December 19, 2001
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml
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MORE BUSINESSMEN VANISH AND COMMIT SUICIDE IN MINSK
Over the last couple of days there occurred a few strange incidents, which are
to be thoroughly examined by the law-enforcement bodies now. Vecherny Minsk
reports that deputy director of the Atlant-Telecom Ltd died in the 9th clinics,
where he had been placed with a gun wound on his head. According to the preliminary
data, that was a clear suicidal act. A 30-year old man shot himself from an unregistered
small-caliber gun. On the list of the disappeared theres a head of the Interbank
calculation center. A 28-year old Minsker, driving a BMW-318, disappeared off
the street. Analogous situation happened with a 41-year old lady, working as
an accountant in the Priorbank. In late November the woman left her apartment
never to be back
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GREATEST BUDGET EXPENSES IN 2002 WILL GO TO RUN KGB, POLICE
In the year 2002 the budget expenditure on the law-enforcement activities and
provision of the state security will constitute over 368bln or 8,6% of the total
expenses of the national budget. This is the biggest expenditure provision of
all. From this sum they allotted for the state security 34bln45mln rubles, for
the law-enforcers  125bln963mln. So the expected next year expenses for culture,
art and cinema will only amount to 24bln481mln rubles.
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OPPOSITION WARNS UKRAINE NOT TO FOLLOW IN BELARUS FOOTSTEPS
Ukraine.ru
On Tuesday upon the invitation of the Reforms and order party the leaders of
the Belarusian opposition visited Kiev: Vice-Speaker of the Supreme Soviet of
Belarus, chairman of the United Civil Party Anatoly Lebedko and ex-chairman of
the Belarusian National Bank Stanislav Bogdankevich. As noted by the RaO press-service,
during the visit they met with the leader of the bloc Our Ukraine Viktor Uschenko,
deputies chair of the RaO party Sergei Sobolev and Vladimir Filenko.
Afterwards, they ran a press-conference under the heading Democracy in Belarusian
interpretation: will Ukraine get it too? At the press-conference Lebedko stressed
that We have to warn Ukraine not to fall prey of the Belarusian path of development.
According to him, the Belarusian ruling regime of today is the regime of kind
dictatorship. Belarus is the last stronghold of authoritarianism on the political
map of Europe. Our ten years experience is quite negative. The result of Alexander
Lukashenkos seven-year rule is the formation of the parasite non-effective system
of power. The country finds herself in an international isolation,  UNIAN quotes
him as saying.
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ANDREI ZHUKOVETS EXTRADITION DELAYED
The appellate court of Belostok considered the complaint of the Belarusian businessman
Andrei Zhukovets, whom the Belostok district court determined to extradite to
the Belarusian authorities. The appellate court declined the ruling of the district
court and forwarded the case for additional re-consideration to the district
court.
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BELARUS, CHINA WIDEN MILITARY COOPERATION
The enlargement of the military-technical cooperation between Belarus and China
became the key goal for the visit to China on Dec. 10-15 by the Belarusian military
delegation, headed by the leader of the Belarusian air force major-general Sergei
Bulygin. It was the man himself who outlined this as their key goal in an interview
to BelaPAN.
As you remember, over the Dec.5-8 period Belarus was visited by the delegation
of the Academy of national defense of the National Liberation Army of China,
led by the deputy head of the Academy lieutenant-general Gao Tsintsyan. The Chinese
delegates visited among other things the aviation repair company in Baranovich
and 120th motorized infantry unit.
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FREE TRADE UNION PROTESTS REGIMES PRESSURE
Brest regional affiliate of the Free Trade Union of Belarus passed a special
statement, enumerating multiple incidents of the exertion of pressure on them
by the authorities. This pressure has grown particularly wild recently. According
to the regional council of the Free Trade Union, the most distinctive examples
of such pressure, laid down on the FTU members, are witnessed in the Brest State
University. Over the last couple of months the rector dismissed the professors
Evgeny Belasin, Vladimir Zamkovets, Igor Maslovsky and a few people from the
maintenance staff.
Some of these folks were reprimanded. The court is also considering the case
of professor Ivan Kozhuh, who, in contradistinction to the decision of the universitys
scientific council, wasnt approved as head of the department.
Rector of this educational institution Vladimir Pletoukhov calls the Free Trade
Union an illegal and destructive organization. By his personal decision he
evicted the UCP from its premises and refused to provide it with the legal address.
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ALYAXANDAR CHIHIRS CRIMINAL CASE HEARING STARTED
Consideration of the criminal case of Alyaxandar Chihir, the youngest son of
Mikhail Chihir, former Belarus Prime Minister, starts today at 10 a.m. in the
court of the Lenin district of Minsk. Alyaxandar Chihir is accused of cars stealing,
made by organized group, charges related to Article 205, Part 4 of the Criminal
Code of Belarus. Alyaxandar Chihir has been remaining in jail since February
10, 2001. He does not plead guilty As maintained by his closest relatives, politics
is underlying cause of the lawsuit, as Mikhail Chihir is opponent of the regime,
who has participated in presidential vote as a candidate, and experienced political
and criminal persecution himself.
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WITNESSES REVEAL IGNATOVICHS CLOSE TIES WITH SPECIAL SERVICES
At the trial over possible Zavadsys abductor, Ignatovich, the witnesses where
interrogated who agreed to give evidence only in absence of the accused in the
courtroom. The defense believes that it was an important testimony. One of the
witnesses confirmed that former officer of special purposes unit Ignatovich had
close ties with special services of Belarus. He said in particular that Ignatovich
during his crimes showed a new-type pass of the special group Almaz member,
while he had been dismissed from it long ago.
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PEOPLE STAND TRIAL FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT MISSING POLITICIANS
Participants of live chain held on December 9 are to be tried today in Baranavichi.
Nine protesters were arrested during the action. Reports were filed on charges
relating Article 167 part 1 of the Administrative Code. The hearing was rescheduled
as the accused asked for an attorney. Yulia Plotnikava is in the most grave situation,
as she is charged with the picket coordination. She can be sentenced to 15 days
of arrest. Palina Panasiuk, ZUBR activist detained in Brest, is scheduled for
December 22.
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CRIMINAL CASE INSTITUTED AGAINST SILKORT LTD. EMPLOYEES
Minsk regional Financial Investigations Department officers instituted criminal
proceedings against several employees of the Stilkort Ltd., who registered
this firm on February 8, 2000 but did not intend to act according firms Statute.
As BELTA reporter was informed in the State Control Committee, the detained allegedly
cashed money illegally, and as a result the state lost more than 17 millions
BLR.
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ANDREI SANNIKAU: UNDER LUKASHENKA BELARUS PLAYS PART OF AN EXTRA
Belarus is critically disposed to the recent decision of George Bush Administration
that the United States would withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
However, according to Charter97 international coordinator Andrei Sannikau, the
policy of A.Lukashenka led to he situation when opinion of Belarus does not influence
solving crucial strategic problems. It is not likely that Belarusian standpoint
in this relation interests anybody.
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BABRUISK WOMEN ON HUNGER STRIKE IN FRONT OF LUKASHENKAS ADMINISTRATION
Four Babruisk women started hunger strike in front of presidential Administration
on December 19. The four dismissed workers are united by the injustice of the
local authorities. Three of the women demand flats guaranteed by the law, and
the fourth wants to be reinstated at work. In August women from Babruisk held
a ten-day hunger strike at the central square of the town. The mayor promised
to settle the problem after the elections, but he failed. Now the women are going
to protest with banners  an appeal to meet with Lukashenka.
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AMBASSADOR WIECK REMAINS AMG OSCE HEAD UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2002
The head of the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus, Ambassador Hans-Georg
Wieck, is set to leave Belarus on December 22. He informed about it on December
18 in Minsk at the session of the Consultative Council of oppositional political
parties. However Wieck will direct the AMG OSCE until January 1, 2002, as said
by him. Then, if his successor would not be appointed, Wiecks assistant, Michel
Rivalier, is to become acting head of the group.
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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
December 19, 2001
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml