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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
February 12, 2002
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml
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TRIAL FOR MOUSTACHED MASKS

Hearings in the case over "insult of the president" are to start at Shklou court
on February
13, 2002 at 10 a.m. It is the first occasion in the history of the court system
of the Republic
of Belarus. The public prosecutor's office charges the local activists of the
ZUBR resistance
movement: Mikhas Kisyalou, Maxim Patupchyk, Ales Paulovich, Dzianis Senakosau,
Zmitser
Shalashkou, - with the insult of the last dictator of Europe.
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LUKASHENKO THREATENS NTV, RUSSIAN BUSINESS
At the Cabinet of Ministers' session Alexander Lukashenko said the following:
"Tell Bolloev
(Taimuraz Bolloev occupies the post of the president of the "Baltika" brewery
from
St.Petersburg) that if I ever run again into materials, made to order on NTV
or other dishonest
media there'll be no more place for "Baltika" here, nor for any other Russian
firm. If Russian
businessmen feel like engaging in liberalization and privatization of companies,
let them do it
the Belarusian way. No blackmail will succeed in Belarus,"- reports "Interfax".
News report on the peculiarities of the Belarusian authorities' cooperation with
the Russian
businessmen was televised by the NTV company on Sunday. The journalists said
that "Baltika" had
allegedly agreed with Lukashenko to provide the "Krynitsa" brewery with a $10mln
loan in
exchange for the control stock of shares by December 2001. "The deadline expired
2 months ago,
while the Petersburg residents saw nothing of the promised control stock. Further
financial
support of the Belarusian project was halted by "Baltika", while it keeps listening
to the
calming promises of the other side" (NTV, "Namedni", 10.02).
The "Namedni" anchorman Parfenov concluded that "the destiny of investments into
the Belarus by
the leading beer company of Russia "Baltika" for the very first time clearly
manifests what it
means "to be fooled in the Belarusian manner."
As you remember, today the Vice-President of the "Baltika" company Adam Tlekhurai
said that
they determined to return credits, invested into the "Krynitsa". In case there
emerge problems
over the invested funds, "Baltika's" leadership will initiate court proceedings
on the matter.
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FORMER BREST DEPUTY MAYOR FACES LEGAL ACTION
Damage inflicted upon the state became the reason for opening legal action against
the former
deputy chair of the Brest town hall Nikolai Nazaruk. BELTA correspondent quotes
the police
press-center as claiming that Nikolai Lazaruk deliberately did not require from
the "Blik Ltd."
the payment of funds for the development of the town's engineer infrastructure.
By so doing he
had allegedly inflicted a $80 thousand damage on the state.
Lawsuit against the former deputy mayor of the regional center, who hasn't been
employed in
this capacity for around 2 years, was instituted by the local procuracy representatives,
who are
now holding investigation experiments.
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KUROPATY TO TURN INTO TOTALITARIAN VICTIMS' NECROPOLIS
Famous Belarusian artist Aleksei Marochkin criticized the position of the Belarusian
Committee
for peace, which is imposing its own concept of Kuropaty memorial without preliminary
public
consent. According to him, the BCP's initiative is yet another attempt to avoid
public
discussions on the matter. The painter also insists that they exclude from the
document the
notion "of historical-cultural value", referring to the future memorial's status.
"It turns out
that murderers and terrorists, NKVD agents founded on the territory of Belarus
numerous
historical and cultural monuments. I believe that Kuropaty must be granted a
special status of
the National memorial-necropolis of the victims of totalitarianism," - underscored
Marochkin.
In his opinion, the memorial must have a fence and guards, so that the volunteers
didn't have
to stay on watch there day and night, protecting it from potential vandals. The
painter further
believes that it is necessary to preserve and even intensify the memorial's main
monument - the
Cross of sufferings, erected in 1989.
"Finally, this Road of sufferings (another Golgotha), going across the Kuropaty's
body, may end
in the Wall of silence, small chapel or a sculptural composition, such as the
"Mourning over
Christ" by Michelangelo Buonarotti," - stressed Marochkin. According to him,
the temples of
various confessions and the museum of the victims of the totalitarian regime
have to be moved
outside the memorial's protected zone in order to rule out the possibility for
any ground works
on the memorial's territory.
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AGRICULTURE STILL RECEIVES SUBSIDIES
In 2001 the Belarusian companies, specializing in producing mineral fertilizers,
suffered
tremendous losses. Losses from the fertilizers' supplies to the interior market
amounted to
around 38mln rubles (including "Belaruskaliy's" losses - 25bln rubles, "Azot's"
- 12bln rubles,
the rest being the losses of the Gomel chemical plant). BelaPAN reports that
the issue had been
discussed at the "Belneftehim" concern's directorate's meeting last week. Therefore,
the
concern's leadership indirectly confirmed the phenomenon, thoroughly disguised
by the statesmen:
there occurs a hidden financial support of the agriculture at the cost of the
companies' losses.
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BREST AGRICULTURE IN SHAMBLES
The situation with the Brest region agricultural companies remains tough. According
to the
Brest regional department for statistics, in January the production of meat at
the agricultural
companies fell by 17% or 2,1 thousand tons. There also dropped the number of
cattle.
According to the Committee for state control of the Brest region, the country's
collective
farms have numerously distorted the statistical reports. Under the latest data,
supplied by the
regional department for statistics, the agriculture's creditor's indebtedness
amounts to 24% of
the overall region's debt. 29,3% of agricultural companies are operating at a
loss. The level of
profitability in the state collective farms and households is under the average
regional level
and constitutes 3,6%.
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"GASPROM" INCURS LOSSES OWING TO BELARUS
For the first time in half-year period the "Gasprom's" leadership declared possible
and quite
significant reduction of gas industry's incomes: deputy chair of the company
Alexander Ryasanov
recently told the journalists that "pure profits of gas suppliers this year will
fell by
approximately one third - to 73bln rubles." According to Ryazanov, this happens
due to the
"Russia's decision to reduce gas tariffs for the neighboring Belarus - from 30
to 10 dollars per
1 thousand cubic meters since April 1," - reports GazetaSNG.ru.
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BLOODY RIOT
"Narodnaya Volya"
Slightly over a year ago there happened a rebellion in the Vitebsk juvenile colony
#1. Days
before the Orthodox Christmas, to be more precise on January 5-6, 2001, the platoon
#6 was
brought by the commanders to the drill square. All of a sudden the crowd rushed
back into their
barracks and barricaded the entrance. The guys refused to open the doors to the
administration,
claiming that they would only negotiate with the town authorities.
During the peaceful debates the "insurgents" managed to break the windows and
set the state
property on fire. Moreover, they also took hostage a guard, who came there to
help his
colleagues stop the riot. Fortunately, the difference between the two barbed
wire fences was 500
meters. By the way, in Vitebsk there's one more juvenile colony #3. The third
one is located in
Bobruisk, while the similar establishment for the young females is situated in
Gomel, on the
women's prison site.
The colony's leadership turned out completely helpless and immediately started
ringing alarm
bells. Chief of the Vitebsk police, general Valery Gorodenko also called on the
rioters to
surrender, giving them ten minutes to think over his proposal. There followed
silence, after
which the building became noisy as before. Then, at seeing the futility of all
police efforts,
the relay baton was passed over to father Dimitry. The priest read out prayers,
tried to
convince the boys to be obedient and not to sin before the Lord. There gathered
multitudes of
high-ranking officials. However, none of their proposals seemed to work well.
Nor did they pay
any heed to the deputy regional prosecutor Valery Zhigalenko.
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TRIAL OVER EUROPE'S LAST BUT ONE DICTATOR
Today the judicial palace #3 of the International tribunal for former Yugoslavia,
chaired by
the judge Richard Mei, will open court proceedings over the Yugoslavian ex-president
Slobodan
Milosevic. It will be the first time that any head of state will ever appear
in ITFY. The
prosecutor general Karla del Ponte is convinced that bringing to account such
high-ranking
official as Milosevic sure is will help prevent the future crimes and make substantial
contribution into the peace process worldwide.
The jury will consider all three accusatory statements, brought forth against
Milosevic,
dealing with the bloodshed in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. However,
in the
beginning the prosecution will take the floor to speak on the crimes against
humanity,
reportedly committed by Milosevic's henchmen in Kosovo. Karla del Ponte hasn't
yet finished to
prepare materials on Bosnia and Croatia. According to the judicial palace, she
is supposed to do
that by July 1 at the latest.
Milosevic is indicted for crimes against humanity, violation of laws and war
rules, as well as
for the flagrant infringement on the 1949 Geneva convention.
The accusation statement on Kosovo confirms that in 1999 Milosevic, along with
other
high-ranking Yugoslav and Serbian leaders masterminded the campaign of terror
and violence
against Kosovo peaceful population, incited and guided the criminal actions within
the framework
of this operation. In particular, Milosevic is charged with exiling out of Kosovo
800 thousand
civilians and slaying 340 peaceful Albanians, whose names are enumerated in the
documents.
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ST.VALENTINE'S DAY UNSANCTIONED BY AUTHORITIES
The Minsk city hall didn't satisfy the request of the Young Front to hold on
February 14 a
rally on the Yakub Kolas square, located in the Skarina prospect in downtown
Minsk. However, as
said by the Young Front's leader Pavel Severinets, the action will take place,
regardless of the
position of both mayor Pavlov and Alexander Lukashenko. The rally will commence
in Minsk on
St.Valentine's Day at 5p.m. from the Yakub Kolas square.
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CURFEW FINES FOR UNDER-AGED
Vitebsk region authorities forbade the teenagers aged under 16 to be present
at public places
without their parents at 9p.m. until 6a.m. during the academic year and from
11p.m. until 6a.m.
during the holidays. For violating this norm the parents will face administrative
punishment in
the form of a warning or fine of up to three minimal wages. The functions of
the punitive body
are placed with the commission for juveniles.
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NEW LEGAL ACTION AGAINST POLICE
Procuracy forwarded for consideration into the Central district court of Minsk
a legal action
against the law-enforcers of that district Marat Novik and Yuri Trus. The policemen
are charged
with harassing people during interrogations. Analogous cases against police are
now considered
by the Frunzensky, Moskovsky, Zavodsky and Leninsky courts of Minsk. As a matter
of fact, the
consideration of cases, involving the law-enforcers, is usually more time-consuming
than any
other legal actions.
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ELECTRICITY TARIFFS SKYROCKET BY 25%
The Ministry of economy of Belarus raised on February 8 by 25% all tariffs on
electricity for
the population. From now on 1 kilowatt-hour for the urban residents, living in
apartments with
gas stoves, costs 24 rubles (previously - 19,2). Same is the cost of electricity,
utilized by
the Ministry of healthcare hospitals, horticulture societies, garage construction
cooperatives,
elevators etc. Electricity tariffs for countryside population and urban dwellers,
living in
flats with gas cookers, will increase from 13,9 to 17,4 rubles.
By another Ministry of economy's ruling the tariff for heat energy for the population
went 20%
up - from 6.269,9 to 7.523,9 rubles.
The previous growth of tariffs occurred on November 15, 2001 (by 10,3%). In total,
during last
year the energy became 33,3% more costlier.
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BELARUS, LIBYA SET TO SPEED UP ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Belarus and Libya enjoy great political relationships, which aren't though backed
by an
economic cooperation, said chair of the "house of representatives" Vadim Popov
during his
February 11 meeting with the Libyan charge-d'affaires Abdullah Muhammed Almagravi.
According to
Popov, the current economic relations between the two countries dwell in a "frozen
state".
Nonetheless, he says, the situation cannot be changed for the better except through
the recently
set up Belarusian-Libyan intergovernmental commission for trade-economic cooperation.
Popov likewise specified that Belarus and Libya's foreign policy coincide in
many points.
The Libyan diplomat in his turn pointed out the high level of political contacts,
established
by the two states, and recognized the positive role of the bilateral intergovernmental
commission in the economic relations development. According to the diplomat,
the first step had
been made during the last visit to Tripoli by the Belarusian government delegation,
when they
determined to form a Belarusian-Libyan bank. "I believe that in the near future
we will see more
steps in that direction," - said Abdullah Muhammed Almagravi.
The diplomat also handed over to Popov an invitation from the leadership of the
Libyan
parliament to pay an official visit to his country whenever it is convenient
for him.
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HIGHEST INFLATION LEAP RECORDED IN JANUARY
In January Belarus witnessed the highest inflation growth over the past 16 months.
According to
the Ministry of statistics and analysis, the consumer prices rose by 6,1%. A
higher index was
registered in September 2000 - 6,8%. In December 2001 the consumer prices rose
by 5,5%, while in
January 2001 - by 4,8%. According to the government's estimations, this year
the rise in the
consumer prices must amount to 20-27%. Therefore, one forth of the distance has
been covered
within one month's time.
For comparison: in January this year the consumer prices in Kazakhstan went 0,7%
up, in Ukraine
- 1%, Russia - 3,1%.
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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OVER EX-PRIME MINISTER'S SON RESUMED
After a two-week break legal proceedings over the son of the former Prime Minister
Mikhail
Chyhir resumed. Now the court considers video materials of the investigation,
that have been
filmed during searches in garages, where Chyhir Jr. allegedly stored spare parts
of stolen cars.
The defense of Alyaxandar Chyhir drew attention of the court to the fact that
some of the
padlocks of the garages look damaged, that is why the stolen spare parts could
have been
surreptitiously placed to the Chyhir's garages before the search. The prosecution
does not agree
with the suspicions and insists on Chyhir's guilt. The participants of the proceedings
does not
exclude that pleadings of the parties can start this week.
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 "BALTIKA" SET TO GET BACK ALL MONEY SPENT ON "KRYNITSA"
Russian concern "Baltika" demands Belarusian partners to return 10.5 millions
USD that were
invested by the concern into reconstruction of Minsk brewery "Krynitsa". "Baltika"
had to resort
to the extreme measures because the Council of Ministers of Belarus has not made
a decision to
give the working control of shares of Krynitsa to the Russian company.
Experts say that this end was to be expected. Last summer it was agreed between
the members of
the Belarusian government and the President of the beer concern Teimuraz Bolloev
that Minsk
enterprise was to join Baltika . THe state owns the working control of shares
(80.75%), others
belong to the employees. Additional emission was planned, and in its result Baltika
was receive
50% plus one share of the Minsk enterprise.
In return, holding from St. Petersburg guaranteed to reconstruct the enterprise
and invest 50
millions dollars in it. Before the reconstruction "Krynitsa" produced 7.3 million
deciliters of
beer a year. After the first stage of reconstruction this quantity was to grow
up to 10
deciliters. A credit line of 1 million dollars was opened to the Belarusian side.
By the middle
of December the total sum of the credits exceeded 10 million dollars.
"A filtering shop was constructed on this money. A brewery equipment was delivered
to Minsk,
but other technological lines have not crossed the border of Belarus still",
-- told the vice
president of "Baltika" Adam Tlehurai to the newspaper "Vremya Novostei". Thus,
"Baltika" paid
the bills from the equipment suppliers for a sum of 10.5 million dollars. According
to the
preliminary agreement, the council of Ministers of Belarus was to agree about
additional
emission in December, but the question was postponed for an unclear time. Meanwhile,
the time to
return credits has come. In this connection, he said, they asked Krynitsa to
return 10.5 million
dollars.
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7 BELARUSIAN CITIZENS SENTENCED TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN 2001
In 2001 in Belarus 7 people were sentenced to the capital punishment. 11 more
people were
sentenced to the live sentence, the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the country
Valentin Sukalo
informed at the meeting with journalists in Minsk on February 11. As said by
him, now 5 people
are awaiting for the judgment. As Sukalo said, now capital punishment in Belarus
is used to
those accused of the double killing - or a crime with a larger number of victims.
The number of
such sentences is gradually diminishing. Hence, three years ago 13 people were
sentenced to the
death sentence.
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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
February 12, 2002
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml
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