CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
March 6, 2002
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml
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ALYAXANDAR CHYHIR SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT
The verdict on the case of the son of the former prime minister of Belarus Alyaxandar
Chyhir was pronounced today in the Lenin Court of Minsk. The judge sentenced
Alyaxandar Chyhir to 7 years of imprisonment, Anton Yashyn  to 7 years of imprisonment,
Dzmitser Yutskevich  to 11 years. Besides, the court ruled to confiscate the
property of the accused. You must remember that Chyhir, Yashyn, and Yutskevich
were accused of selling spare parts of stolen cars and were detained in the February
of the last year. More tan a year they have spent in a pre-trial detention center.
The political underlying cause of the case is evident.
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SON ANSWERS FOR HIS FATHER
It was a comment of the leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka on
the verdict of the Lenin District Court in Minsk to the son of the former prime
minister of Belarus Mikhail Chyhir, Alyaxandar Chyhir. As said by him, this
norm does not exist in the legislation, but de-facto it exists, and the Chyhirs
experienced that personally. On March 6 Alyaxandar Chyhir was found guilty in
aiding and abetting in stealing of high cost property by a group of people (Article
205 Part 4 of the Criminal Code of Belarus) and sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment
with confiscation of property.
Alyaxandar Chyhir is accused of aiding, that means that he is not directly accused
of stealing of a car or spare parts, but of assisting the thieves, -- emphasized
Lebedzka.  However in the cause of the investigation no confirmations were
demonstrated. That is why, the UCP leader claims, Chyhir Jr. can be named a
prisoner of conscience.
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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL DEMANDS ANDREI KLIMAUS RELEASE
An influential international human rights organization Amnesty International
has published another press release on the situation with political prisoners
in Belarus. This time it was dedicated to the 13th Supreme Soviet MP Andrei Klimau.
The international human rights organization addressed the Belarusian authorities
with the demand of his immediate and unconditional release:
11 February 2002 marked the end of the fourth year of imprisonment of prisoner
of conscience Andrey Klimov, a member of the dissolved Belarusian parliament.
Police arrested him on 11 February 1998 for alleged fraudulent business practice.
He spent over two years in pre-trial detention before being sentenced to six
years imprisonment at a hard labour colony with confiscation of property in
March 2000. A representative from Amnesty International was present at the Leninsky
District Court in Minsk on 17 March 2000 when. Amid chaotic scenes, it passed
final sentence on the then 34-year-old Andrey Klimov, who is marries with several
young children. Varios international representatives, who were present at the
court hearing and had observed the trial, cast considerable doubt on the fairness
of the trial and the final court ruling, -- the Amnesty International declares.
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ZUBR MOVEMENT ADDRESSES ECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATIONS OF EUROPE
The Zubr movement informed the ecological organizations that a repository for
radioactive waste by Brest. The Zubr addressed the European nations and governments
with an appeal to take all possible steps to press on the Belarusian government
to stop the construction of the radioactive dump in the center of Europe. Belarusian
youth movement ZUBR, -- the address says, -- notifies you that at the territory
of Belarus construction of a repository for spent nuclear fuel has started. The
future repository will be situated by Brest, near the village of Struha, at a
distance of 25 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and 15 kilometers from the
Polish border.
The Belarusian authorities cannot guarantee that the repository will be safe
from technical and ecological points of view. Outdated Soviet-time technologies
are used for its construction. Even the fact itself of erection of the dangerous
construction is concealed from the Belarusian society. The signatures of the
citizens under petitions against this construction, which were forwarded to the
administration of Alyaxandar Lukashenka, have been ignored.
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IN SWITZERLAND BORODIN LAUNDERED MONEY
The State Secretary of the union state of Russia and Belarus, Pavel Borodin,
was found guilty by the justice of Geneva of laundering money in Switzerland
for a total sum equal to 38 millions Swiss francs (22.4 mln dollars), received
as a commission. He was sentenced to a fine equal to 300 thousand francs (175
thousands dollars), informed on Wednesday night the Swiss agency ATC, referring
to the statement of the Prosecutor General of canton Geneva Bernard Bertossa.
As said by Bertossa, on Monday, March 4, Brordin was notified about the verdict
and can challenge it within 14 days.
The lawyer of Borodin, Henrich Padva, earlier confirmed o the RIA Novosti that
the Geneva Public Prosecutors office of Switzerland ended the criminal case
against Pavel Borodin. As said by Padva, the defense does not know about the
reasons of the cases end. It was informed that the proceedings are stopped with
fine.
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PROCURACY INSTITUTED LEGAL ACTION AGAINST LAWYER IGOR AKSENCHIK
Olga Zavadskayas lawyer Igor Aksenchik faced legal action on libel charges.
The attorney may get sentenced to social works, fine or up to two years of jail.
Radio Svaboda was told this by the press-secretary of the Belarusian procuracy
Aleksei Taranov. On February 13 the lawyer publicly accused the prosecutor general
Viktor Sheiman of his implication in the disappearances of the Belarusian opposition
members. About Dmitry Zavadskys case the lawyer said that they are trying the
executors of the murder rather than those who masterminded it.
Same day the procuracy started to examine Aksenchiks statements, considering
them to be but pure libel. Meantime, Aksenchik departed Minsk. So far, we dont
know anything about his whereabouts. ORT journalist Pavel Sheremet, recalling
his phone talks with Aksenchik, claims that the man is alive and well and stays
in Belarus, while Olga and Svetlana Zavadskayas dont rule out his possible departure
for Russia.
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ONE MORE BELARUSIAN ATHLETE SUSPECTED IN DOPING
According to BelaPAN agency, a prohibited substance nandrolon was fond in a test
of one of the Belarusian sportsmen. The doping test was taken in the last days
of the XIX Olympic Games. The name of the sportsman is known, but it can be revealed
only after the analysis of the test B. It will happen in a week. In any case
it is not Alyaxei Hryshyn (free style), who won the only golden medal for Belarusian
team.
During doping test two samples are taken: A and B. If the first one is positive,
the sportsman has a right to request to study the second (he should pay money
for that). According to the sources, the sportsman has already requested to study
the second sample.
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FINANCIAL CRISIS ROCKS OFFICIAL PRESS
In the near future therell happen a serious staff redundancy in state editions.
The editorial boards received letters from the Ministry, in which they are recommended
to curtail their personnel by 20%. The curtailment is carried out in connection
with the tough financial situation in the editions. However, the financial problems
of state newspapers didnt touch upon Alexander Lukashenkas main mouthpiece
 Sovietskaya Belorussiya.
Now they are planning to set up a European style newspaper on the basis of SB.
In order to make it look European they need to purchase abroad the modern printing
equipment. Moreover, the SB staff will be enlarged rather than curtailed.
Anyway, according to the Minister of information Mikhail Podgainy, the finances
reduction for most state editions isnt connected with the fact that they need
money for the future European newspaper. The Minister explained that the SB is
financed through different sources and is put on the balance of the presidential
administration. Podgainy stressed that this is the very reason why SB avoided
the problems, encountered by other state periodicals. The Minister underscored
that the governmental newspaper Respublika is also a separate issue on their
agenda.
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NATIONAL ANTHEM TO BE APPROVED ON MARCH 10
The national organizing committee for celebrating the Freedom Day launched a
press-conference, whose theme was to hold the festive assembly in connection
with the passage of the Belarusian national anthem. Organizing committee members
revealed the assemblys agenda. It will start on Sunday, March 10 at 12 oclock
at the Palace of arts. The delegates will represent parties and public movements,
creative and scientific intelligentsia. Therell be read out variants, proposed
for the nomination. The most likely variants are The Almighty God, Pagonya,
My viydzem schylnymi radami, Radzima maya daragaya.
Same day the motive, selected during the meeting, will be passed to the State
commission, which, upon the authorities initiative, will pass the new hymn.
Organizing committee members harbor no illusions concerning the decisions of
the State commission, but are nonetheless convinced that after the regime is
gone, this anthem will become a national one.
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CHARTER'97 BELARUS NEWS UPDATE
March 6, 2002
read the details at www.charter97.org/e/index.phtml