VZCZCXRO9309
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHC #0159/01 2601254
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 171240Z SEP 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC 3369
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC 8650
RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHINGTON DC 8877

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 130159 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KHUM BO
SUBJECT: BELARUS: AMBASSADOR HINTS AT POLITICAL PRISONER 
RELEASES 
 
REF: 07 MINSK 352 
 
Classified By: Deputy Assistant Secretary David J. Kramer, 
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
1.(C) In a September 12 meeting with DAS David Kramer, the 
Belarusian Ambassador hinted that a General Amnesty in 
early October would include some political prisoners.  DAS 
Kramer promised a positive U.S. response after the release 
of all political prisoners, including Aleksandr Kozulin 
and the recently convicted Andrey Klimov. At the same 
time, Kramer told Khvostov the recent flurry of actions 
against Belarusian opposition and youth activists was a 
step in the wrong direction if Belarus wanted better 
relations with the U.S.  Kramer warned that additional 
sanctions were imminent due to Belarus' failure to 
complete steps that had been discussed during Kramer's 
April visit to Minsk (reftel).  Khvostov defended recent 
crackdowns on youth activists and complained that Belarus 
was being singled out among CIS countries for U.S. and EU 
sanctions.  End Summary. 
 
Possible Release of Political Prisoners 
--------------------------------------- 
2.(C) DAS David Kramer called in Belarusian Ambassador 
Mikhail Khvostov to register strong USG displeasure at the 
steady stream of Belarusian human rights violations in 
recent months.  Khvostov hinted to DAS David Kramer that a 
general amnesty to be approved by parliament when it 
reconvenes on October 2 would include the release of 
political prisoners.  (Aleksandr Lukashenka submitted the 
amnesty proposal to parliament on September 7.)  Khvostov 
said he could not make guarantees about any specific 
person to be amnestied, but only that "you will be happy." 
Kramer asked Khvostov to inform the USG immediately if he 
learned that political prisoners would be released, 
stressing that additional U.S. sanctions were imminent due 
to Belarus' failure to release political prisoners, as 
had been discussed during Kramer's April visit to Minsk. 
From Khvostov,s demeanor, it did not appear that all 
political prisoners would be included in the amnesty. 
 
Minsk Going in Exactly the Wrong Direction 
------------------------------------------ 
3.(C) Kramer listed for Khvostov some of the more 
egregious human rights violations which have occurred 
since the two of them last met on June 28.  These included 
denial of registration to Aleksandr Milinkevich's "For 
Freedom" movement and the "Young Front" youth activist 
NGO; police raids on private events and arrests at the 
performance of a play; forcible arrests of youth at 
numerous demonstrations; the closed trial and conviction 
of Andrey Klimov; and threatened liquidation of opposition 
political parties.  Kramer asked Khvostov to inform Minsk 
of the USG,s extreme unhappiness and anger with these 
blatant human rights violations, stressing that if Minsk 
wants improved relations-- as the U.S. does-- Minsk is 
going about it exactly wrong.  Kramer noted that the USG 
had expanded the categories of Belarus officials subject 
to visa restrictions in August, as promised, and would 
soon put in place additional measures. 
 
Double Standards and Moving the Goal Posts 
------------------------------------------ 
4.(C) Khvostov complained that the U.S. and EU use a 
double standard in judging the human rights situation in 
Belarus. He offered as an example the milder international 
response when the Presidents in Ukraine and Kazakhstan 
dissolved their parliaments than when Lukashenka disbanded 
his parliament in 1996. Khvostov also claimed the U.S. 
keeps raising the bar for improved relations.  The 
government believes that no matter what it does, it will 
not be sufficient, so the government has accepted there 
will be more sanctions from the U.S. and EU. 
 
5.(C) Kramer emphasized that the situation in other 
countries were not comparable, and that we had been very 
specific about what actions were necessary as a minimum 
first step for improved relations, i.e., releasing all 
political prisoners, including Aleksandr Kozulin and the 
recently convicted Andrey Klimov, and dropping politically 
motivated charges against the opposition.  Kramer said the 
USG would immediately respond to improve relations if 
 
STATE 00130159  002 OF 002 
 
 
Belarus took these steps, and he predicted the EU would do 
the same. 
 
"If it weren't for those pesky kids. . ." 
----------------------------------------- 
6.(C) In defense of recent actions by Belarus security 
forces, Khvostov claimed "it was the same people involved, 
mostly young people, teenagers."  Accusing them of 
"underground activity," Khvostov asked for the U.S. and EU 
to stop financing the young people "who are trying to 
change things."  Khvostov asserted they should use legal 
procedures instead, "like elections" to effect change. 
Khvostov also claimed that decisions on sentences were 
made independently by the courts.  Kramer was emphatic in 
response, stressing that the U.S. would continue to 
support democracy and youth groups, and that the 
implementation of Belarus laws infringes on people,s human 
rights. 
RICE