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INFO RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KIEV PRIORITY 3259
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RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA PRIORITY 1655
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RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1098
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USMISSION USEU PRIORITY 0073

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000431 
 
SIPDIS 
 
KIEV FOR USAID 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL INR BO
SUBJECT: MILINKEVICH'S WIFE MEETS AMBASSADOR 
 
REF: A. MINSK 395 
     ¶B. MINSK 383 
     ¶C. MINSK 403 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR GEORGE KROL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  On April 17, Ambassador met with Ten Plus 
Coalition leader Aleksandr Milinkevich's wife, Inna Kulei, 
who is the president of the newly formed Committee for the 
Defense of the Repressed (PCDR).  This committee provides 
educational, employment, humanitarian, and medical assistance 
to those who were arrested during and following the March 19 
presidential elections.  In addition to describing PCDR's 
objectives, Kulei positively assessed the performance and 
future of the Ten Plus Coalition.  Kulei praised the 
successful organization of the post-election demonstrations 
and stressed that the Coalition will remain united without 
the expense and effort of another congress.  She conveyed her 
sympathies for imprisoned presidential candidate Aleksandr 
Kozulin's situation, but added that, unlike her husband, 
Kozulin was not a responsible leader.  Kulei downplayed the 
impact of GOB pressure on her or Milinkevich but noted that 
the regime threatened to draft her son into the armed 
services, which would prev 
ent him from continuing his studies in Poland.  End Summary. 
 
Newly Formed Committee To Help Election Detainees 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶2. (C) On April 17, Ambassador and DCM met with Ten Plus 
Coalition leader Aleksandr Milinkevich's wife, Inna Kulei, 
who is the president of the newly formed Committee for the 
Defense of the Repressed (PCDR).  In response to the massive 
arrests that followed the March 19 presidential elections, 
Kulei said that she and leaders from other civil society and 
human rights organizations, including the Belarusian 
Association of Journalists and human rights NGO Vyasna, 
formed PCDR to financially, legally and morally assist the 
victims of the GOB's repression.  PCDR unites and coordinates 
the activities of a number of new associations that emerged 
to help those who were detained from March 19-25.  Before the 
presidential campaign, Kulei headed the Belarusian 
Association of Resource Centers and the Brest Regional 
Resource Center "Nasha Vezha." 
 
PCDR Helps Expelled Students Continue Their Studies 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶3. (C) Kulei explained that PCDR helps students, who have 
been expelled as a result of their participation in the 
post-Election demonstrations, continue their studies abroad. 
(Note: Several European universities have agreed to accept 
students who have been expelled from Belarusian universities 
for political reasons (ref A).)  PCDR facilitates the 
application process: the expelled student fills out the 
appropriate enrollment paperwork, writes a statement 
explaining why they were expelled, and meets with PCDR 
representatives, who then help place the student in an 
appropriate foreign university.  PCDR has already directed 10 
expelled students to Polish universities. 
 
¶4. (C) Kulei claimed that approximately 300 students were 
jailed from five to 15 days for participating in unsanctioned 
demonstrations, and now potentially face expulsions or 
disciplinary actions from their universities.  According to 
Kulei, 20 students demonstrators have been expelled from 
Belarusian universities.  She expects that the number will 
increase during the summer term when universities will expel 
more students for "technical reasons." 
 
¶5. (C) Ambassador noted that some civil society leaders 
informed Emboffs about students who participated in the 
demonstrations with the intention of getting expelled so they 
could study in foreign universities for free.  Kulei said 
that while it is not possible to know the motive of every 
demonstrator, PCDR uses its extensive network of contacts to 
easily verify whether the student actually participated in 
the demonstrations.  Kulei vouched for the students with whom 
she has met and spoken extensively as having "authentic" 
motivations for protesting. 
 
PCDR Provides Employment, Medical and Financial Assistance 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶6. (C) According to Kulei, PCDR has created a system to find 
new employment opportunities for those activists who lost 
their jobs as a result of their political activities during 
and after the elections.  PCDR recruits businesses in Belarus 
and abroad that would be willing to employ those who have 
been fired for political reasons.  PCDR then works with 
unemployed activists to find appropriate job placements. 
PCDR also provides job training and arranges internships 
abroad. 
 
¶7. (C) Kulei told Ambassador that PCDR also distributes 
humanitarian and financial aid to those in need.  Many 
families of the arrested protesters cannot afford to provide 
care packages for their imprisoned families members or cannot 
survive without the income that their arrested family member 
previously provided.  PCDR is working with the Catholic and 
Protestant churches to provide humanitarian and financial 
aid, including groceries and rent payments, for these poor 
families. 
 
¶8. (C) Finally, Kulei explained that PCDR also offers 
medical, psychological and rehabilitation services to those 
who were beaten and arrested during the protests.  PCDR 
provides medicine and arranges doctor appointments for them 
with volunteer specialists. 
 
Coalition Will Hold Together, No Repeat Congress Necessary 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶9. (C) Kulei mentioned to Ambassador that she attended the 
IRI-hosted opposition discussions on election aftermath in 
Vilnius on April 14 as the representative of the Vyasna human 
rights NGO.  She claimed the opposition coalition would hold 
together but needed to transform into a broader movement to 
include the new people who appeared on and after March 19. 
She argued against holding a new congress, stressing that the 
last congress has not yet fulfilled all its resolutions and 
that another congress would be costly.  Kulei conceded, 
however, that the Ten Plus Coalition leaders need to increase 
communication and develop a plan of action for the future. 
 
Kozulin is Not a Responsible Leader 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (C) Kulei expressed sympathy for imprisoned opposition 
leader Aleksandr Kozulin but made clear she did not consider 
him a responsible leader like her husband.  When asked, she 
rejected Kozulin's claim that she convinced Milinkevich to 
break his agreement with Kozulin to urge the people to leave 
the square.  Kulei maintained Milinkeivch himself decided he 
could not abandon the people when they told him they would 
remain on October Square despite impending consequences. 
 
¶11. (C) In a gesture of solidarity, Kulei told Ambassador 
that she contacted Kozulin's wife, Irina, to invite her to a 
women's support group for the wives and mothers of imprisoned 
activists.  (Note: During an April 4 meeting with Ambassador, 
Irina relayed her surprise that Kozulin's opposition 
"colleagues" were not offering support now that he is a 
political prisoner (ref B).  Irina rebuked Milinkevich in 
particular, saying he had not once called her to convey his 
sympathies.) 
 
Demonstrations Were Successful Due to Extensive Planning 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶12. (C) When Ambassador asked if the demonstrations on 
October Square had occurred spontaneously, Kulei told 
Ambassador that these demonstrations were the result of 
carefully orchestrated and executed plans.  (Note: Kulei's 
claim is at odds with the assessment of other Coalition and 
civil society leaders.)  Kulei claimed that 70 percent of the 
people on October Square came from the regions.  Given that 
information dissemination to the regions is so poor, the 
large regional participation is likely the result of 
extensive recruitment by the opposition.  Kulei said that 
although Zubr and Khopit started their information campaigns 
early, their impact was unclear.  Instead, Kulei praised the 
Belarusian Assembly of Democratic NGOs' "For Freedom" 
campaign as having been the most effective and visible 
campaign and cited the "For Freedom" buttons that people wear 
around town. 
 
Russian FSB in the Tent City? 
----------------------------- 
 
¶13. (C) When Ambassador inquired about Communist Party 
Belarusian leader Sergei Kalyakin's statement that the 
Russian Security Services (FSB) comprised the overwhelming 
majority of tent city participants on October Square, Kulei 
dismissed Kalyakin's claim that the encampment was largely a 
Russian FSB effort to pressure Lukashenko.  Kulei added that 
Kalyakin was ill during the week following the elections and 
therefore spent little time on October Square.  She said that 
she and Milinkevich spent two days in the tent city and can 
vouch that Kalyakin's statement is inaccurate, but added, 
"perhaps he has information." 
 
Free Speech Includes Criticism 
------------------------------ 
 
¶14. (C) She complained about some in civil society, including 
political theorist Vladimir Matskevich, who do nothing to 
promote change except criticize the opposition.  She wondered 
if Post could influence these people to take a more 
constructive approach.  Ambassador indicated one should just 
get used to the fact there will always be critics, since free 
speech is an integral part of democracy.  Ambassador agreed 
that there are many that criticize and demand strategies for 
change while doing little to bring about change, and urged 
Belarusians to unite around common goals.  Kulei said that it 
was "a big step" for Belarus when people from different 
places worked together respectfully.  Kulei also proudly 
commented that the number of people who would fight for 
change and defend their choice has risen significantly after 
the elections. 
 
Women Leaders' Potential in Public Life 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶15. (C) Ambassador praised Belarusian women activists, saying 
that they have the potential to be the country's leaders. 
Kulei agreed that women leaders are very active and work well 
together.  While she expressed a keen interest in engaging 
more women in promoting civil society, she admitted it would 
be hard for Belarusian women to get over their hesitancy to 
take on active leadership roles in Belarus' male dominated 
society.  She commented that women tend to be more emotional 
and need to become more "balanced."  Kulei expressed 
gratitude that male leaders seem to have become more willing 
to accept her as a woman leader. 
 
The Milinkevich Family 
---------------------- 
 
¶16. (C) Kulei told Ambassador that her son, who had been 
arrested on October Square, wanted to return to Poland to 
continue his studies but the GOB is threatening to draft him 
into the Belarusian armed forces.  Kulei noted the GOB uses 
this tactic against many young politically active men. (Note: 
The regime has also repeatedly threatened to draft Zubr 
activist Nikolai Sasim despite his student and medical 
waivers, which exempt him from service (ref C).) 
 
¶17. (C) Kulei said that she and Milinkevich are healthy but 
tired; they plan to take some time off in May.  Both Kulei 
and Milinkevich experience harassment from the GOB, but she 
dismissed it as more annoying than threatening. 
 
¶18. (C) Kulei also shed more light on her personal 
background.  She told Ambassador that she is a Catholic 
convert, having earlier been a communist atheist.  She also 
mentioned that she had worked in the Belarusian procuracy, 
therefore implying that she has a legal education. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶19. (C) Kulei is clearly an intelligent, organized and 
articulate person.  Her commanding presence makes it easy to 
see how people could view her as the force behind the 
soft-spoken Milinkevich.  Kulei's assessment of the status of 
the Ten Plus Coalition left out many of the criticisms that 
Post has heard from other contacts associated with the 
Milinkevich camp.  Kulei presented a productive environment 
with a few outstanding problems, but nothing that her husband 
could not handle as the Coalition's leader. 
Krol