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R 051425Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY MINSK
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INFO RUCNOSC/ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MINSK 000493 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY REPORT - May 5, 2006 
 
Ref: Minsk 459 
 
¶1.  The following are brief items of interest compiled by 
Embassy Minsk. 
 
----------------------- 
International Relations 
----------------------- 
 
¶2.  Lukashenko: Consolidation of Political Forces Is No Problem 
 
During a meeting in St. Petersburg, Aleksandr Lukashenko told 
Russian President Putin that the consolidation of political 
forces is not a problem for Belarus and was quoted that almost 
all of the Belarusian population voted for the incumbent in the 
March presidential elections. Lukashenko reportedly dismissed 
the opposition as one or two thousand people who attempted to 
"destabilize something for money" and told Putin, "That's why 
we can only talk about the consolidation of this part of 
society." 
 
¶3.  Lukashenko to Meet with Putin Again after G-8 Summit 
 
At a meeting in St. Petersburg on April 28, Russian President 
Vladimir Putin invited Belarusian President Aleksandr 
Lukashenko to visit Moscow in late July for talks on the 
Commonwealth of Independent States. During the meeting, 
Lukashenko told Putin that the Europeans and Americans are 
"still positive about cooperation with Belarus despite hue and 
cry" and that Belarus cooperates with them in "vital matters, 
including the economic sphere." 
 
¶4.  Ukraine Agrees to Develop Military Hardware with Belarus 
 
The Ukrainian government recently approved an agreement with 
Belarus to conduct joint research and development of new 
weaponry and other military hardware.  The Ukrainian and 
Belarusian Defense and Industrial Ministries will oversee 
cooperation.  Moreover, the countries will form a joint working 
group to meet yearly. 
 
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Civil Society 
------------- 
 
¶5.  BKGB to Identify "Za Svobodu" Funding 
 
On May 4, the Belarusian Committee for Security (BKGB) 
announced that it is tracking the financial sources of the "Za 
Svobodu" ("For Freedom") social-political movement, which 
opposition leader and former presidential candidate Alexksandr 
Milinkevich promoted prior to and following the March 
presidential elections.  Meanwhile, regional activists of the 
youth organization Zubr were summoned by the BKGB for 
questioning. 
 
¶6.  Grafittist Trial Postponed, Supporters Arrested 
 
The trial of opposition youth activist and graffitist Artur 
Finkevich opened in the Pervomaisky District in Minsk on May 4. 
However, the judge declared a recess until May 10 because city 
maintenance authorities did not properly document the USD 
16,370 in damages allegedly caused by Finkevich. Mr. Finkevich, 
a leader of the unregistered youth group known as "Malady 
Front," was arrested on January 30 for allegedly painting on a 
building wall, "We want a new one [president]" and faces up to 
12 years in prison for malicious hooliganism and large-scale 
property damage.  Police arrested eight Finkevich supporters 
after they staged a demonstration outside the courthouse. The 
arrests included the nephew of jailed former presidential 
candidate Aleksandr Kozulin and four others who were later 
sentenced to five days in jail. 
 
¶7.  Kozulin's Lawyer Acquitted 
 
On April 26, Igor Rynkevich, a lawyer for former presidential 
candidate Aleksandr Kozulin, was acquitted on charges of 
swearing at police officers and resisting arrest.  The officer 
who brought the charges did not appear in Moskovsky district 
court.  Two other policemen testified that they did not witness 
Mr. Rynkevich swear or resist arrest near the Oktyabrsky 
district police station on March 2 where Rynkevich had arrived 
with opposition activists to visit Mr. Kozulin. 
 
¶8.  Youths Arrested for Displaying Pro-Opposition Newspapers 
 
At least 20 young people were arrested by plainclothes police 
for displaying pro-opposition newspapers during a media 
exhibition at the BelExpo Center in Minsk. The youths were 
apprehended after they opened copies of Tovarishch, Narodnaya 
Volya, and Nasha Niva near the stall of the largest government- 
 
MINSK 00000493  002 OF 003 
 
 
controlled newspaper Sovetskaya Belarussiya. A senior Minsk 
city police officer warned journalists at the exhibition that 
they might be held responsible for organizing the "flash mob" 
and provoking the youths' illegal acts.  The youths were later 
released. 
 
¶9.  Head of Writer's Union Fired from State University 
 
Ales Pashkevich, chairman of the Union of Belarusian Writers 
was fired from his position as an associate professor at the 
Literature and Culture Department of the Belarusian State 
University (BGU).  In the official dismissal order dated March 
27, BGU Rector Vasily Strazhev states that Pashkevich was 
dismissed by mutual consent.  Professor Pashkevich says that 
the BGU administration had planned to remove him for his 
dissident views and that he had promised to leave this fall. 
In 2003, the Supreme Certification Commission rejected 
Pashkevich's doctoral thesis and dissolved Pashkevich's 
department. 
 
¶10.  Government Ends Investigation of Missing Journalist Again 
 
The official investigation into the disappearance of 
independent journalist Dmitry Zadavsky was again suspended.  On 
May 3, Zadavsky's mother was notified in a letter from the anti- 
corruption division of the Prosecutor General's Office that the 
government dropped its investigation under Part 6 of the 
Criminal Code's Article 246 because of "failure to find the 
person who went missing without a trace." In March 2002, the 
Minsk Regional Court sentenced two former members of the Almaz 
police unit to life imprisonment in connection with Zadavasky's 
disappearance. The Belarusian government had resumed its 
investigation in April 2005 after a previous suspension in 
spring 2004. 
 
¶11.  Driving License Seized from United Civic Party Activist 
 
On May 3, Minsk police seized the driving license and plate of 
Igor Shinkarik, leader of the Minsk branch of the United Civic 
Party.  The seizure followed Shinkarik's arrest while he was 
driving away from Bangalore Square, the site of a May 1 
opposition rally.  Mr. Shinkarik was charged with having a 
scratch on his car and driving with five passengers. 
 
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Economy 
------- 
 
¶12.  Belarus Accrues Debt of 2.5 Billion Dollars 
 
By April 1 Belarus' foreign and domestic debts totaled 2.5 
billion USD by April.  Foreign debt is approximately 30% of 
total debt while domestic debt amounts to 70%.  Since January 1 
foreign debt decreased 1.9% and domestic debt 0.7%.  The 
increments of foreign and domestic debts were 0.1% and 0.3% per 
month, respectively. 
 
¶13.  Lower Chamber to Repeal Preferences for Foreign Investors 
 
On May 4, the lower chamber of Belarus' parliament voted after 
a first reading to repeal article 95 and part 2 of article 82 
of the Investment Code.  These provisions had allowed foreign 
investors to retain all export revenues from sales of goods and 
services after taxes and other required fees.  The repeal is 
intended to equalize conditions for foreign and domestic 
investors. On January 1, 2005, Belarus cancelled tax 
preferences for foreign investors. Yet, according to the 
government, foreign investment increased from 1.5 billion in 
2005 to 1.8 billion in 2006. 
 
¶14.  Belarus to Increase Pensions by Seven Percent 
 
On May 1, President Lukashenko signed a degree raising pensions 
by 7 percent to an average of 120 dollars.  Lukashenko had 
previously raised pensions by 9% on January 1.  Pensioners are 
approximately one-quarter of the Belarusian population. 
 
¶15.  Beltelcom Says Internet Users Up 5% during Jan-March 2006 
 
On April 27, Belarus' Communication and IT Minister, Vladimir 
Goncharenko announced that the number of users of Beltelcom's 
data communications network increased from 37,600 to 39,500 
between January and March 2006.  Requests for corporate 
networks on IP-protocol increased to 1000 by April 1. 
Gorcharenko supports reducing tariffs on DSL-internet access. 
 
----------------- 
Quote of the Week 
----------------- 
 
¶16. In an attempt to discredit opposition demonstrators, 
 
MINSK 00000493  003 OF 003 
 
 
particularly parents who brought their children to the rallies, 
Belarusian Television asked an eight-year old, "What are you doing 
here?"  The child replied, "My name is Kolya.  I want a different 
president and our country to join the European Union." 
 
KROL