VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSK #0944/01 3191533
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151533Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MINSK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6645
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1725
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS MINSK 000944 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/PGI, G (BLANK), G/TIP, EUR/UMB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL SMIG KCRM KWMN BO
SUBJECT: INTERIM TIP ASSESSMENT FOR BELARUS 
 
Ref: State 146300 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  This interim assessment (reftel) covers Belarus' continuing 
efforts against trafficking in persons (TIP) since April, 2007.  GOB 
action on TIP has seen marked, if uneven, improvement in this 
period.  The GOB has provided increased in-kind resources to 
TIP-related NGOs, and has improved relations and increased 
cooperation with them.  Though the government-run hotline still does 
not offer a large range of services to potential victims, 
authorities do cooperate with, and refer callers to, the more 
effective NGO hotlines.  Some progress has been made in preventing 
coercion of victims to testify in investigations.  There is no 
evidence of government collusion in trafficking.  With the opening 
of the anti-TIP training section of the National Police Academy, the 
GOB has shown initiative in training officers to deal more 
effectively with TIP and to assist victims.  End summary. 
 
Increasing Resources Devoted to Victim Assistance 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶2.  Although there has been little noticeable difference in direct 
government funding for victim assistance and protection in Belarus, 
the GOB has made several in-kind assistance efforts and has made 
administrative matters significantly easier for NGOs.  The NGO 
Radislava reported receiving anewly-renovated building free of 
charge with fre utilities from the authorities in return for an 
greement to open a new shelter for victims of traficking and 
domestic violence, and the Red Cross eported receiving favorable 
leasing terms and prcing for its facilities.  Government sources 
staed that NGOs also receive waivers for customs dutie.  The 
Ministry of Interior has invested consideable resources in its 
newly-established anti-TIPsection of the National Police Academy, 
financin 90 percent of its startup costs.  The TIP Academywill 
train at least one TIP specialist for each o the 156 police 
districts throughout the countryin law-enforcement, victim 
assistance and protecion.  Belarusian Embassy Consular Sections 
have epatriated several victims from the Gulf States an the 
Caucasus region.  The Ministry of Interior hs also contributed USD 
40,000 for conferences spnsored by the International Organization 
for Migation (IOM), and often also provides transportatio, 
security, and lodging for participants.  NGOs ave reported close 
cooperation from authorities i distributing educational materials. 
Authoritiessupported distribution of public service announcemnts 
produced by the Red Cross and IOM, airing thm on state television 
and on television screens t subway stops free of charge. 
 
Continuing Effort to Improve Relations and Encourage NGOs 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
3  Several TIP-related NGOs have reported improved elations with 
authorities, and the government ha begun to publicly acknowledge 
the work of local GOs.  IOM mentioned a marked improvement in 
relaions with government entities during the past two ears.  While 
the authorities are still generallydistrustful of NGOs, they have 
increased cooperaion with TIP-specific NGOs and are showing a moreopen and cooperative attitude.  In the past, when OM or other 
international NGOs submitted proposas for new projects for 
mandatory registration, athorities often directed them to eliminate 
refernces to local NGO partners.  However, this year the began to 
allow mention of partner NGOs in the paperwork, and the Ministry of 
Interior now even publicly acknowledges local NGO participation in 
high-profile projects.  In April 2007, the Minister of Interior 
mentioned the participation of eight local NGOs in a policy speech, 
a significant step considering that as recently as November 2006 he 
avoided all references to such NGOs in public addresses. 
 
Ensuring Victims Are Not Pressured to Assist Investigations 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶4.  Several NGOs have reported an improvement in the area of victim 
coercion, though there are still reports that pressure to cooperate 
with investigations does occasionally occur with less experienced 
officers at the local level.  Official policy forbids coercion of 
victims, and it appears that this is taken seriously by Ministry of 
Interior leadership, though the policy is still being assimilated by 
the ranks.  The State Border Committee now allows IOM to take and 
shelter victims for several days before calling in investigators. 
The issue of pressuring victims is one area that the TIP Academy 
plans to emphasize during its training of local TIP-specialist 
police officers. 
 
Investigating Public Officials 
------------------------------ 
 
¶5.  All of Post's sources on TIP, both GOB and non-governmental, 
have stated that there appears to be little if any complicity of 
government officials at any level in trafficking.  Though there have 
been reports of local border guards taking bribes to enable 
smuggling of goods into the country, there have been no reports of 
TIP-related bribery. 
 
Limited Efficacy of Government Hotlines 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  The Ministry of Interior continues to run one hotline, though 
its single goal is to offer information regarding the licensing 
status and legitimacy of agencies involved in work and study abroad. 
 Even the Ministry acknowledges that NGO-run hotlines are more 
effective at providing a broader range of services, and that they 
refer callers to them.  La Strada and IOM have reported very strong 
cooperation between the government hotline and their own hotlines in 
Minsk and Brest.  A La Strada official acknowledged that it would be 
ideal for callers to receive all necessary information in one call, 
but does admit that the government hotline refers all callers to 
them and that authorities do not hinder or interfere with their 
work. 
 
Stewart