VZCZCXRO4709
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSK #0132/01 0531226
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221226Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY MINSK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6941
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0048
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1843
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MINSK 000132 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON ENRG BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT - February 22, 2008 
 
¶1.  The following are brief items of interest compiled by Embassy 
Minsk. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
Civil Society 
------------- 
 
- Small Businessmen Fined and Jailed (para. 2) 
- Opposition Youth Expelled From University (para. 3) 
- Malady Front Activists Briefly Detained (para. 4) 
- Opposition Faces Harassment in Gomel (para. 5) 
- Opposition to Document Politically Motivated Trials (para. 6) 
 
International Relations 
----------------------- 
 
- Chavez Cancels Belarus Trip (para. 7) 
 
Domestic Economy 
---------------- 
 
- Nuclear Plant Construction to Begin Next January (para. 8) 
- GOB Announces Investment Targets (para. 9) 
 
International Trade 
------------------- 
 
- Gas Price Hikes to Average 25.3 Percent for 2008 (para. 10) 
 
Quote of the Week (para. 11) 
----------------- 
 
------------- 
Civil Society 
------------- 
 
¶2.  Small Businessmen Fined and Jailed 
 
An Uzda district court February 19 sentenced entrepreneur activist 
Viktor Krival to 15 days in jail for illegal leaflet distribution. 
The police briefly detained Krival February 16 in central Uzda and 
searched his car.  He was taken into police custody February 17 just 
one day ahead of a planned entrepreneurs' demonstration in Minsk. 
The activist began a hunger strike protesting groundless 
prosecution, failure of witnesses to testify he was distributing 
leaflets, poor jail conditions, and the judge's refusal to hear his 
case in Belarusian.  In a separate incident, a Baranovichi city 
court fined small business leader Nikolay Chernoyus BYR 1,010,000 
(USD 470) February 19 on charges of organizing an unsanctioned rally 
of entrepreneurs in Baranovichi February 11. 
 
¶3.  Opposition Youth Expelled From University 
 
Belarus State University expelled prominent opposition youth and 
Belarusian Popular Front member Franak Vyachorka February 15.  A 
third-year student majoring in journalism, Vyachorka allegedly 
failed to pass two exams following a jail term for using obscenities 
in public.  Vyachorka called his expulsion "politically motivated" 
and plans to appeal.  The dean of the journalism department asserted 
that Vyachorka's "poor performance" was the sole reason for his 
expulsion. 
 
¶4.  Malady Front Activists Briefly Detained 
 
Police briefly detained 31 Malady Front (MF) activists in Minsk 
February 16.  Officers broke into the private house activists rented 
to hold a meeting, and transported the youths to a Minsk district 
police station for an ID check.  Authorities questioned each 
activist on the pretext that police had information that the youths 
were planning to set the house on fire.  The activists were released 
later without charges. 
 
¶5.  Opposition Faces Harassment in Gomel 
 
"For Freedom" (FF) movement leader Aleksandr Milinkevich held three 
open-air meetings with Gomel residents February 15.  Ideology and 
BKGB officers closely observed and filmed the meetings and 
questioned some participants about their absence from work. 
Milinkevich expressed satisfaction with the meetings, saying the 
people he met "overcame their fear" and raised concerns about social 
benefits, price regulations, and labor contracts.  He also held 
meetings in Rechitsa February 16.  Ahead of the meetings, a Gomel 
district court February 14 sentenced FF activist Pyotr Kuznetsov to 
5 days in jail for organizing unsanctioned events and distributing 
leaflets about Milinkevich's visit.  Authorities harassed 
Milinkevich throughout his trip.  During his visit to Gomel, police 
briefly stopped his car alleging the vehicle was stolen.  In 
Rechitsa police interfered with meetings, checking participants' 
 
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IDs, and warning Milinkevich about making anti-government 
statements.  He departed Rechitsa under police escort. 
 
¶6.  Opposition to Document Politically Motivated Trials 
 
Opposition activist Larisa Nasonovich told the media February 18 
that opposition members have started a "grey book" to document in 
detail illegal, politically motivated trials against democratic 
forces.  The book will include the names of judges, prosecutors, and 
witnesses, and reflect information about the persecution of 
democratic activists.  Nasonovich maintained the book would serve as 
a reminder to officials that they "have to be held accountable for 
their illegal acts."  She also noted that bureaucrats and 
law-enforcement officials are generally "afraid of publicity," and 
the book will be "an efficient method" to expose their abuses. 
 
----------------------- 
International Relations 
----------------------- 
 
¶7.  Chavez Cancels Belarus Trip 
 
The Venezuelan Embassy in Minsk announced February 14 that President 
Hugo Chavez has cancelled his planned March official visit to 
Belarus, and made no mention of when it will be rescheduled.  Ties 
between Minsk and Caracas have gradually been expanding -- Chavez 
visited Belarus in July 2006 and June 2007, and Aleksandr Lukashenko 
traveled to Venezuela in December 2007.  Those meetings resulted in 
the signing of several bilateral agreements in the areas of military 
technical cooperation, developing trade and economic relations, 
mutual protection and encouragement of investments, cooperation in 
crime prevention, cooperation in education and scientific research, 
and visa free travel. 
 
---------------- 
Domestic Economy 
---------------- 
 
¶8.  Nuclear Plant Construction to Begin Next January 
 
First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko announced February 15 
that Belarus plans to begin construction of a 2,000 megawatt nuclear 
power plant in January 2009.  The USD 4 billion plant is expected to 
be launched in 2016 and will purportedly save Belarus USD 5 billion 
annually in energy costs.  In April the government will decide on 
the location of the plant and will name equipment suppliers in late 
¶2008.  Belarus will need to invite foreign specialists, since 
training of local personnel is behind schedule. 
 
¶9.  GOB Announces Investment Targets 
 
On February 15, the GOB passed Resolution 178, which sets mandatory 
investment attraction targets for its agencies and local 
governments.  The total investment goal for the country in 2008 is 
USD 2.7 billion, including USD 1.4 billion in foreign direct 
investment (FDI).  The Belneftekhim petrochemical conglomerate, 
currently under U.S. sanctions, is obliged to secure the most 
investment of all government entities -- USD 430 million -- 
including USD 150 million in FDI.  The Minsk city government was 
tasked with the highest target of all local governments, with USD 
150 million in total investment sought.  Free economic zones are 
tasked with attracting USD 90 million in total foreign investment. 
 
------------------- 
International Trade 
------------------- 
 
¶10.  Gas Price Hikes to Average 25.3 Percent for 2008 
 
Belarus' Energy Minister Aleksandr Ozerets announced February 15 
that the increase in natural gas prices for import from Russia will 
average 25.3 percent in 2008.  As of January 1, the wholesale 
increase was 19 percent, though the government has only passed a 
small fraction of the additional cost to consumers.  The minister 
said he is committed to reducing energy costs for certain domestic 
consumers, but did not specify who will receive subsidies. 
 
---------------------- 
¶11.  Quote of the Week 
---------------------- 
 
Aleksandr Lukashenko, hinting at his long-dormant democratic 
leanings while discussing his plans for the next ten years with the 
Russian media: 
 
"No one is particularly pressing me to leave the position of 
President or to keep it.  It all depends on circumstances.  The 
matter is up to the people to decide - including me.  I'll say it 
directly - I will not needlessly cling to this position.  If I am 
 
MINSK 00000132  003 OF 003 
 
 
strong and healthy, and the people tolerate me, then I will continue 
to work.  If they no longer tolerate me, then of course I will step 
down, even if I am strong and healthy.  In this sense, I am a very 
ambitious person." 
 
 
Stewart