Key Events: May 3-9
Video made with support of Peace, Justice, and Human Rights Initiative of Florida Atlantic University
Belarus and US
May 3: US envoy Julie Fisher interview about Lukashenka and on state of Journalism
The US Ambassador to Belarus, Julie Fisher, gave an extended interview to the news agency Belsat. She explained why she does not reside in Minsk and discussed the official status of Lukashenka, the possibility of Tsikhanouskaya visit to the United States, and the potential danger of Russian occupation of Belarus. Later in the week, she met with the Belarusian journalists to honor the World Press Freedom Day online event and recognized their achievements and sacrifices for the freedom of speech. She underlined the US support of the independent media and mentioned the names of the imprisoned journalists in Belarus.
May 6: Tsikhanouskaya on Democracy and Human Rights in Belarus
Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has called for a high-level international conference on resolving the political crisis in Belarus during her testimony before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in US Congress. In addition to the imposed sanctions on senior figures in Lukashenka’s government, such conference, she suggests, will help isolate Lukashenka politically and help develop a comprehensive plan for the development of civil society in Belarus. Tsikhanouskaya added that participation of the Belarusian democratic forces, national governments and civil society groups from the European Union, Russia, Britain, and the United States along with representatives of Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s regime will be required.
Belarus and Europe
May 5: Lawyers file suit against Lukashenka in Germany
A lawsuit against Lukashenka and the members of his security apparatus is filed in Germany on the grounds of crimes against humanity on behalf of a group of Belarusian plaintiffs. The four lawyers filing the lawsuit allege that the accused are to face persecution outside of Belarus due to the severity of the charges and also because an independent judicial system is non-existent in Belarus today. Lukashenka’s response to the German filed lawsuit was to blame the modern democratic German society of being followers of the fascist regime. “Heirs of fascism can’t judge me”, he commented in a speech few days before annual holiday to commemorate the Soviet Union’s victory over nazi Germany.
May 5: G7 urges Belarus to release political prisoners, hold new elections
Coalition of the G7 countries called on Belarus to implement initiatives recommended by the OSCE’s independent expert mission: release all of the political prisoners, end repressions against journalists and show respect for fundamental human rights in Belarus.
May 5: Will negotiating platform with Lukashenka regime be launched with help of Austria?
Austrian authorities have recently shaken hands with Lukashenka, and now they welcome the leader of the Belarusian protests Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The purpose of Tsikhanouskaya’s second visit to Vienna is to force Lukashenka’s regime to sit down at the negotiating table, as well as to repeat at the headquarters of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe that this organization can become a platform for negotiations.
May 5: Heads of government and Foreign Ministry instructed to review EU projects in Belarus
Lukashenka asserts that Belarus will not retreat under the sanctions and the EU projects in Belarus will face new legislature and re-registration.
Angela Merkel announced that Germany is planning to provide humanitarian measures to the Belarusians, including easier access to visas, support of independent media, and scholarships. Merkel confirmed that Germany and the EU will continue to hold accountable those responsible for the human rights violations in Belarus.
Belarus and Russia
May 4: Play about protests in Belarus sabotaged in Moscow
On May 1, the premiere of Sergei Gindilis’ play “Neighbors,” dedicated to the Belarusian protests in August 2020, was sabotaged by police officers who informed the audience that there was a bomb threat. It was to be shown at the independent Moscow ‘Theatre.doc’.
May 5: Belarus sanctions: Time to target Russia?
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and his Belarusian counterpart Roman Golovchenko are busy negotiating roadmaps to “deepen the integration” of the two countries’ gas markets, tax systems and expanding Russian military presence. Belarus is also seeking to build special terminals in Russian ports to facilitate the export of potash and refined petroleum products.
May 5: Ambassador: Belarus, Russia are close to creating economic platform of Union State
Ambassador of Belarus in Russia, Semashko, said that two countries are close to creating an economic platform for the Union State. The 26 out of 28 roadmaps have been reconciled. He expects all roadmaps to be signed in the fall of 2021.
Repressions in Belarus
May 3: Noted Belarusian lawyer who defended independent journalists leaves country
The Belarusian authorities stripped Zikratski, a prominent lawyer, of his professional license citing a lack of proper qualifications. Zikratski supporters say that the decision was made due to his involvement with the defense of the journalists accused by the authorities for reporting on mass protests. Zikratski and his family were forced to leave Belarus because his family lived under enormous stress.
May 4: Former Belarus soldiers, law enforcement officers deprived of their ranks
Lukashenka deprived more than 80 former servicemen and law enforcement officers of their ranks for the actions allegedly incompatible with their status amid ongoing crackdown on the opposition.
May 4: Belarus media is under “wave of repression”
More than 500 journalists have been detained in Belarus since August last year. Collectively, they have spent upwards of 1,200 days in jail, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ). A further 60 journalists were injured as police violently shut down protests. State-owned printers have refused to print at least five newspapers, one print run was confiscated, websites were blocked, and the largest web portal TUT.by was stripped of its media status, watchdogs have said.
May 5: Prisoners tell horror stories of their detention in Belarus
More reports come from the former prisoners about the conditions in which people are kept in Belarusian prisons on political charges. People describe being kept in overcrowded and poorly ventilated cells, subjected to chlorine poisoning, and beatings by the squad of riot police.
May 6: Belarus presidential candidate Tsikhanovsky charged with plotting mass riots, as well as four Tsikhanouskaya associates handed prison terms
One of the former presidential candidates Sergei Tsikhanovsky, who was arrested a month before the presidential election together with another lead candidate Babaryka is facing trial on charges of plotting mass riots. In accordance with Belarusian criminal law, he may face up to 15 years of jail time. Additionally, four members of Tsikhanouskaya election campaign were handed lengthy prison terms on charges of organizing mass disorder, planning to seize administrative buildings in Homel and publicly insulting police officers. All the accused rejected he charges, calling them politically motivated.
May 6: Lukashenka doubles down on fear to silence pro-democracy opponents
Experts note that Lukashenka’s regime evolved from “medium authoritarian to hard authoritarian or even soft totalitarian. His opponents are punished for everything…” Lukashenka used a deterrence strategy to strangle protests and prevent any possibility of a new wave. He won a short-term battle but might lose a long-term one. The factors of instability are the pressure from the international community and the declining electorate.
May 7: More than a dozen handed sentences in Belarus over anti-Lukashenka protests
More than a dozen activists in Belarus, including a Russian citizen, have been handed prison sentences amid a continued crackdown following months of protests. Court cases grow every day throughout the country.
May 9: Lukashenka signs contingency decree on presidential powers
Lukashenka signed a decree allowing the transfer of presidential powers to the Security Council if he is killed or otherwise unable to perform his duties. The Security Council is made up of handpicked Lukashenka backers. Previously, if the president’s position became vacant power would be transferred to the prime minister until a new president takes an oath.
Interesting Reads & Reports
May 5: Human Rights Center Viasna: Human Rights Situation in Belarus: April 2021
May 5: Belarus regime turns on artists and journalists
Julia Cimafiejeva, a Belarusian writer in exile and an author of the poem Homeland says that the repressions always intensified after every re-election of Lukashenka. While not actively supporting it until 2019, the state never threatened the independent Belarusian cultural society. Today, the independent culture is paralyzed, as the Belarusian parliament continues to pass amendments stifling press & freedom of expression.
May 6: BBC: Why wearing the wrong socks is risky in Belarus
Do you want to be arrested or heavily fined? Travel to Belarus and wear socks in white and red colors. You will be accused of the unlawful picketing. The victory sign is also an offense.
May 6: Belarus church cites denial of pastoral help to political prisoners
The prison officials in Belarus are denying access of the Catholic clergy to the political prisoners requesting the visits. The authorities cite the COVID precautions as the reason for the denial. As there are no defined legal procedures for the visitations, the decision rests solely on the prison officials.