Read full transcript here

The post Natalia Kaliada appeared first on Index on Censorship.

Suryapin, 20, is being held at the KGB detention centre in Minsk for posting pictures of the bears on his website. Around 1,000 “plush paratroopers” were parachuted over Belarus earlier in July from a plane flown from Lithuania by members of Swedish advertising agency Studio Total; each of the toys held a small poster with slogans in support of human rights and the freedom of expression in the country. The government has allegedly accused the journalist of assisting the breach of the state border.

“This case demonstrates that Belarus remains one of the most hostile media environments on earth, where law enforcement is used to silence free voices,” Index on Censorship said in a statement today.

Index on Censorship also called on the authorities of Belarus to immediately release Anton Suryapin and return his professional equipment confiscated by the KGB.

There is little information on the development of the case. According to the Belarusian law, the prosecution has 10 days to bring official criminal charges to a suspect. As the 10-day limit on detention without charge has passed, it may mean official criminal charges have been brought against the young journalist.

The post Belarus declares war on teddy bears appeared first on Index on Censorship.

To say that sport is to be kept separate from politics misses the point. Considering that decisions to give away major events like the Olympic Games or European Football Championships always have a political component, such view is untenable. The case of the 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship in Belarus shows that sports can, in fact, be very political – especially when it comes to the abuse of sporting events.

Since his ascent to power, President Alexander Lukashenko — like no other authoritarian leader — has been exploiting sports, in particular Ice Hockey, to consolidate and enlarge his ruthless security apparatus. The structures he installed around his favorite hobby have provided a shady arena in which deals are forged to the detriment of his own people.

In view of the country’s economic and social challenges, we had hoped that Lukashenko would have an interest in cooperating more closely with the European Union. Yet, the violent repression of political protests in the aftermath of the Presidential elections in 2010 and the executions of Dmitry Konovalov and Vladislav Kovalyov in March of this year have, at least for the moment, shattered our hopes. With Moscow’s backing President Lukashenko has continued to preserve power by inhumane means.

As a result, Germany’s Human Rights Commissioner, Markus Löning of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), wanted to address critical issues such as capital punishment, the freedom of assembly and the release of political prisoners. However, the regime was not willing to listen to our concerns and, therefore, denied Löning entry into Belarus.

It is against this background that I call on the International Ice Hockey Federation to relocate the 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship to another venue. My parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, the FDP, invited the highest representatives of the German Ice Hockey Federation to discuss this issue in Berlin. In a letter, moreover, we asked the Federation to raise its voice at the International Ice Hockey Federation at a meeting in May of this year. It turned out that, unfortunately, the German representative was the only member to raise concerns about the political and human rights situation in Belarus.

Nonetheless, we have not given up and are currently debating alternative avenues to put pressure on Lukashenko and his regime. We will not stop to demand a moratorium on capital punishment, the release all of the remaining political prisoners and the freedom of assembly in a country that is part of our European neighborhood.

This is a balancing act where, on the one hand, we need to make clear that Belarus is isolating itself from European standards and values. On the other hand, we do not want to push the Belarusian people into the arms of Moscow where they cannot expect support for their concerns. Meanwhile, it is important that we continue to shed light on the developments in Belarus to keep the public informed. Lukashenko can be certain to feel the pressure coming from my parliamentary group and the Bundestag in Berlin.

Marina Schuster is a Member of the German Parliament. She sits on the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee and is also a Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Interested in reading more about sporting boycotts? Read “In a league of its own” from the latest issue of Index on Censorship. For more stories about sports and free expression, visit  The Sports Issue  for subscription options and more

The post Keep Belarus off the rink appeared first on Index on Censorship.

Two more foreign banks halt cooperation with Belarus after German Chancellor Angela Merkel tells Index on Censorship and Free Belarus Now that she would intervene to stop Deutsche Bank from selling government bonds to Europe’s last dictatorship.

Index on Censorship and Free Belarus Now welcome the decision of banks BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank to stop selling the government bonds of Belarus, a country known as Europe’s last dictatorship. Deutsche Bank’s decision came after the launch of our international petition signed by the families of the political prisoners and NGOs as well as a series of protests. The campaign’s success is testimony to the success of the organisations in encouraging the high-level involvement of European politicians such as British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in condemning Belarus’s human rights violations.

Irina Bogdanova, sister of jailed Belarusian presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov raised Deutsche Bank’s involvement in two bonds sales directly with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merkel told Bogdanova that she would call Deutsche Bank and raise the issue with them directly. Bogdanova said:

“It’s outrageous that a bank used by German families has sold the government bonds of the dictatorship that has imprisoned my brother for no other crime than standing in an election. Chancellor Merkel promised me she would speak to Deutsche Bank. I’m delighted that Deutsche Bank will no longer work for Europe’s last dictatorship after our campaign.”

Deutsche Bank were involved in a syndicate alongside British bank Royal Bank of Scotland, Russian bank Sberbank and French bank BNP Paribas that sold $1bn Belarusian government bonds at 8.75 per cent (due August 2015) in August 2010, followed by a further issue of $850m of bonds in January 2011 (due January 2016) at a higher rate of 8.95 per cent.

Experts calculated these interest rates were twice the rate that would have been levied by the IMF, but the IMF would have required structural reforms. Governments including the British government have opposed IMF involvement until the country releases political prisoners jailed after the last presidential election.

Index on Censorship and Free Belarus Now were particularly concerned that even after the oppressive post-election crackdown in which seven of the nine presidential candidates were arrested and 43 political prisoners were held, the bond sale by Deutsche Bank continued.

Mike Harris, head of advocacy at Index on Censorship, said:

“Belarus’s financial crisis is so severe last week the Central Bank was forced to auction government property including TVs and cardboard boxes. Deutsche Bank and RBS who sold Belarusian government bonds in January were propping up a dictatorship. We’re delighted they have both pulled out leaving Lukashenko with few options other than to release his political prisoners.”

He added: “Only Sberbank is left from the original consortium of four banks. We will keep campaigning until they commit to not doing business with Lukashenko.”

Index on Censorship was the first NGO to report allegations of torture in Belarus on 20 December last year. The campaign by Index on Censorship and Free Belarus Now is continuing to place pressure on Sberbank, the last remaining bank involved in the bond sale.

For more information please contact Mike Harris at Index on Censorship mike@indexoncensorship.org or +44 207 324 2534 / +44 7974 838 468

The post Campaign success: Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas stop selling government bonds to Belarus appeared first on Index on Censorship.

The post Belarus: released prisoners named appeared first on Index on Censorship.

Belarus’s president “pardons” nine of 41 political prisoners on 11 August, the same day when US toughened economic sanctions against his regime. Olga Birukova reports

For the list of those released including their biographies click here

“The decision is based on their appeals for pardon, given the fact they have accepted the illegality of their actions, pleaded guilty and repented sincerely”, said an official press-release. Five of the released have been named already: Dmitry Drozd, Artem Gribkov, Serguey Kazakov and Andrei Protasenya. All of them were held in Bobruisk colony and their relatives confirmed they could be released as early as Monday 15 August. Others believed to be nominated for release have been named as Vladimir Loban and Alexander Klaskovsky. So far Belarus’s Ministry of International Affairs has not provided the names of the other three to be released.

According to naviny.by none of the former presidential candidates are on the release list, as none have signed confessions. Other analysts believe they may be released relatively soon, even if they have not appealed for clemency as Minsk seeks ways to improve relations with Europe.

This clemency for a handful of prisoners came on the same day as the US decision to impose additional economic sanctions against four major Belarusian state-owned enterprises: Belshina tyre factory; Grodno Azot, which manufactures fertilizers; Grodno Khimvolokno, a fibre manufacturer; and Naftan, a major oil refinery controlled by the Belneftekhim conglomerate. The new sanctions came in addition to travel restrictions, asset freezes for Belarusian officials, and previous economic sanctions against Belneftekhim. The sanctions may damage the pre-announced plans for the privatization of state owned assets to boost the Belarusian economy (and provide capital to fill the huge current account deficit).

“Only serious economic sanctions can help release all political prisoners in Belarus”, says an open letter, published by charter97 and signed by 18 women, all relatives of those who have suffered political persecution in Belarus or disappeared in suspicious circumstances they challenged Lukashenko.

“Do not be fooled by the words of dictator on the possible release of political prisoners. That won’t happen; instead the bargaining and negotiations will start what likely will lead to payment of some money as advance, but the deal won’t be realised. Do not believe false promises and do not think that economic sanctions can hurt the people of Belarus. The situation cannot be worse. Belarus people are damaged not by external economic sanctions, but by domestic policy. But severe economic pressure can free innocent people from prison, as it was the case with Alexander Kazulin,” the letter says.

Kazulin, Lukashenko’s main rival during the 2006 presidential elections was jailed and finally released on 16 August 2008. According to Belarusian media reports, the regime offered him clemency if he agreed to leave Belarus quietly and emigrate to Germany. He refused. His wife died of cancer whilst he was in jail.

After the release of Kozulin, Belarus received a loan from the International Monetary Fund.

“Possibly here, we see ‘good cop-bad cop’, where the US is the bad cop, whilst Europe can play the role of good cop, who in exchange for the release of political prisoners might provide some [trade] preferences or some measures to promote cooperation, as in 2008”, says Ludmila Gryaznova, chairwoman of “Human Rights Alliance”, an NGO registered in Lithuania and working on Belarusian issues.

Gryaz believes any step towards Belarus would be helpful, as right now the public is worrying not only about Lukashenko’s policies but also by Russian’s approach to Belarus as well. “It would be a very difficult situation for us if we remained in total isolation and we may go under full Russian influence, there is even the risk Belarus will lose its independence as a country”, she added.

Other Belarus analysts also believe that by releasing the political prisoners, Minsk wants to improve relations with West, whilst saving face. Some even believe all political prisoners might be released by September for the next “Eastern European summit”. Meanwhile, Belarus’s opposition are working to prepare their biggest action to date, the “People’s Gathering”, planned for 8 October.

The post Lukashenko to release political prisoners appeared first on Index on Censorship.

Around 40 per cent of Belarusians have Internet access. It’s something of a luxury, but those who do have access are using it creatively. For Belarusians in exile it’s often the last resort: they ask themselves, “what can I do but post online?”

For those inside Belarus it’s become a secure way to communicate with like-minded people who trust Facebook more than the President’s official newspaper. Working together both those in Belarus and outside are creating an online community, with the advantages of being mobile, flexible, informal or anonymous, and growing quickly.

Sadly, the KGB and special services are learning fast too. During the “Days of Action” that saw mass protests against President Lukashenko, Twitter and Facebook were full of falsified news stories, designed to deter readers from joining the protests.

The Revolution through Social Networks (RSN) actions began online as a page on social network VKontakte (a major force in Russia and Belarus with over 135 million registered users) and now has over 28,000 supporters. Any Belarusian political party would be delighted to get so much support in such a short period of time. The silent “clapping protests” against Lukashenko’s 17-year rule were initiated online via the RSN page.

RSN has four page administrators: 3 in Minsk and one, 24-year-old Vyacheslau Dianau, in Krakow. This has proved a useful structure: when those in Minsk get in trouble with the KGB, or cannot get access to the page, Dianau can keep the page active and continue the dialogue. Being slightly safer in Poland, Dianau is the main contact for journalists and also leads the NGO “Movement of Future”.

As the RSN page is open for anyone to read, the Belarusian media including svaboda.org, nn.by, republish its updates — turning them into news, and in turn widening the audience for its street actions. It looks like a computer game combined with a flash mob, which is part of its attraction to young people. As a result, the police sent to stop the street actions are presented with a “smart crowd”; with no defined centre to kettle, no leaders to arrest, and no loud speakers to confiscate.

So far, analysts on Belarus can only guess why these actions have become so popular. Paulyuk Bykowsky from “The Belarusians and the Market” reminds us that “usually there is an increase in political activities and politically inspired flash mobs especially, after each further Lukashenko election.”

Hence we now see a similar wave of protests, but bigger than in the past due to the confluence of many factors: a post-election clampdown has seen the detention of 43 political prisoners and suppression of any political dissent, and the country’s economic crisis has been a source of frustration. Meanwhile, the Arab Spring has been an inspiring example to Belarusians.

Cynics believe that the clapping protests are merely a fashion statement, due to fade soon. They add scornfully that there is no politician, nor political party, nor working class support for the movement.

“You need working class support to win a revolution” — state all school history textbooks since the Soviet era. In Belarus, with its industrial giants being kept afloat by state subsidies, it sounds reasonable. Aware of this, RSN has produced a printable leaflet to use in local communities, aimed at working class men, who are an “unknown civilization” for many, wealthier, netizens.

On 20 July, small business leader Viktar Garbachou called his colleagues to support the “Wednesday actions”. His Facebook message read: “Let’s make Wednesday the day of the non-working entrepreneur. Let it be our Day of Solidarity. Having lost your Wednesday income, you’ll get a free country on Thursday. Your Wednesday loss will make your family stronger.”

It was the over-reaction of police and others in “plain clothes” that made the silent protests so loud in Belarus and abroad.

Protesters photographing KGB for future trials

With protesters arrested for clapping, and heavy physical force used, netizens are fighting back the only way they can – online. Photos of plain clothes agents have been posted online with appeals to disclose their IDs, in case any reader can recognize their faces. The aim is to use these photos in future trials on human rights violations. Various blogs, the Facebook group ‘Wanted criminals in civilian clothes’ and Posobniki.com all aim to expose those who help the regime.

Some bloggers have exposed the faces and full names of judges who were involved in the political trials. With EU sanctions now expanded to cover judges involved in political trials, this is not merely a gesture. Other bloggers have brought together the stories of struggle and hardship of the prisoners and their families. Some catalogue lists of links with full coverage of the actions. As these blogs are reposted on social networking sites, such stories spread quickly around the internet.

So far, there’s been no official response, merely a few angry slips of the tongue from Lukashenko as he spoke about “somebody sitting in Krakow”, others “clapping and mooing”. But the regime is showing signs of weakness: after an online campaign Andrew Pozcobut, who writes for Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza, was handed a suspended 3-year prison term for libeling President Lukashenko, yet this was a far lighter sentence than expected. Some suggest this proves officials are increasingly aware of the real impact of social networks. Another recent campaign to help Nikita Likhavid, a political prisoner in solitary confinement has taken off. The story was originally published on a blog, republished by the media, and after a wider audience took up the case, influential members of the regime are attempting to negotiate the case with the colony’s administration.

The Internet has not changed the regime; but the strength of online solidarity and support is beginning to shift power from the state to citizen.

The post Belarus protesters rally on the web appeared first on Index on Censorship.

Applause has suddenly become a mark of protest in Belarus. It is so distinctive, that even the 3 July Independence day military parade was held in silence to avoid its disruption by clapping. This is unheard of in a country which sticks to Soviet traditions from the Brezhnev era. Even Lukashenko’s supporters weren’t brave enough to clap the dictator and his 6-yr old son, both in General uniforms, obviously bored to death watching and greeting lines of trucks, tanks, planes, rows of Special Forces, paratroopers and artists clothed as partisans and soldiers from previous wars. What was supposed to be a festive crowd was half full of plain-clothed agents watching attentively for anybody “ready to clap”, in order to arrest them.

“Clapping on Wednesdays” has been inspired by the Arab spring and alike those revolutions has been organised predominately via social networks. Hence, most of participants are netizens those who are educated and wealthy enough to use twitter, i-phones, i-pad and other new technologies. These are complemented by old-fashioned “word of mouth” and SMS messaging.

There are no slogans, no banners, no traditional white-red-white flags, no shouting, no swearing: in fact nothing you can be arrested for. Apparently there’s not even any of the “old opposition”, nor any politician behind the moment.

You simply come to Central Square or, last Sunday to the Minsk’s main railway station, join the crowd and all clap together. What could be more non-violent and innocent? Primary school kids can do this.

These weekly actions started on 8 June and, so far, the biggest one gathered together around 1,500 people (from the most optimistic accounts) — hardly noticeable in Minsk a city of 2m people. But on 29 July plain-clothes agents bundled several people off the street.

Ksenia Avimova, a young journalist was simply strolling down the street and about to put a lens on her camera. Yet three men dressed in black were already behind her, ready to pounce. Later, she was transported to the local police station for a couple of hours and detained. No charge was forthcoming as she had all her papers in order (passport, journalist ID).

Avimova told Index:

“If they arrest journalists, they do it on the orders of the boss of the group, it’s not accidental…Once me and my colleagues were detained for 3 hours, just to prevent us from coming back to the central Minsk and filming the action.”

She said when she was detained on 29 July, Alexander Lastousky, the press officer of the Belarus Home Office visited and she was released. Lastousky plays the role of an “angel-saviour from jail” for media workers. This story is no longer exceptional. Anybody who films street actions will be familiar with the routine detentions and intimidation.

Anton Motolko, a photographer from Minsk claims that the security services have been instructed to stop any attempt to report upon the protests:

“They’ve had special orders to smash camera lenses and arrest the media”, he told Index. Adding: “Preventing journalists from working is standard practice during elections with journalists dragged into police trucks and people may just cover their camera with their hands. But on 3 July they started smashing cameras. Groups of 2 or 3 people would pretend to be mentally ill or drunk and start shouting aggressive nonsense at you or swearing to distract your attention. Then somebody, you don’t see who, pulls your leg from behind and you fall down, your camera smashes and you cannot prove that the ‘accident’ was deliberate.” According to Anton, it was only on 3 July that protestors and passers-by began fighting back against the security services

Independence Day
View «Рэвалюцыя праз сацыяльную сетку», 3 ліпеня 2011 in a larger map

Last Sunday, Belarus celebrated ‘Independence Day’ (a staged propaganda event initiated by Lukashenko) along with the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Minsk from Nazi Germany. Officially, 360,000 people participated in Independence Day festivities in Minsk, but most impartial observers believe no more than 5,000 people turned up. For attempts to ‘protest clap’ an estimated 200-400 persons were detained across the country, with 210 in the capital. Outside Minsk the biggest mass arrests were registered in Gomel, Grodno and Mogilev.

The authorities insisted it would be strictly a day without applause. A Reuter’s correspondent saw one man in his 30s begin applauding as Lukashenko began to speak in Independence Square. Police moved in and he was led away. Even before Lukashenko began speaking, plain-clothes police led away several young people apparently identified as potential protesters as they tried to mingle with Lukashenko’s supporters.

According to an Index source, around 100-150 people came to the main railway station action at 7pm. The “men in black and grey” detained some of them along with innocent passers-by, who had no idea why was it had suddenly become illegal just to be outside. Of the arrested, some were teenagers, others couples, alongside families with toddlers. Passages to the Metro were closed for several hours. Our source claims that tear gas was used in Independence Square.

By Monday, an estimated 50 prosecutions had been undertaken and those detained had been moved to the Detention Center on Okrestina street. They were all charged with “petty hooliganism” (art. 17.1 of Belarus Code of Administrative offences). Further trials are ongoing.

The post Clapping protests sweep Belarus as economy slides appeared first on Index on Censorship.