Office for a Democratic

Belarus Headlines

Issue XXXVIII February 24, 2009

EU AND BELARUS SIX MONTHS AFTER: ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES AHEAD March 4, 2009 14:00 – 17:30, room P7C050, Paul-Henri Spaak building, European Parliament, Brussels

Dear colleagues, with enthusi- asm and have Office for a Democratic hitherto made Belarus The Parliamentary Groups of the some, albeit Party of Euro- limited, pro- Inside this issue: pean Socialists, gress towards greater politi- Debate on 1 the European People’s Party cal openness. EU-Belarus (Christian De- But will that be relations in EP mocrats) and enough to jus- EU and Belarus 2-3 European De- tify the expan- mocrats in the sion of con- European Parlia- tacts with the ment in co-operation with In October 2008 the EU current regime in Bela- 3-6 Politics and the Office for a Democ- granted Belarus a six- rus? And will the Belaru- Society news ratic Belarus and the month “grace period”, tem- sian government be able, Pontis Foundation are porarily lifting a visa ban and willing, to continue on state officials. The the liberalisation process 6-7 pleased to invite you to Economy and change of policy was after April 2009? Finance news take part in a debate on EU-Belarus relations that meant to encourage devel- will bring together repre- opment of democracy and 24/02/2009 Culture 8-9 Source: ODB sentatives of Belarusian respect for human rights in the country. The EU is to Cracking the NGOs, Members of the European Parliament, sen- review Belarus’ progress in Francysk April 2009, and decide Skaryna Code ior officials of the EU Council and the European whether to re-impose re- Commission, as well as strictions or expand its other interested parties. links with the Belarusian government. The debate The debate will be pre- organised in the European ceded by a presentation of Parliament provides a fo- We on the Web a ‘Monitoring Report on rum to evaluate develop- ments in Belarus since Oc- www.democraticbelarus.eu Developments in Belarus, October 2008 – January tober 2008 and to discuss 2009’ prepared by the Bel- steps the EU can take in arusian International Im- relations with Belarus after plementers Meeting the April review. (BIIM). Belarusian authorities re- acted to the EU’s decision PAGE 2 BELARUS HEADLINES ISSUE XXXVIII

EU and Belarus EU Foreign Policy Chief on First Visit to Belarus wards the EU’. Ostensibly, the Belaru- sian President had noted that Belarus’ relations with Russia were better under Boris Yeltsin and had expressed serious concern about what he had called was growing Russian pressure.

According to some sources, the EU for- eign policy chief believes Lukashenka should be invited to the Eastern Partner- The Secretary-General of the EU drafting of young opposition activists ship summit in May. However, many Council and the High Representative into the army, the recent arrests of dis- EU officials stress that much will de- for the Common Foreign and Security sidents, and the violent break-ups of pend on whether Belarus recognises Policy, Javier Solana, paid his first two opposition protests earlier this independence of Georgia’s break-away visit to . On February 19, So- month. The two sides also discussed the regions. ‘It is natural that Belarus [has] a lana held a meeting with the represen- situation on media freedom. sovereign parliament and the parliament tatives of Belarusian civil society and During his meeting with President Lu- of Belarus has its own decision [to the opposition, including former presi- kashenka, Solana noted that there is a make],’ said Czech Foreign Minister dential candidates Alyaksandr Mil- consensus in the EU that Belarus is a Schwarzenberg, ‘but if they would rec- inkevich and Alyaksandr Kazulin, European country and expressed hope ognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia it human rights activist Aleh Hulak, that their talks would be ‘productive would create a very, very difficult situa- legal expert Elena Tonkacheva, and constructive’ for EU-Belarus rela- tion for Belarus.’ Those who advocate economist Pavel Daneyka, leader of tions. Lukashenka, for his part, sug- the country’s inclusion in the new EU the Congress of Democratic Trade gested that the two sides ‘exclude [from initiative say the stakes are too high to Unions Alyaksandr Yarashuk and their dialogue] any mediators, espe- hesitate even if Minsk recognises these chair of the Belarusian Association of cially those who have unfriendly atti- regions. Others, however, express con- Journalists Zhanna Litvina. The Bela- tude towards the country’. On his return cern that this might lead Georgia to pull rusian activists told the EU official from Minsk, Solana reportedly told EU out from the project. they were in favour of the Minsk- ambassadors that Lukashenka had made 19-23/02/2009 Brussels dialogue, but they also in- it clear that his country is ‘looking to- Source: RFE/RL, BelaPAN,ERB, BelTA formed him about the controversial

PACE Rapporteur to Propose Restoring Special Guest Status

just ended a four-day visit to the coun- The three-member delegation also wel- try, said: "The Assembly wants to comed the release of all political pris- bring Belarus closer to Council of oners, and expressed interest in the Europe standards. Isolation has been new Consultative Councils set up to tried and it has not worked. Mr allow a dialogue between civil society Rigoni's proposal would allow the be- and the authorities. However, it re- ginning of a structured dialogue, partly mained concerned about freedom of as a response to some positive devel- association and assembly, and said that opments in the country." progress in developing media freedom PACE delegation at a meeting in Minsk - despite some limited positive steps - However he pointed out that any resto- was essential. [...] The rapporteur on Belarus of the Parlia- ration of Special Guest status - if it was mentary Assembly of the Council of decided by the Assembly - should be Finally, the delegation said it was keen Europe (PACE), Andrea Rigoni (, temporary, and renewal will depend on to see the opening in the very near fu- ALDE), has said he will propose restor- Belarus making further progress to- ture of a Council of Europe InfoPoint ing Special Guest status to a delegation wards democratisation. Contrary to an in Minsk, which should be a starting- from the country's parliament - pro- announcement by the Belarus state TV point for engaging with the Belarusian vided a mechanism can also be found to channel, there has been no decision to public at large. associate representatives of the extra- restore Special Guest status. There is parliamentary opposition. only a proposal, which could be dis- cussed by the Assembly as early as its 18/02/2009 Goran Lindblad (Sweden, EPP/CD), the June session, he added. Source: coe.int head of a PACE delegation which has Photo by nn.by PAGE 3 BELARUS HEADLINES ISSUE XXXVIII

EU and Belarus EPP-ED Delegation Returns from Minsk

newspapers, registration of the move- “EU has a good will to help its ment “For Freedom” and the non- neighbour to live during the difficult recognition of the separatist regions of times, but initiative should not go only South Ossetia and Abkhazia. “We from the EU. Help us to find the argu- express our concern that despite the ments to help you”, said Jacek Prota- recent positive developments, human siewicz during the press conference rights are still violated in Belarus with Belarus journalists. “In order to and politically motivated pressure and develop further the open dialogue be- harassment of democratic activists, tween EU and Belarus there shall not Laima Andrikiene , Jacek Protasiewicz independent newspapers and believers be any further practices of repression A Delegation of the largest political is witnessed in the country”, declared against democratic activists, isolation group in the European Parliament, the Christopher Beazley MEP. of young activists by expelling them Group of the European People's Party from universities and freedom restric- and European Democrats, went on a “An independent, secure and stable tions and compulsory work sentences fact-finding mission to Minsk , Belarus Belarus is the interest of the EU. The for democratic youth”, said Member of on February 20. The visit focused on recent “European week” in Belarus is the European Parliament. the assessment of the latest political not only about the visits of the EU developments in Belarus, EU-Belarus High Representative Javier Solana and The Members of the Delegation met relations, the human rights situation, the delegation of the EPP-ED from the the officials from the Foreign Ministry and the freedom of the press. European Parliament. This week is of Belarus as well as the leaders of the also about the repression against the democratic opposition, the Ambassa- The Members of the Delegation - democratic demonstrations of Febru- dors of EU Member States residing in Christopher Beazley MEP (UK, Head ary 14 and February 16. It gives a Belarus and the representatives of the of Delegation), Laima Andrikiene clearer picture on the processes going civil society. MEP (Lithuania) and Jacek Prota- on in Belarus. The EU has always siewicz MEP (Poland) acknowledged took a firm stand in promoting and the positive steps taken by the Belarus defending human rights, democracy authorities such as the release of the and the rule of law – fundamental 23/02/2009 internationally recognized political European values”, underlined Laima Source: EPP-ED press service prisoners, registration of 2 independent Andrikiene MEP.

Politics and Society

New Media Law Takes Effect in Belarus

A new Media its journalists from working for for- outlet will be subject to specific regu- Law, which is eign media outlets without accredita- lations and not common laws. She also described by tion and provides for sanctions against said ‘there is an exhaustive list of some critics as ‘the distribution of false information grounds for issuing a warning to a me- draconian, took that may cause damage to state and dia outlet or suspending its activity.’ effect on Febru- public interests.’ ary 8. The law was passed by the Par- Ananich told the audience that online liament in June 2008 and signed by The law has been criticised by media news sources would not be required to Alyaksandr Lukashenka on July 17. freedom advocates who have urged apply for registration after the entry of the government to bring it into line the law into force. The law bans media outlets from re- with international standards. Speaking ceiving money and any other resources at a news conference last week, Dep- The new Media Law was subject of a from foreign citizens, legal entities as uty Information Minister Liliya round-table conference attended by well as ‘anonymous sources’, and re- Ananich claimed that the new legisla- government officials, journalists, rep- stricts the maximum share of foreign tion would ‘considerably’ simplify the resentatives of the OSCE and the Euro- capital in a media outlet’s capital stock registration procedure for new media pean Commission office in Minsk on to 29%. outlets and ‘provide for a well-defined February 4. mechanism of responsibility’. Deputy 09/02/2009 In addition, the new legislation prohib- Minister explained that now a media Source: naviny.by ISSUE XXXVIII BELARUS HEADLINES PAGE 4

Politics and Society Formal Charges Brought against Vaukavysk’s Dissidents

also conducted in the apartments of guilty, Autukhovich will receive a sen- other opposition activists in the town tence of between seven and twelve of Vaukavysk. years in prison. Sapelka said he would appeal against the charge. According to human rights activist Aleh Vouchak, Autuhovich and Uladzimir Asipenka faces charges un- Liavonau have been suspected of der Part 2 of the same article that car- committing a crime under Article 218 ries a prison sentence of between three (Part 2) (i.e. intentionally destroying and 10 years, says his attorney Tamara On 8 February 2009, former political or causing serious damage to a prop- Sidarenka. prisoners Mikalai Autuhovich and Yury erty). This article carries a punish- Lyavonau were arrested by a special ment of up to 5 years of limitation of It was not immediately clear under police force in the Belarusian city of freedom or 3 to 10 years of imprison- what part of the article Lyavonau would Vaukavysk. ment. Vouchak explained that, in face charges. He is currently in the 2005, a house of a police officer state prison hospital in Minsk. The arrests were sanctioned by an order (Katsuba) from Vaukavysk was set of the Prosecutor General of Grodna. on fire. Two people have already In July 2006, Mikalai Autuhovich and The police conducted searches in the been found guilty of committing this Yury Lyavonau have already been sen- office of the company where the two crime and imprisoned. tenced to three and a half years of im- men work as taxi drivers, in their apart- prisonment and were internationally ments and even in their gardens. De- On February 18, the arrested have recognised as political prisoners. spite the fact that no compromising been issued formal charges. Autuk- In January 2008, as a result of the pres- evidence was found, Autuhovich and hovich’s lawyer Pavel Sapelka said sure from the international community Lyavonau were detained and brought to his client faces charges under Part 3 the imprisonment sentence was re- a Minsk detention centre on the Ak- of the Article 218, which provides for placed with corrective labour for both restina Street. Later it was learned that a punishment for deliberately de- of them. one of Autuhovich and Liavonau’s col- stroying or damaging a property in a 09-18/02/2009 leagues, Uladzimir Asipenka, was also way that endangers public safety or Source: BelaPAN, ODB, Nasha Niva detained. Reportedly, the searches were causes a large-scale damage. If found

Russia and Belarus in Diplomatic Row

Russia country on that subject and it will be "I want to emphasise with all certainty and Bela- rigorously implemented." that our lads don't fight in 'conflict rus were zones', and that they aren't going to caught in Belarus, normally seen as a close ally fight," Foreign Minister Syarhei Marty- a diplo- of Russia, signed on as a founding nau said in an interview on Belarusian matic member to an accord last week creat- state television Saturday. row after ing a rapid military reaction force Minsk said that it would not send its based in Russia. "All of our laws on this theme will be troops into combat as part of a new followed to the letter, and of this no one regional security accord. Belarus re- The Collective Security Treaty Organi- should have any doubt." Public reaction sponded angrily to comments made sation, seen as an ex-Soviet counter- from the government in to the Saturday by Russia's ambassador to weight to NATO, is comprised of Rus- news has been muted but conciliatory. Minsk that inter-governmental agree- sia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, ments carry greater legal weight than Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. One possibility floated by the Kremlin domestic law, which Belarus says bars is for Belarusian troops to serve in a its troops from joint-combat missions. But Belarus appeared to be backing non-combat capacity. "The Belarusian away from one of the key provisions of constitution, indeed, forbids its military "Firstly, I would like to emphasize that the agreement, namely that it would forces from serving in military opera- it will not be for ambassadors of other contribute soldiers if necessary to take tions for a foreign power," a foreign countries to interpret relevant elements part in cooperative security actions. ministry spokesman told the Kommer- of the Belarusian legislation, foreign sant newspaper. ministry spokesman Andrey Papou 11/02/2009 said. "Secondly there is a law of our Source: AFP ISSUE XXXVIII BELARUS HEADLINES PAGE 5

Politics and Society

Belarus, Germany Agree on Belarusian Children Recuperation in Germany

Steinmeier exchanged notes constitut- The Foreign Minister of Belarus also ing the intergovernmental agreement visited Potsdam, the capital of the Fed- on recuperation of Belarusian children eral State of Brandenburg. Martynau in Germany. The exchange of notes and the Prime Minister of Brandenburg, took place during Martynau’s official Matthias Platzeck, discussed potential visit to Germany. areas for co-operation, including econ- omy, energy and culture. The talks highlighted a wide range of items on the bilateral agenda, includ- Syarhei Martynau presented his report ing EU-Belarus relations, regional and "Belarus-EU dialogue: New Prospects" Syarhei Martynau and Frank-Walter international policy. Syarhei Martynau at the German association for foreign Steinmeier during the meeting also signed the Statute of the Interna- policy. tional Renewable Energy Agency On February 11, Foreign Minister of (IRENA), whose statutory documents 12/02/2009 Belarus, Syarhei Martynau’s, and his are deposited in Germany. Source: Trend News German counterpart Frank-Walter

Belarusian Police Disperse Protests

Riot police quickly dispersed the pro- other youth organizations gathered on test Monday, beating some of the Minsk's Yakub Kolas Square on Satur- demonstrators with truncheons. At list day afternoon. (Photos here from our two people are reported to have been Belarus Service.) beaten severely. Earlier Belarus' annual opposition Activists tried to march towards Inde- rally on Valentine's Day was broken pendence Avenue with the banned up violently by police this year. white-red-white Belarusian flags and posters saying "Action of Love." Belarusian police have forcibly broken Since the late 1990s, youth activists in up a rally of about 100 opposition dem- Minsk have protested on February 14, But police blocked their way to the onstrators. with some of them sending cards to avenue and used force to disperse the

Brussels -- a symbol of their support gathering, beating many of the activ- The activists were rallying to protest for Belarus joining the European Un- ists. against politically motivated arrests of ion. three entrepreneurs. They held banners 14-16/02/2009 saying «Freedom to Lyavonau, Autu- This year, thousands of activists from Source: PR-inside, RFE/RL, ODB hovich, Asipenka!» and «No to Politi- Belarus' Youth Front movement and Photo by Reuters cal Terror!»

Trial of Belarusian Youth Activist Set

The trial of a Belarusian authorities on the Belaru- In 2008, he was found guilty of partici- leader of sian-Ukrainian border detained Ar- pating in an unsanctioned protest and Belarus' un- tyom Dubski on February 13 as he was his freedom was restricted for two registered headed to Minsk to take part in an an- years, which includes a ban on leaving Youth Front nual opposition rally on Valentine's his town. movement Day. has been He later fled to neighbouring Ukraine scheduled for Dubski faces charges of illegally leav- to avoid other criminal charges against March 3. ing his town once last year. him. 19/02/2009 Source: Radio Free Europe Artyom Dubski ISSUE XXXVIII BELARUS HEADLINES PAGE 6

Politics and Society

National Council on Labour and Social Matters Approves Government's Plan for Implementing ILO Recommendations

The National Council The group included Guy Rider, Secre- In particular, the Commission suggested for Labour and Social tary General of the International Trade removing obstacles to freedom of asso- Matters has approved Union Confederation, and Kari ciation, amending laws to allow workers the government's Tapiola, the ILO`s Executive Director to organise freely, respecting independ- plan for implement- for standards and principles. ent unionists' civil rights, and guarantee- ing recommendations ing protection to labour organizations of the International Labour Organiza- On January 21, Messrs. Rider and that are subject to harassment. This con- tion (ILO). Tapiola took part in a workshop on the cerns the Belarusian Congress of De- implementation of the ILO recommen- mocratic Trade Unions and several other The council includes government offi- dations. organisations. cials and representatives of trade union associations and employers. The ILO Commission of Inquiry In December 2006, the EU decided to adopted the 12 recommendations for suspend Belarus' trade benefits under the The plan was devised in Minsk on the Belarusian government in late Generalized System of Preferences as January 22 in co-operation with a 2004, after considering a 200-page punishment for Minsk's failure to re- group of international experts, said report compiled by a special commis- spect independent trade unions’ rights Labour Minister Uladzimir Patupchyk sion formed to probe the government's and carry out the ILO recommendations. at the council's meeting on February alleged interference in the activities of 22/02/2009 20. trade unions. Source: naviny.by

Finance and Economics

Galt & Taggart Securities Takes Top Belarusian Position

Galt & Taggart Securities solidified its strides, grabbing the top spot in Minsk that this is just a sign of things to come. leading position on the Belarusian after less than one year in operation," We have big ambitions for the local market, taking the top spot on the Bel- commented Nick Piazza, CEO of Galt market and look forward to increasing arusian Currency and Stock Exchange & Taggart Securities. our volumes as time goes by. Volumes (BSCE) by trading volume in January significantly increased at the beginning 2009, according to the BCSE monthly After receiving its securities trading of this year as the Belarusian govern- report. license in Belarus in August 2008, Galt ment made steps to liberalize the local & Taggart Securities led trading on the trading environment in 2008. The gov- "Galt & Taggart Securities has been Belarusian stock exchange in January ernment cancelled its right to a golden the undisputed leader on the Georgian with more than BR7.4bn (US$ 2.79 share in state-owned companies, as well stock market over the past five years, mn) in volumes. as the ban on trading shares acquired on and last year we established ourselves preferential terms or in exchange for as a Top-5 broker in Ukraine , so I'm Aleh Gud, director of Galt & Taggart "Property" checks. very pleased to see that our Belarus Securities' Belarusian office, was 05/02/2009 team was able to make such big pleased with the result. "We believe Source: The Financial

Inflation at 4.1% in January in Belarus

According to the National Statistics Committee, in January 2009, inflation in Belarus ran at 4.1%. In January 2008, it was 2.5%.

In January 2009 the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 15.1% from January 2008. In 2008 inflation reached 13.3%.

11/02/2009 Source: BelTA ISSUE XXXVIII BELARUS HEADLINES PAGE 7

Finance and Economics

Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus Stepping up Co-operation in Energy Sector

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volo- hosted talks between the ex- The ministers also stressed the need to dymyr Ohryzko expressed his coun- perts of three countries on the technical improve trilateral interaction on the try's readiness to supply electricity to and technological aspects of imple- functioning of the combined transport Lithuania via Belarus during talks in menting "this mutually beneficial, tri- train ‘Viking’. The implementation of Vilnius. He participated in a meeting lateral project." this project will help improve the trans- between Ukrainian, Lithuanian and port system of the Baltic-Black Sea eco- Belarusian foreign ministers and The participants in the talks also dis- nomic space and extend the geography spoke at a trilateral meeting of energy cussed trilateral co-operation on the of cargo transportation. experts. realisation of infrastructure projects in the energy and transport sectors, as Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Ohryzko said that the implementation well as the issues of creating the Bal- Usackas, for his part, said that after the of this project had already been sup- tic-Black Sea economic space. negotiations, experts could draft an ported by the presidents of three states Ohryzko also stressed the importance agreement on the transit of Ukrainian and was foreseen in a roadmap for the of realising the project of transporting electricity to Lithuania via Belarus by development of Ukrainian-Lithuanian Caspian oil, using the Odesa-Brody- May 2009. partnership for 2009-2010, the Plock-Gdansk pipeline, to Europe, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press including Lithuania. 16/02/2009 service reported. For this purpose, Source: Ukrinform

Chery Auto Mulls Plan To Produce Cars In Belarus

China's Chery Uladzimir Syamashka, representatives which shows that the number of Belaru- Automobile and of the Industry Ministry and top man- sians willing to buy Belarus-built Chi- Belarus' MAZ are agement of MAZ and Chery Automo- nese vehicles is 18 times as big as the set to develop a bile are participating in the negotia- number of those in favour of imported business plan for tions," says Syarhei Varyvoda, the ones. the production of chairman of the Council of Distributors passenger vehicles in Belarus this of Chinese cars in Minsk. In 2008, a total of 800 Chinese vehicles April, Prime-Tass reports. were sold in Belarus, up 77.8% year-on- He believes there would be a huge year. "We are in talks at government's level. demand for locally built Chinese cars 20/02/2009 Belarus' First Deputy Prime Minister in Belarus, referring to the survey Source: theautochannel.com

Deputy PM Visits Belarus

Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and both the Eastern Partnership project implementation of the joint project for Minister for the Economy, Waldemar and the cooperation with the European building a coal-fired cogeneration plant Pawlak, is on a visit to Belarus. He has Union. We can always ask a simple in Zelva in co-operation with a Polish already been holding talks with Bela- question: is it better if Belarus is closer company Kulczyk Holding. rus’ Prime Minister Syarhey Sidorski to or farther away from Poland and the and his deputy Andrey Kabyakou. EU. I am convinced it would be much Pawlak is accompanied in Minsk by better if Belarus had better and closer Poland’s Deputy Ministers of Economy, The agenda included trade exchange, relations both with Poland and the Agriculture and Finance. This is the first the participation of Polish companies European Union.’ visit of such a high ranking Polish offi- in the privatisation of Belarus’ fuels- cial in Belarus in six years. and-energy and banking and insurance Waldemar Pawlak also said that the sectors as well as improved access to two sides discussed co-operation in In 2008, Polish exports to Belarus grew the Belarusian agricultural market. liquid fuel supplies. ‘We are in favour by 43% (and exceed US$1.6 bn), while of implementing joint projects in the import increased by 15% and now Speaking to the Polish Radio Pawlak area of power engineering, gas, and stands at US$1.3 bn. mentioned that his country supports the liquid fuel,’ noted the Minister. He 11/02/2009 B e l a r u s - E U d i a l o g u e . ‘ T h i s i s p a r t o f a l s o s p o k e i n p o s iti v e t e r m s about the 23/02/2009 Source: Poland.pl ISSUE XXXVIII BELARUS HEADLINES PAGE 8 Culture Cracking the Francysk Skaryna Code

first schooling in Polatsk, and then went people in the Slavonic world, who had off to Krakow University. Most likely, it their printed in their own language. was in Krakow where Skaryna first saw a In 1517, Francysk Skaryna established a printing machine (the city’s first print printing press in , where he pub- shop had been set up in 1496). He re- lished his first book entitled “The Psalter” ceived his bachelor’s degree in 1506, and in the old on August about seven years later gained his doctor- 6, 1517. ate in medicine at the University of Pa- dua in Italy. In the interim time he be- Skaryna spent two years in Prague, where came secretary to king Hans of Denmark he translated and printed the Psalter and (1481–1513) and acquired a thorough some 22 books of the Old Testament. knowledge of liberal arts, the Classical These were magnificent books. He used a languages, botany, astronomy, law and handsome typeface interspersed with re- heraldry. Skaryna also mastered the buses and illustrated with a series of south German style of woodcut and stud- woodcuts and arcane decorated initials. In ied printing in northern Italy. There he total, he printed about 10 000 books in his moved in circles which enjoyed the pro- print shop (one book amounted to about tection of the Habsburg Emperor Maxi- 500 printed copies). For the Belarusian milian. It is therefore very possible that nation, it was an enormous leap forward. his path could have crossed with The Bible was becoming understandable Albrecht Dürer and many of his other and affordable. Before that, only the rich- A woodcut by Skaryna featuring famous contemporaries. According to est aristocrats and monasteries were capa- the author, 1517 one hypothesis, Raphael depicted ble of buying hand-written books. Francysk Skaryna in his fresco “The Skaryna was also a very practical innova- This man studied and lived in several School of Athens” in Vatican. The fresco tor. He printed his Bible in a handy countries, shuttled across Europe, contains Raphael’s self-portrait together “tabloid” format – four times smaller than went in and out of prison, worked as with an unknown person right next to the traditional size, which made it more a publisher, doctor, gardener, with his him. If you look into the plump features comfortable to read. interests ranging from the art of of Skaryna on his own woodcut self- Around 1522 he moved to Vilnius and woodcut to translation, and, possibly, portrait, and compare it to the unidenti- established the first print shop in the Great even Kabbalah. Now, here is the best fied image on Raphael’s fresco, you may Duchy of Lithuania, his native country. part – he managed to do all these think that the hypothesis might not be Owing to Skaryna, Belarusians received things five centuries ago without any groundless. an opportunity to buy and read the afford- Internet, budget airlines and time The University of still cherishes able printed Bible in their own language management courses. His name was even before Germans, English, French Francysk Skaryna, the man who the memory of Skaryna. His portrait can be found in the Room of Forty, where did. Skaryna was working ahead of time – printed the first Belarusian book in perhaps, too far ahead in some cases. For Prague using the knowledge and other pictures and memorabilia pertinent to forty most prominent alumni are ex- example, he took a big batch of his books skills he acquired in Poland and Italy. to Moscow, proposing local authorities Indeed, he made a very good use of hibited, including the chair of Galileo, who taught in Padua from 1592 to 1610. and church to establish the first print the “Renaissance globalisation”. house. For Skaryna it was also a smart If you come to Polatsk today, you After his graduation, Francysk Skaryna business project: he would have been the will see a rather pleasant medium- began to practice medicine, but he never first to tap into the enormous market of size town, with a fair amount of pre- abandoned his dream of printing books in the Russian Empire – compare it to be- served landmarks, nice river, and the his native language. At that time book coming the first Internet provider in mod- air of an ancient capital, which now printing was like a dot-com boom of ern Russia. However, the Moscow au- humbly accepts its status as a provin- 1995-2000 (except that it never turned thorities were not ready for such a pro- cial centre. This is where Francysk out to be a bubble). Northern Italy resem- posal, and made a spectacular fire out of Skaryna was born. The exact dates of bled some kind of Silicon Valley where Skaryna’s “devilish” books. Only about his birth and death are unknown; the adventurous young entrepreneurs were half a century later, Ivan Fedorov two most probable estimates are massively setting up print shops like soft- (arguably, also a man from Belarusian 1485–1540 and 1490–1551. ware development garages. Having lands) set up the first print shop in the learned that the Czechs had their first Russian Empire. Luka, the father of Francysk, was a book printed in Venice in 1506, Skaryna respectable merchant who traded in thought, “The time has come”. As a re- Skaryna also laid groundwork for the devel- furs. Francysk probably received his sult, the Belarusians became the second opment of the Belarusian language. Actu- ally, he called his Bible “Biblia Ruska”, ISSUE XXXVIII BELARUS HEADLINES PAGE 9 Culture which often leads to misunderstand- Rygor Ravyaka, Associate Professor at the ismund I found out that Skaryna was jailed, ings. In the Great Duchy of Lithuania Belarusian State University of Informatics he ordered his release and even granted him the term “Ruski” referred to the local and Radio Electronics, scanned the wood- rights that made the publisher immune to Slavic proto-Belarusian culture, while cuts of Skaryna’s Bible and ran them further prosecution. people living in what later became through a special computer program which Russian Empire were called made it possible to reveal hidden images. Francysk Skaryna spent the last years of his “Muscovites”. In any case, even the Professor believes that Skaryna used the life in Prague, working as a gardener in the most biased linguist would not deny “mirror trick” in order to hide information. Royal Botanical Gardens. However, the that Skaryna’s Bible is printed in an If you hold a mirror perpendicularly to the seeds he had been planting in the Czech Eastern Slavonic language, which is picture, in some places new images are capital gave their best crops at home, where heavily saturated with genuinely Bela- formed out of chaotic lines and dots, with new book printers – and readers – were rusian lexica. one half of the image visible on paper, and emerging. another one in the mirror. For example, Skaryna did not merely translate the The name of Francysk Skaryna has a tre- Professor Ravyaka discovered a human mendous weight in today’s Belarusian cul- Bible – he also extensively interpreted figure concealed in an ornamental pattern; ture and national conscience. Perhaps, fear- it. He wrote elaborate and yet precise a miniature with the letter “P” contained a ing it may eclipse his own, President Luka- and clear prefaces to each book he reversed picture of a two-headed eagle, printed. He also provided in-depth shenka made a strange and abrupt move by possibly symbolising the Russian Empire ordering to rename the main Minsk street – margin commentaries, explanations which was then not too successful in its Skaryna Avenue – into the Avenue of Inde- and translations of complicated and military endeavours; Skaryna included the pendence in 2005. A number of protests foreign words. Combined, his remarks portrait of Kanstantsin Astrozhsky, his form some kind of book hypertext. He took place. People took to the streets with rich patron, into the letter “A”; and in the self-made printouts from Skaryna’s Bible. would have probably created a multi- letter “M” one can discover the image of Fortunately, one does not need to set up a media Bible, if he had a chance to put Medusa, a beast from the ancient Greek it online. print press to make them anymore – a com- mythology, which was defeated by puter printer will do. As usual, police chased Perseus who avoided Medusa’s deadly people away, which, sometimes, led to anec- Historians estimate that the Inquisition stare by looking into his (sic!) mirror- could have burned Skaryna not less dotic incidents. Thus, during a flash-mob on polished shield. than 13 times for heresy. Not only had May 10, 2005 the police unit stopped a he added prefaces and comments to the “The printed word has power”, said Martin group of protesters. A banner that was con- Holy Script, but he also included his Luther, prominent contemporary of fiscated contained the most well known full-size self-portrait! It is probably no Francysk Skaryna. However, not only patriotic abstract from Francysk Skaryna’s coincidence that Skaryna began to Belarusian historians like to create hy- preface. To a great delight of the crowd, the print his Bible the same year Martin potheses about possible encounters of poor policeman, holding a walkie-talkie to Luther hammered his Ninety-Five these two great people. In the 1990’s a his mouth, had to read out the whole pas- Theses on the door of a church in Wit- play “Vita Brevis, or the Pants of St. sage in the old Belarusian language to his tenberg. Skaryna was a true man of George” by Belarusian playwright Maxim chief: “From their birth, the beasts rambling Renaissance and . He Klimkovich was staged at the “Volnaya in deserts know their holes, birds flying in never mentioned which branch of Scena” theatre in Minsk. Traditionally, the air know their nests, fishes swimming in Christianity he adhered to, preferring Skaryna is shown as an idealistic and de- the sea and rivers sense their whirls, bees to describe himself as a Christian, voted national hero. This frivolous piece, and the like defend their hives - and so do rather than a Catholic or Orthodox. however, depicts not only theological de- people. Where they were born and raised bates between Luther and Skaryna, but with God’s will, they take much liking to Skaryna’s edition of the Bible turned also their romantic adventures with vari- that place”. For the Russian-speaking police out to be a splendid book with numer- ous women. Oh well, it was the period of officer that passage was a tongue-breaker, ous woodcuts and rich vignettes, Renaissance... but also a very nice example of practical which are not just beautiful, but also education. It turned out, that Francysk full of mysteries and symbols. One Skaryna probably valued a good sense of Skaryna had a talent of bringing wise words should not forget that he printed his humour; otherwise, it would have been too to all kinds of people – from Kings to cops. books in Prague, not too far away from difficult for him to go through such a tur- “What should I do with these people?” the Altneuschul (Staronová) Syna- bulent life. In 1529, his brother Ivan died asked the police officer in bewilderment gogue, with Golem’s heavy ceramic in Posnan, Poland, while tying to launch a after he had finished the reading. “Bravo! pieces hidden somewhere in its base- leather-trading business. Skaryna went to Wish’em good luck”, the commander’s ment. It was a famous centre of alle- Posnan in order to return the money his voice in the walkie-talkie grumbled. gory and cabbala studies, a fashionable wife invested into his brother’s failed en- trend among young educated Europe- terprise. However, in a strange twist of More pictures including some copies of wood- ans of that time. It turns out, that fate Francysk was thrown into Posnan’s cuts by Skaryna can be found on our website in Skaryna followed the fashion and actu- prison. A rich merchant from Warsaw who “cultural review section” ally experimented with encoding en- is referred in archival documents under the 24/02/2009 crypted images into his Bible illustra- name Old Moses (Moses Antiquus) de- tions. manded his arrest until he repaid a debt of By Ales Kudrytski for ODB his brother. However, when the King Sig-