Office for a Democratic

Belarus Headlines

Issue XII June 29 – July 10, 2007

VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE EU PARLIAMENT DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH BELARUS ALDIS KUSKIS: Belarus not high enough on European agenda

Interview with Vice-chairman of - I am an the EU Parliament Aldis Kuskis inde- (series:Face to face with pendent Europe) person Office for a Democratic “Aldis", - says Latvian MEP, and at- Belarus vice-chairman of the Euro- tach great pean Parliament Delegation impor- for relations with Belarus tance to Inside this Aldis Kuskis when he picks freedom. issue up his phone. For him Bela- The high- rusian issues are of keen in- est value terest, his involvement with I would Interview with MEP 1-2 the country goes under the set on the freedom of Brussels and Strasbourg – Aldis Kuskis slogan of the Soviet pioneers: choice. I feel that we as long as I am persona "always ready". He is no pro- should do whatever we can non grata for Belarusian Chavez meets 2 fessional but an expressive, for any country of the authorities, I can’t come to Lukashenko warm-hearted politician; and world to let it be free to visit the country. The nor- his statements are tough make choice. There is no mal way would be for me European campaign- 3 enough to secure him a ban need to travel far with such to have the opportunity to ing of “Za Svabodu” on entering Belarus. an intention, Belarus is our come and learn more about - Mr.Kuskis, what is the direct neighbour; we even the country, to be able to Belarus opposing US 3 had 50 years of common understand it better. If the missile shield season of the year you asso- ciate Belarus with? history. What I need, what I authorities are afraid of Plans of weapons 3 want, what I would like to me, then they fear that I cooperation with Iran - I would like to associate do is to help my friends. could do what? the people of Belarus with 20 church workers 4 spring – they are already I can’t say I discuss Belarus - What is your opinion on arrested awoken, they are active and with my family every day. I the press reports – is energetic. But the country can’t even say I see my European media objective BAJ holds action on 4 itself is still cold and frozen, family every day. But we covering Belarus? And Zavadsky disappear- like a dead, snowy winter. do discuss Belarusian mat- vice versa, is Belarusian ance anniversary This time of the year is risky ters: My wife would ask media impartial writing for spring flowers. I can’t call why we support this or that, about European affairs? ask about the projects, our OSCE PA adopts 5 Ded involvement. But I am not - There is no 100 percent Kyiv declaration Moroz (traditional Santa impartiality on either side. Claus - Father Frost, - that often at home and try Economic news 5-7 Belarus Headlines) as he is not to talk about political There is different level of Culture News 8-9 of no positive character. But issues. understanding in Europe of one shouldn’t forget the laws what is happening, of the Listen to Bat’ka - Do you have friends in of nature – they are immuta- Belarus? situation in Belarus. It is ble. Spring is bound to set in! great but also quite normal. - Well, I know many peo- Journalists know more

- Why do you take such an ple in Belarus and would be about the situation in Bela- interest in what you call Bel- glad to make new friends. rus than about Latvia or arusian winter? Is it more are an exciting that are member professional or personal? nation – bright and tal- counties of EU. For Euro- ented. I met them in Riga, pean journalists news is ISSUE XII BELARUS HEADLINES PAGE 2

Interview with Aldis Kuskis

bad news; and since something bad is Transport and Tourism. Among the Chairman of Delegation for relations always happening in Belarus, the me- priorities of the national politics I with Belarus since 2004. dia have professional interest to write understand it as my duty to explain about the country and cover it more the history of Latvia and the Baltic Born in 1965, Riga. 1981-1995 often. But that’s my feeling, I don’t states to the colleagues, condemn the worked part-time as a DJ, 1996-2002 have the statistics. totalitarian nature of held different managing posts at ad- the Soviet commu- vertising agency To analyse the EU coverage in Bela- "Lowe Age", then at nist regime, to do There is still a lot to do rus we need to differentiate between historical research. telecommunication government-controlled papers, which Ukraine is another – Belarusian issue is company "Baltkom". make 90-100 percent, they give a few foreign issue of not yet on the top of the October 2002 – true facts and, for most part, tell lies. mine. agenda of EU March 2004 Member The information on Europe in the of the Parliament of papers that are almost independent is I am not satisfied institutions. the Republic of Lat- more or less correct. Independent me- with the level of via. Since March dia is mostly internet-based. In Bela- attention paid to 2004 Secretary of rus, on the whole, the biggest part of Belarus, its placement on the Euro- International Affairs of the Latvian the free press is in the Internet as it is pean agenda. We do a lot. There more national, conservative party "New difficult to control it there. or less active phases involving strate- Era". Speaks Latvian, English, Rus- gic planning of the projects, their sian. Married, has s son and a daugh- - As a member of European Parlia- drawing-up, preparation, implementa- ter. ment, in your view, could you do tion. There is still a lot to do – Belaru- more for Belarus? Should you do sian issue is not yet on the top of the less? agenda of EU institutions. Prepared by Maryna Rakhlei for - There is no reason to do less, we Aldis Kuskis has been Latvian repre- the Office for a Democratic Belarus always do the utmost. Personally I sentative in the European Parliament 04/07/2007 have different obligations, split into (Group of the European People's priorities. I work at the Committee on Party (Christian Democrats) and the Environment and Committee on European Democrats), Vice-

Politics and Society Venezuela's Chavez Meets Lukashenko for One-to-One Talks

Venezuelan President Hugo an upturn in trade recently, with Belaru- "We, together with Belarus, are going Chavez arrived in Belarus Friday as sian industry providing the Venezuelan forward with a 'wide front', and we part of a three-country non-aligned army with night vision devices and an have developed this trade in less than a nation trip. agreement for Belarusian energy compa- year, after starting practically from nies to develop a Venezuelan oil field. zero," Lukashenko said. The outspoken Venezuelan leader was in one-on-one talks with Bela- "Our positions are absolutely identical," During his visit to Moscow Chavez told rusian President Aleksander Luka- a beaming Lukashenko told reporters. reporters his country was interested in shenko. "Our relations have now reached the purchasing Russian diesel-electric sub- level of strategic partnership. " marines. He also called for greater co- Chavez had visited Russia's parlia- operation between Venezuela's energy ment - the Duma - earlier in the Lukashenko and Chavez were set to industry, and the Russian fossil fuel day, and met with Russian Presi- chair a joint meeting of Belarusian and giants Gazprom and Lukoil. dent Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Venezuelan delegations later in the eve- ning. The Friday arrival in was Chavez's second visit to Belarus. Aside from energy industry equipment His schedule included also a subse- and military supplies, goods and ser- quent stop in Iran - like Belarus a vices newly traded between the two country politically isolated from countries include fertilizer, heavy dump 29/06/2007 major Western nations. trucks, lorries, tractors, and agricultural products. Source: Journalo Belarus and Venezuela have seen PAGE 3 BELARUS HEADLINES ISSUE XII

Politics and Society

Milinkevich's Movement for Freedom to Launch Information Campaign about Assistance that Could be Available under European Union's Neighbourhood Policy

The Movement for Freedom led by partnership of Belarus with the family a full participant of the ENP if Minsk former presidential candidate Alyak- of European nations," Mr. Milinke- respected human rights, democracy and sandr Milinkevich on June 30 vich was quoted as saying. "The EU's rule of law. In particular, the EU of- launched a campaign to inform the offers remain highly topical for us. fered assistance in creating new trade public about the assistance that Bela- Propagandists allege all the time that opportunities to boost the Belarusian rus may get under the European we can't rely on the EU because we economy and create more and better job Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). are not welcome in Europe. On the opportunities, improving the quality of contrary, Belarus is welcome in the healthcare and education, improving According to Mr. Milinkevich's press European Union, the EU will wel- transport and energy networks, and the office, the Movement's activists will come democratic changes in our management of environmental prob- pass out pamphlets about what the EU country." lems, as well as reforming the legal and can offer to Belarus and inform people judicial system. about the benefits that the nation could In November 2006, the European Un- get from the rapprochement with the ion released a document specifying 01/07/2007 EU. benefits that the bloc could offer to Belarus in exchange for Minsk's steps Source: BelaPAN This campaign "is highly important to democratize the country. The EU and necessary on the way to the future promised that Belarus would become

Belarus Vows Cooperation With Russia in Opposing Plans for US Missile Shield

Belarusian President Alexander Luka- would "seriously complicate" the mili- Mr. Lukashenko is barred from traveling shenko says his government will set tary-political situation in the region. to the United States and many European aside economic disputes and work countries because of his human rights closer with Russia to oppose U.S. and Russian President Vladimir Putin has policies. His comments today were made NATO plans for a missile shield in cen- voiced strong opposition to the missile during a speech at a military parade tral Europe. shield. He has proposed alternatives to marking Belarusian independence day. the U.S. plan, including joint use of a In an address in Minsk Tuesday, Mr. radar site in Azerbaijan, or alternately in Lukashenko said NATO's eastward ex- southern Russia. Washington is evaluat- pansion and the proposed missile shield ing those proposals. 03/07/2007 in and the Czech Republic Source: VOA News

Belarusian Leader Promises Weapons Cooperation with Iran

Belarus' president promised aid to Iran's military Thursday, and held talks with the visiting Iranian defense chief. "Our cooperation with Iran in the military-technical sphere is based on the development, above all, of high technologies," Alexander Lukashenko said during a meeting with Mostafa Mohammad Najjar. He also said that Belarus would implement contracts it had signed with Iran, but it was unclear whether he was talking about weapons sales or other trade deals. Belarusian officials declined to comment. Najjar said that "Belarus holds a special position in Iran's foreign policy" and that "cooperation between Belarus and Iran is devel- oping thanks to mutual understanding on the presidential level." Less than two months ago, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad traveled to the ex-Soviet republic and pledged solidarity in the face of foreign pressure. 05/07/2007 Source: Associated Press ISSUE XII BELARUS HEADLINES PAGE 4

Politics and Society Belarus: 20 Church Workers Arrested in Crackdown

Police in church to active use. St. Joseph's church They were also released after spending Belarus ar- in Budslaw has been closed by authori- most of a day in prison, but their campaign rested 20 ties, and parishioners fear that it may be material-- including computers and print- Christian converted into a hotel. They were circu- ers as well as religious literature-- was human-rights lating a petition opposing that change, as seized. Alaksiej Shein, co-chairman of the workers in well as a separate petition calling for Belarus Christian Democrat Party, told two separate changes in the country's laws governing Christian Solidarity Worldwide that the incidents this religion. The 14 activists were released raid in Minsk was illegal, since police had week, re- after several hours, but their petitions no warrant. He said that the raid and the ports the were confiscated. arrests were clearly intended to intimidate Christian Solidarity Worldwide. religious activists. The next day, July 3, police raided an On July 2, 14 activists were arrested as apartment in Minsk and arrested 6 activ- 05/07/2007 they collected signatures on petitions ists who were preparing literature calling calling for restoration of a Catholic for changes in the 2002 religion law. Source: CW News

Belarusian Association of Journalists Holds Ceremony to Commemorate Anniversary of Dzmitry Zavadski's Disappearance

The Belarusian Association of Journalists league and friend. Zavadski’s car was According to Mr. Sharamet, Mr. Bazhelka (BAJ) on July 7 held a ceremony in com- found parked near the airport, but the 28- had told him that in the fall of 2000, inves- memoration of the 7th anniversary of the year-old journalist was never seen again. tigators were about to solve the case. Some disappearance of journalist Dzmitry Za- His alleged kidnappers, Valery Ihna- of the arrested suspects admitted that they vadski. tovich and Maksim Malik, ex- had received an order to kidnap Mr. Za- members of Belarus' elite vadski from high-ranking officials with the Some 15 BAJ activists police unit, were sen- Security Council of Belarus. However, Mr. gathered in front of the tenced to life in 2002, but Sharamet said with reference to Mr. Baz- building in which Mr. they were found guilty of helka, the investigation was put on hold by Zavadski lived and put up kidnapping, not murdering Mr. Lukashenka's order. Suspects either portraits of the journalist, Dzmitry. The trial yielded no retracted their testimony or refused to an- which carried the inscrip- answer to the question as to swer investigators' questions. Some of the tion "Where is Dzmitry what happened to him after he suspects were released and one of them, Zavadski?" had been abducted. Although former Almaz officer Anton Kabzar, died his body was never found, a under unclear circumstances in the spring BAJ Deputy Chairman district court in Minsk de- of 2001. Uladzimir Dzyuba said at the ceremony that this clared him dead in November 2003. Referring to the former prosecutor general, date is not only an occasion to com- Mr. Sharamet told reporters in August memorate Dzmitry Zavadski but also a Dzmitry Zavadski had resigned from 2001 about his suspicion that some of Bel- day of professional honor because it is Belarusian Television in 1996 to join arus' top-ranking officials had dealt with especially important for journalists now Russia's ORT television network and was deliveries of small arms and ammunition to to continue the cause of their colleague later briefly imprisoned for his reporting. Chechen rebels via Turkey and Georgia, Dzmitry Zavadski, that is, to report true using Belarusian secret services' officers information to the people. Mr. Dzyuba The official theory of his disappearance who fought in , siding sometimes expressed hope that the disappearance of is that Mr. Ihnatovich and his gang ab- with the Chechens and sometimes with the the journalist would eventually be investi- ducted the journalist in revenge for a Russians. Mr. Sharamet said that an objec- gated. newspaper report revealing that some tive of the abduction of Mr. Zavadski could Almaz commandos had fought for the have been to find out what he knew about Volha Zavadski, the mother of the jour- rebels in Chechnya. nalist, attended the ceremony. His wife, the deliveries. Svyatlana, could not take part, as she was Mr. Sharamet argues that the motive may At his questioning, former Prosecutor Gen- travelling. have been more serious. He testified at eral Bazhelka denied that he had ever told the trial in November 2001 that he had Dzmitry Zavadski, once Alyaksandr Lu- Pavel Sharamet what he knew about the learned from former Prosecutor General Zavadski case. kashenka's personal cameraman, disap- Aleh Bazhelka about the involvement of peared on July 7, 2000 at the Minsk Na- top-ranking Belarusian officials in the 06/07/2007 tional Airport, where he had arrived to abduction. meet Pavel Sharamet, his long-time col- Source: naviny.by ISSUE XII BELARUS HEADLINES PAGE 5 EU and Belarus OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Adopts Kiev Declaration

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Or- presidential and local elections in this ganization for Security and Cooperation year's January did not meet OSCE stan- in Europe adopted a Kiev declaration on dards. Monday. The parliamentarians called on the Bela- The focus of the document is on energy russian leadership to fulfill its interna- security and the situation in Belarus. tional obligations and principles of a democratic European state. It stresses the need for the use of replen- ished sources of energy and welcomes It also called for amending the Belarus- the goal of increasing a proportion of sian election code to make it meet the these sources to 20 percent by 2010. OSCE standards.

The Parliamentary Assembly called on OSCE countries The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stated the need for the to create effective systems of control of energy crises adoption of a common system of migration regulation. It and to fulfil their international obligations, called on state institutions of member states to take the obli- gation to prevent "erosion of freedom". The Parliamentary Assembly voiced regret that Belarus' 09/07/2007 Source: Itar-tass

Economics

The Russian Line of the Belarusian Budget

Russia Dictates Conditions for Credit to Alexander Lukashenko During negotiations on Friday with the Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Sidor- sky, the Russian side laid out new conditions that Belarus must meet in order to receive the $2 billion (up from $1.5 billion) in government credits that it has re- quested from Russia. Specifically, Russia is now insisting that Belarus, which still has not taken changes in the cost of gas supplied by Russia's Gazprom into ac- count in its budget, change its budgetary policy to ensure that this handout is final. On Friday, Belarusian Prime Minister traveled to Moscow for talks with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov concerning credits from Rus- sia to the government of Belarus. Although the official reason for the Belarusian prime minister's visit was a regular meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Russia-Belarus Union, Mr. Sidorsky spent most of his time emphasizing the terri- ble state of the Belarusian economy in the wake of changes introduced at the beginning of 2007 in the supply of oil and gas to the republic by Russia. In particular, Belarus cites the problems currently facing its economy to explain why it needs $1.5-2 billion in credits from Russia in 2007.

According to the Belarusian prime minister, four months of higher prices for Russian natural gas have led to "an increase of more than $458 million in the cost of importing [gas] to Belarus." In addition, according to his calculations, "as a result of decreased exports of oil from Russia since the beginning of the year, the Belarusian budget is approximately $200 million short." That same day in Minsk, Belarusian deputy prime minister Viktor Burya also mentioned large losses suffered by the country's budget. Reuters News Service reports that Mr. Burya estimates that the new export tariffs on oil introduced by Rus- sia on January 1, 2007 cost the Belarusian economy $430 million between January and May of this year. According to Mr. Burya, Belarus, which at the beginning of May introduced a system of 90% compensation of customs tariffs on a give-and- take basis for Russian suppliers, expects to tackle the situation in the country's oil refining industry only in the second half of this year. The biggest macroeconomic challenge facing Belarus is a sharply negative trade balance with Russia: according to Sergei Sidorsky, the trade imbalance grew from $390 million in 2006 to $2 billion in the first half of 2007. ISSUE XII BELARUS HEADLINES PAGE 6

Economics The Russian Line of the Belarusian Budget, continuation ...

Mr. Sidorsky believes that Russia has thousand cubic meters. According to customers as unreasonably high. For an obligation to save the Belarusian the source who was present at the example, Belarus hopes to get around economy from crisis: specifically, he meeting, the current negotiations be- $1 billion for the sale of the company maintains that the Russian govern- tween Russia and Belarus are reminis- Belshina. Lower opening bids in the ment should offer credits to the Bela- cent of those between the IMF and privatization of these state-owned rusian government to compensate for Russia in the 1990s, when the IMF assets could turn out to be a key Rus- the budget shortfall. Negotiations on met Russia's request for credits with sian demand in exchange for the cred- the subject are still ongoing. On Fri- demands for slashed social expendi- its that Belarus has requested. day, before the session of the Council tures and transparency in the country's of Ministers, Mr. Sidorsky spent an economic policy. Sergei Sidorsky clearly lacked the hour and a half discussing the issue authority to make such concessions to with Mikhail Fradkov during a bilat- Yet another question to which Russia the Russian side. During his visit to eral meeting. One of the participants has yet to receive an answer from Moscow, the Belarusian prime minis- in the meeting told Kommersant that Belarus is the country's future privati- ter succeeded only in avoiding an Minsk is now asking for $2 billion in zation strategy. In March 2007, Bela- outright refusal to his government's credits. According to the source, the russian deputy prime minister Vladi- request. Mikhail Fradkov summed up new Russian position is that Belarus mir Semashko announced that Belarus the negotiations by saying that the can receive credits only to "replace "is ready to begin selling its enter- possibility of providing credits to Bel- the cash deficiency in the budget." prises." According to the privatization arus is "under consideration" but that plan worked out by the Belarusian "this requires a certain amount of time In other words, Belarus must demon- Trade and Economic Development and attentive relations." There has strate to Russia that it will make Ministry, tenders may be held in 2007 been no time limit set on the latest changes in its budgetary policy to for the sale of shares in several key oil negotiations. Kommersant will con- ensure that the credits are only a one- refineries and petrochemical enter- tinue to follow the evolution of time helping hand from Russia that prises, including the oil company Naf- events. will no longer be necessary in the tan, the Mozyrsky refinery, Polimir, future. This is not likely to be an easy Belshina, and Grodnoazot. From the 02/07/2007 task: the Belarusian budget for 2007 Russian side, Gazprom, LUKOIL, and still assumes that Russian gas sup- Uralkaly have all expressed interest, Source: Kommersant plied to the republic costs $55 per but the prices quoted by the Belaru- sian government strike its potential

Conflict with Russia Affects Belarusian Ruble’s Stability

Belarus is to pay the maximum price center Aliaksandar Chubryk told the the money borrowed from Russia in foreign for the Russian gas starting with July, newspaper “KP v Belarusi”. - We banks, the Belarusian state will earn more while it paid only $ 55 per 1 cubic must get currency somewhere. than it will have to pay back to Russia. meter of gas in the first half of 2007. Now not only has Belarus to pay $ The credit that Belarus requests from Nevertheless, Russia hasn’t decided yet 100, but the country must compensate Russia can help out of this situation. whether it will loan such a lump sum of the lower price of January-June. That’s the fastest and easiest way of money to Belarus. According to getting money. According to the Rus- “Kommersant”, the Belarusians can get the Meanwhile the state has already sian newspaper “Kommersant”, now it credit only for substitution of the cash gap of started evaluating the losses caused by is a matter of $ 2bln, not $ 1.5bln of the budget. In other words, in case there are the gas conflict with Russia. Accord- debt. no funds in the Belarusian budget for the ing to Interfax, the budget has lost $ - Why can a need for more money expenses planned, Belarus will be granted 200mln, since now Belarus sells less appear Belarus? the necessary amount of money. oil products abroad. Moreover, Bela- rus has to spend more on Russian re- - This is a cheap credit with a pretty - Our budget cannot have a cash gap of $ sources and goods: it cost $ 2bln more low loan interest rate. If you come to a 2bln. These terms indicate that the Russians to purchase Russian resources and bank to get a credit for $ 5mln, and don’t want to let Belarus earn on their credit; goods than to sell, within January- they offer a very low, nearly zero loan they want their money spent on payments for April. interest rate, would you ask $ 50mln their gas only. - It affects the stability of our ruble, - too? - Aliaksandar Chubryk cited an economist of a Belarusian research example. - Even if Belarus allocates 06/07/2007 Source: Interfax ISSUE XII BELARUS HEADLINES PAGE 7

Economics Revoking Trade Preferences Will Not Affect Belarus-Poland Trade Relations

The withdrawal over and the mutual of the EU trade benefits of the trade The ambassador noted that the Polish preferences will and economic relations business did not welcome the with- not have signifi- are obvious,” the dip- drawal of trade preferences for Bela- cant negative lomat believes. rus. “We need to give its due to the consequences for Polish government who opposed the the bilateral trade According to him, exclusion of Belarus from the EU Gen- and economic some duties which will eralized System of Tariff Preferences,” relations, Am- be imposed on the Pavel Latushko said. bassador Ex- deliveries of goods to traordinary and the EU and to Poland “I think these duties will be abolished Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Poland in particular will be compensated by in the future. In any case the Belaru- Pavel Latushko said today when an- the Belarusian companies jointly sian diplomats in Poland will be work- swering the questions of reporters. with the Polish partners. “The con- ing hard on this issue,” the diplomat sumers who buy Belarusian prod- said. “If there are any negative conse- ucts will also pay for this,” Pavel quences, they will hurt both the sides. Latushko said. In case of necessity 09/07/2007 Poland is a neighbour of Belarus, the the exporters can redirect the deliv- Source: BELTA countries have quite a big trade turn- eries to other markets, he said.

Belarusian Bank Enjoys Good Arrests in Lukashenka’s Diamond Business Administration

The National Bank of Belarus On July 9 an investi- has sold since gator of the main mid December directorate of prelimi- 2005 1,491 dia- nary investigation of monds weighing the Belarusian Inter- 259.34 carats to nal Affairs Ministry the tune of has filed a charge $453,000, ac- against a senior offi- cording to bank cial of the Presiden- spokesman Mik- tial Administration, a hail Zhuravovich. Last June, the bank sold first deputy the ideol- $26,000 worth of diamonds. ogy department head, a head of ideology work coordination department Uladzimir Kholad. The BelaPAN has been in- It's not clear how or why the bank entered the dia- formed about that by the Interior ministry of the country. mond business, but it supplies the bank with a steady income. U. Kholad is charged with committing a large-scale fraud and inciting to a major bribe. Taking into custody has been chosen The stones are 0.05 to 0.8 carat round cut dia- as a measure of restraint for him. monds, with 57 facets and accompanied by a gemological certificate. The bank, according to The Internal Affairs Ministry has also informed that U. Zhuravovich, is considering expanding into prin- Kholad was detained by policemen as a suspect on June 30. cess cut diamonds.

10/07/2007 10/07/2007 Source: Charter’97 Source: IDEOX Online ISSUE XII BELARUS HEADLINES PAGE 8

Culture Official Culture in Belarus: Listen to Bat’ka!

The Independence Day parade in Minsk mitted through the loudspeakers. And, Then there is a big concert with the presi- is a grotesque sight. Held annually on above all this faked splendour there is dent attending. the 3rd of July, the event attracts huge Alexander Lukashenka with his stern crowds of people and usually begins smile, hugging a girl with red-and- Who is performing during these con- green bows who is clutching flowers certs? Among the rising stars is Polina sent to the president “by the grateful Smolova, former soloist of the Minsk people of Belarus”. police orchestra. (Polina Smolova, offi- cial web-site: http:// Better than anything else, these pa- www.polinasmolova.ru/site/ rades reveal the essence of the official index.php?lang=en) culture in the „last European dictator- ship“. This is a primitive pop-product Another name is Irina Dorofeeva, who for the masses, serving to transmit has sung during the open-air concert in with a military show featuring roaring simple ideological messages like front of the National library in Minsk on tanks, swooping airplanes, and the per- „Belarus is an island of stability“ and the 25th of March 2007. The concert was fectly groomed soldiers juggling their „We shall never bow down to our ene- aimed at countering the opposition dem- rifles. mies“. The ultimate ideological com- onstration, scheduled for the same day. They are mandment reads „you shall have no Her Marilyn Monroe-style photo taken followed other presidents before me“. The pro- during the concert stirred waves this by the motion of the official culture goes spring in the Belarusian internet. hand in hand with the repressions acid-red tractors, against independent cultural actors. combines, The parade is just one example of the seeding official cultural production in Belarus. machines While delivering the ideology to the and other masses, the regime uses many other farming public events, which are also broad- mecha- cast by the nisms. In state-owned authori- mass media. tarian The „Slavic Belarus the sowing and harvesting cam- Bazar“ is an (Irina Dorofeeva, official web-site:http:// paigns are still regarded as “the battles annual mu- www.irinadorofeeva.com/en/) for the crops”. Then come the sports- sic fest men. Ice-hockey players on rollerblades which There are also old „stars“, such as are playing the non-existing puck, ten- brings to- „Siabry“ music group. Its frontman, Ana- nis players are swinging their rackets at gether prac- tol Yarmolenka, performed quite a num- imaginary balls, wheel-mounted yachts tically all ber of hit songs during the soviet times. are rolling down the asphalt road, state- Then, during the early years of the Bela- strange figures on stilts act as chess sponsored rusian independence, he sang to the lyrics pieces and, as the climax of the action, Belarusian pop singers. Every major by Zyanon Pazniak, who is now the op- several dozens of athletes form some political campaign, such as presiden- position politician in exile. These days, kind of vase with their bodies, which is tial elections or a referendum, is ac- together with his daughter Alesya, who slowly waving its tentacles. Pop singers companied by the nationwide concert shocks the public with her short dresses, tour „For Belarus“, which reaches (Alesya video: http://www.alesya.by/ most of Belarusian towns and cities video.php) Anatol Yarmolenka per- with its appeal to support the presi- forms the song called „Listen to Bat’ka“. dent. „Dazhynki“, the harvest fest, is „Bat’ka“ means „father“ in Belarusian, celebrated each year in a different which also is the nickname of president town of Belarus. The hosting city is Lukashenka. The song’s lyrics speak for always renovated beforehand. Facades themselves: of the central square get a facelift, a couple of sidewalks get covered with new bricks, and sometimes the ground Well-built and tough-composed, are opening their mouths in accordance is sprayed with green colour if the new with the pre-recorded soundtrack, trans- lawn grass doesn’t grow soon enough. ISSUE XII BELARUS HEADLINES PAGE 9

Culture Listen to Bat’ka …

He won’t teach you bad things. Eurovision competition like astronauts ity is just around the corner. Simply go on a space mission. Despite all the ef- to the booth selling lottery tickets, buy Bat’ka can put everyone in order, fort, these attempts have been rather yourself one, watch the weekend draw- unsuccessful. The last Eurovision con- Bat’ka is cooler than the rest. testant from Belarus was Dmitry He will solve all the troubles Koldun, a young man with albino con- tact lenses. During his appearances on With a single movement of his TV he frantically waved the official hand, red-and-green flag and screamed out his many thanks to president Luka- He is reliable and confident. shenka for giving him a chance to take part in the contest and take the 6th po- Just a look at him is enough to sition in the final. understand (Dmitry Koldun on YouTube: http:// who’s the master of our house. www.youtube.com/watch? LISTEN TO BAT’KA!“ v=YcCZa3Am7IU) ing on television (which is also quite a show), and get rich! Just take you mind „Listen to Bat’ka“ video: http:// off your problems, don’t think too www.youtube.com/watch? much, relax. Change is bad, stability is v=J2s2XenL7N4 good. Everything will be fine, as long as you listen to Bat’ka. (“Syabry”, official web-site: http:// www.syabry.com/) Among the high-rollers of the official culture there is omnipresent Mikhail Finberg, conductor of the National symphonic and variety music orches- tra, who takes part in practically every single official concert and in any possi- ble state ideology initiative. He also As you see, the official culture clearly seats in the puts an emphasis on music and other parliament and types of shows, with other spheres be- even flaunts ing rather neglected. The cinema is his shining stagnating, the state-owned theatres smile in TV- can’t stage innovative plays due to the Prepared by commercials. state supervision. The regime tried to There is also put literature under its control by form- Ales Kudrytski for the Office for a Angelica ing the loyal Belarusian union of writ- Democratic Belarus Agurbash, for- ers, headed by the former policemen mer model, officer Mikalay Charginets. However, now happily the state support didn’t help its mem- We on the WEB married to a bers to start writing good books. In www.democraticbelarus.eu Moscow such conditions, the pop music remains “butcher tycoon”. She was also one of the only major source of ideological the several failure entries from Belarus influence, combined with shows, sports during the Eurovision music contest. and television. (Angelica Agurbash, official web-site: Oh yes, we forgot about the aggres- http://www.agurbash.com/) sively advertised state lotteries, which had become something of a nationwide All photos, except for 2,6, and 8,9 In fact, the European pop song contest mania in Belarus. The popularity of the are provided by www.nn.by is something of a national sport in Bel- lotteries is easy to explain. In the coun- arus, with the president and the whole try, where most people are poor, the nation sending the contestant to the lottery creates an illusion that prosper-