Belarus by Vitali Silitski
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Testimony :: Stephen Nix
Testimony :: Stephen Nix Regional Program Director, Eurasia - International Republican Institute Mr. Chairman, I wish to thank you for the opportunity to testify before the Commission today. We are on the eve of a presidential election in Belarus which holds vital importance for the people of Belarus. The government of the Republic of Belarus has the inherit mandate to hold elections which will ultimately voice the will of its people. Sadly, the government of Belarus has a track record of denying this responsibility to its people, its constitution, and the international community. Today, the citizens of Belarus are facing a nominal election in which their inherit right to choose their future will not be granted. The future of democracy in Belarus is of strategic importance; not only to its people, but to the success of the longevity of democracy in all the former Soviet republics. As we have witnessed in Georgia and Ukraine, it is inevitable that the time will come when the people stand up and demand their rightful place among their fellow citizens of democratic nations. How many more people must be imprisoned or fined or crushed before this time comes in Belarus? Mr. Chairman, the situation in Belarus is dire, but the beacon of hope in Belarus is shining. In the midst of repeated human rights violations and continual repression of freedoms, a coalition of pro-democratic activists has emerged and united to offer a voice for the oppressed. The courage, unselfishness and determination of this coalition are truly admirable. It is vitally important that the United States and Europe remain committed to their support of this democratic coalition; not only in the run up to the election, but post-election as well. -
No. 21 TRONDHEIM STUDIES on EAST EUROPEAN CULTURES
No. 21 TRONDHEIM STUDIES ON EAST EUROPEAN CULTURES & SOCIETIES David R. Marples THE LUKASHENKA PHENOMENON Elections, Propaganda, and the Foundations of Political Authority in Belarus August 2007 David R. Marples is University Professor at the Department of History & Classics, and Director of the Stasiuk Program for the Study of Contemporary Ukraine of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. His recent books include Heroes and Villains. Constructing National History in Contemporary Ukraine (2007), Prospects for Democracy in Belarus, co-edited with Joerg Forbrig and Pavol Demes (2006), The Collapse of the Soviet Union, 1985-1991(2004), and Motherland: Russia in the 20th Century (2002). © 2007 David R Marples and the Program on East European Cultures and Societies, a program of the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology. ISSN 1501-6684 ISBN 978-82-995792-1-6 Trondheim Studies on East European Cultures and Societies Editors: György Péteri and Sabrina P. Ramet Editorial Board: Trond Berge, Tanja Ellingsen, Knut Andreas Grimstad, Arne Halvorsen We encourage submissions to the Trondheim Studies on East European Cultures and Societies. Inclusion in the series will be based on anonymous review. Manuscripts are expected to be in English (exception is made for Norwegian Master’s and PhD theses) and not to exceed 150 double spaced pages in length. Postal address for submissions: Editor, Trondheim Studies on East European Cultures and Societies, Department of History, NTNU, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway. For more information on PEECS and TSEECS, visit our web-site at http://www.hf.ntnu.no/peecs/home/ The photo on the cover is a copy of an item included in the photo chronicle of the demonstration of 21 July 2004 and made accessible by the Charter ’97 at http://www.charter97.org/index.phtml?sid=4&did=july21&lang=3 TRONDHEIM STUDIES ON EAST EUROPEAN CULTURES & SOCIETIES No. -
Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program
“For the sake of peace and justice, let us move toward a world in which all people are at last free to determine their own destiny.” —Ronald Reagan “Like so many other things, democracy has to be nurtured. It has to be cultivated and people have to be given the opportunity to see that it is in their best interests. And so we have come to the conclusion after a long struggle that there must be ways other than with the use of military power, economic tools, and other diplomatic resources, to encourage people to help themselves to the fruits of freedom. This is what the National Endowment for Democracy is all about.” —Dante Fascell 1025 F Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20004 202.378.9700 | www.NED.org | [email protected] www.ned.org/fellowships/reagan-fascell-democracy-fellows-program 10years 2 | Leading Testimonials 4 | Programmatic Highlights 37 | Behind the Scenes Democrats at Risk | 20 Fellowship Experience | 6 The Reagan-Fascell Democ- Learning, networking, and international solidarity racy Fellows Program is an international exchange visitor program based at the National Fall 2003 Endowment for Democracy Shahin Abbasov (Azerbaijan) Zainab Bangura (Sierra Leone) (NED), a private, nonprofit Anahit Bayandur (Armenia) Anne Mugisha (Uganda) foundation dedicated to the Albino Okeny (Sudan) growth and strengthening of Tomás Pojar (Czech Republic) Aqil Shah (Pakistan) democratic institutions around Vladimir Tismaneanu (U.S.) 2003 2004 Francisco Villagrán (Guatemala) the world. Each year, NED makes more than 1,000 grants Fall 2004 Ilyas Akhmadov (Russia) to support the projects of non- Dragan Djuric (Montenegro) Abiodun Kolawole (Nigeria) governmental groups abroad Chingiz Mammadov (Azerbaijan) who are working for demo- James Ng’ombe (Malawi) Akintola Olaniyan (Nigeria) cratic goals in more than 90 Yulia Savchenko (Kyrgyzstan) Vitali Silitski (Belarus) countries. -
General Assembly Distr
UNITED A NATIONS General Assembly Distr. GENERAL A/HRC/4/16 15 January 2007 Original: ENGLISH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Fourth session Item 2 of the provisional agenda IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 60/251 OF 15 MARCH 2006 ENTITLED “HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL” Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Adrian Severin GE.07-10197 (E) 190107 A/HRC/4/16 page 2 Summary The mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus was established by Commission on Human Rights resolution 2004/14 and extended by resolution 2005/13. In its decision 1/102 of 30 June 2006 the Human Rights Council requested the special procedures to continue with the implementation of their mandates. Among other things the Commission requested the Special Rapporteur to establish direct contacts with the Government and with the people of Belarus, with a view to examining the situation of human rights in Belarus. The Special Rapporteur regrets that the Government of Belarus, in 2006 as in 2004 and 2005, has not responded favourably to his request to visit the country and has in general not cooperated with him in the fulfilment of his mandate. Therefore, the report is based on the Special Rapporteur’s mission to the Russian Federation in early 2006 as well as discussions and consultations held in Geneva, Strasbourg and Brussels with representatives of permanent missions and non-governmental organizations, the United Nations and specialized agencies, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the Council of Europe. It is also based on media reports and various documentary sources. -
The EU and Belarus – a Relationship with Reservations Dr
BELARUS AND THE EU: FROM ISOLATION TOWARDS COOPERATION EDITED BY DR. HANS-GEORG WIECK AND STEPHAN MALERIUS VILNIUS 2011 UDK 327(476+4) Be-131 BELARUS AND THE EU: FROM ISOLATION TOWARDS COOPERATION Authors: Dr. Hans-Georg Wieck, Dr. Vitali Silitski, Dr. Kai-Olaf Lang, Dr. Martin Koopmann, Andrei Yahorau, Dr. Svetlana Matskevich, Valeri Fadeev, Dr. Andrei Kazakevich, Dr. Mikhail Pastukhou, Leonid Kalitenya, Alexander Chubrik Editors: Dr. Hans-Georg Wieck, Stephan Malerius This is a joint publication of the Centre for European Studies and the Konrad- Adenauer-Stiftung. This publication has received funding from the European Parliament. Sole responsibility for facts or opinions expressed in this publication rests with the authors. The Centre for European Studies, the Konrad-Adenauer- Stiftung and the European Parliament assume no responsibility either for the information contained in the publication or its subsequent use. ISBN 978-609-95320-1-1 © 2011, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V., Sankt Augustin / Berlin © Front cover photo: Jan Brykczynski CONTENTS 5 | Consultancy PROJECT: BELARUS AND THE EU Dr. Hans-Georg Wieck 13 | BELARUS IN AN INTERnational CONTEXT Dr. Vitali Silitski 22 | THE EU and BELARUS – A Relationship WITH RESERvations Dr. Kai-Olaf Lang, Dr. Martin Koopmann 34 | CIVIL SOCIETY: AN analysis OF THE situation AND diRECTIONS FOR REFORM Andrei Yahorau 53 | Education IN BELARUS: REFORM AND COOPERation WITH THE EU Dr. Svetlana Matskevich 70 | State bodies, CONSTITUTIONAL REALITY AND FORMS OF RULE Valeri Fadeev 79 | JudiciaRY AND law -
English Version of This Report Is the Only Official Document
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights REPUBLIC OF BELARUS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 23 September 2012 OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Final Report Warsaw 14 December 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................1 II. INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS....................................................3 III. POLITICAL BACKGROUND.........................................................................................3 IV. LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ELECTORAL SYSTEM..............................................4 V. ELECTION ADMINISTRATION ...................................................................................5 A. CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION.....................................................................................6 B. DISTRICT AND PRECINCT ELECTION COMMISSIONS..........................................................7 VI. VOTER REGISTRATION ...............................................................................................7 VII. CANDIDATE REGISTRATION .....................................................................................8 VIII. ELECTION CAMPAIGN ...............................................................................................10 A. CAMPAIGN ENVIRONMENT................................................................................................10 B. CAMPAIGN FINANCE..........................................................................................................12 -
Protests in Belarus (1994-2011) .Pdf
Number of Participants Number of Day Month Year Location (numeric) Arrests Topic Organizing Group Sources UPI "Belarus against Marks Russification of National Front of Independence 27 7 1994 Minsk 6500 0 Belarus Belarus Day" "the state's decision to discontinue eight [opposition] UPI "Belarussians 4 1 1995 Minsk 300 0 newspapers" protest press ban" " lower taxes, increase wages, create new jobs and enlarge AP "Thousands spending for health Rally In Minsk care, education Against Low Pay, 26 1 1995 Minsk 40000 0 and science." Unions Price Hikes" "introduction of teaching in the BBC World "Police Belarussian confiscate grenade language at higher at Belarussian educational Assembly of language 15 2 1995 unk 100 1 establishments," Belarussian Gentry demonstration" PAP News Wire Financing of "BELARUSSIAN construction of ASSOCIATION OF POLES DEMAND Polish language POLES IN POLISH SCHOOL 1 3 1995 Minsk 10 0 school BELARUS IN GRODNO" BBC World " Police arrest student activists Procession of for burning state 24 5 1995 Minsk 70 30 Uknown Political Convicts flag" ITAR-TASS "Minsk workers march on Police arrest presidential student activists residence in payment of back for burning state protest at wage 17 7 1995 Minsk . 0 wages flag arrears" AFP "Security forces arrest Minsk Minsk Metro metro strike 21 8 1995 Minsk 150 1 Metro strike Workers leaders" Number of Participants Number of Day Month Year Location (numeric) Arrests Topic Organizing Group Sources Interfax "Belarusian Popular Front Reconsideration of protests against oil oil agreement with -
Warsaw East European Review Review European East Warsaw More Information on Recruitment: Volume I1/2012
Warsaw East European Conference vol. ii/2012 • In the academic year 2012/2013 THE CENTRE FOR EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES will be inviting applications for the following scholarship programs: ◆ The Kalinowski Scholarship Program ◆ Scholarships of the Polish Government for Young Academicians ◆ 25 scholarships to enter the 2-year Master’s Program in Specialist Eastern Studies ◆ The Lane Kirkland Scholarship Program Warsaw East ◆ The Krzysztof Skubiszewski Scholarship European Review Warsaw East European Review Review European East Warsaw More information on recruitment: www.studium.uw.edu.pl volume i1/2012 R Warsaw East European Conference Okl_Warsaw East European Review 2012.indd 1 2012-07-09 08:27:20 e W E E R / Warsaw East European Conferenc e W E E R / Warsaw East European Conferenc INTERNAT I ONAL BOARD : Egidijus Aleksandravičius, Vytautas Magnus University Stefano Bianchini, University of Bologna Miroslav Hroch, Charles University Yaroslav Hrytsak, Ukrainian Catholic University Andreas Kappeler, University of Vienna Zbigniew Kruszewski, University of Texas, El Paso Jan Kubik, Rutgers University Alexey Miller, Russian Academy of Sciences Richard Pipes, Harvard University Mykola Riabchuk, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Alexander Rondeli, Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies John Micgiel, Columbia University Barbara Törnquist-Plewa, Lund University Theodore Weeks, Southern Illinois University ED I TOR I AL COMM I TTEE : Jan Malicki, University of Warsaw (Director of the WEEC – Warsaw East European Conference, chair of the Committee) Leszek Zasztowt (chair of the WEEC Board), University of Warsaw Andrzej Żbikowski (secretary of the WEEC Board, University of Warsaw ED I TOR -I N -CH I EF Jerzy Kozakiewicz, University of Warsaw ASS I STANT ED I TOR Konrad Zasztowt, University of Warsaw ISBN: 978-83-61325-239 ISSN: 2299-2421 Copyright © by Studium Europy Wschodniej UW 2012 COVER AND TYPOGRAPH ic DES I GN J.M & J.J.M. -
Truth Stumbles in the Street Christian Democratic Activism in Belarus
Truth Stumbles in the Street Christian Democratic Activism in Belarus Geraldine Fagan Abstract: Few are aware that prominent figures in the Belarusian opposition movement are motivated by Christian conviction. In this article, the author trac- es how President Alexander Lukashenko’s restriction of religious freedom has prompted Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants to turn toward democratic activ- ism; it also discusses their rediscovery of religious freedom as a long-standing core value of Belarusian identity. The author’s findings draw on interviews con- ducted in Minsk in the aftermath of the December 2010 presidential election, including those with Christian opposition activists who were subsequently jailed. Keywords: Belarus, democracy, freedom, religion nce a dictatorial regime has muzzled civil society’s more cantankerous O elements—rival political parties and the independent media—a stage is reached at which faith groups, even if falteringly, join the vanguard in the struggle for freedom and justice. In 1980s Communist Poland, the Catholic Church offered a vital moral platform for mass dissent by the Solidarity movement. Prayer meetings at a Leipzig Lutheran church formed the nucleus of protest by hundreds of thousands of East Germans in the weeks before the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. Might faith-inspired opposition similarly prove a catalyst for political change in Belarus, dubbed “the last true dictatorship in the center of Europe” by United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2005?1 The prospects Geraldine Fagan is a 2010–2011 Joseph R. Crapa Fellow at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. She has monitored religious freedom in Belarus since 2003 as the Moscow correspondent for Forum 18 News Service. -
Culture and Change in Belarus
East European Reflection Group (EE RG) Identifying Cultural Actors of Change in Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova Culture and Change in Belarus Report prepared by Yael Ohana, Rapporteur Generale Bratislava, August 2007 Culture and Change in Belarus “Life begins for the counter-culture in Belarus after regime change”. Anonymous, at the consultation meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, June 14 2007. Introduction1 Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine have recently become direct neighbours of the European Union. Both Moldova and Ukraine have also become closer partners of the European Union through the European Neighbourhood Policy. Neighbourhood usually refers to people next-door, people we know, or could easily get to know. It implies interest, curiosity and solidarity in the other living close by. For the moment, the European Union’s “neighbourhood” is something of an abstract notion, lacking in substance. In order to avoid ending up “lost in translation”, it is necessary to question and some of the basic premises on which cultural and other forms of European cooperation are posited. In an effort to create constructive dialogue with this little known neighbourhood, the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) and the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) are currently preparing a three- year partnership to support cultural agents of change in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. In the broad sense, this programme is to work with, and provide assistance to, initiatives and institutions that employ creative, artistic and cultural means to contribute to the process of constructive change in each of the three countries. ECF and GMF have begun a process of reflection in order to understand the extent to which the culture sphere in each of the three countries under consideration can support change, defined here as processes and dynamics contributing to democratisation, Europeanisation and modernisation in the three countries concerned. -
Council Implementing Regulation (EU)
7.11.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 307/7 COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 1017/2012 of 6 November 2012 implementing Article 8a(1) of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, which replaces Decision 2010/639/CFSP. Decision 2012/642/CFSP also consolidates the lists of persons Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European and entities subject to restrictive measures into a single Union, annex. Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 of (4) The lists of natural or legal persons, entities and bodies 18 May 2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of subject to restrictive measures as set out in Annexes I, IA Belarus ( 1 ), and in particular Article 8a(1) thereof, and IB to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 have been consolidated into a single Annex I. The information Whereas: relating to listed natural or legal persons, entities and bodies should be updated. (1) On 18 May 2006, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect (5) Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 should of Belarus. therefore be amended accordingly, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: (2) On the basis of a review of Council Decision 2010/639/CFSP of 25 October 2010 concerning restrictive measures against Belarus ( 2 ), the Council Article 1 decided that the restrictive measures should be The text set out in Annexes I, IA and IB to Regulation (EC) No extended until 31 October 2013 and that information 765/2006 shall be replaced by the text set out in the Annex to relating to listed persons and entities should be updated. -
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The Belarusian CRISIS And the Influence of Russia By Pavlo Troian, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine PHOTOS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS he large-scale protests after the August 2020 presidential election in Belarus are proof that many Belarusians are T not ready to accept the victory of incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko that was announced by the Central Election Commission. According to the official results, he won more than 80% of the votes. The situation was further aggra- vated by the unprecedented level of police violence against protesters who took to the streets to express their disagreement with the official election results. The Belarusian authorities relied on Russian support and accused the West of organizing protests with the aim of overthrowing the government. However, Lukashenko made similar accusations against Russia before the election protests. Why did the situation turn upside down? Let us consider the reasons. Lukashenko has ruled the country for 26 years and is the longest-reigning leader of a European country (not counting monarchs). He was first elected in 1994, and reelected in 2001, 2006, 2010 and 2015. In 2004, he initiated a referendum that removed from the constitution a limit to the maximum number of terms the same person can hold the presidency. During his tenure, Lukashenko has repeatedly been accused of restricting civil rights and freedoms and usurping power. There were accusa- tions of organizing political assassinations — several opponents of A woman in a former Belarusian national flag reacts as opposition supporters gather during a rally to protest the official presidential election results. per Concordiam 55 Lukashenko disappeared without a trace in the late 1990s and army, parliament, council of ministers and other suprana- early 2000s.