DOCSLIB.ORG

Annual Review 2020 and Forecast for 2021 Contents

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Annual Review 2020 and Forecast for 2021 Contents BELARUS IN FOCUS: ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 AND FORECAST FOR 2021 SUMMARY FORECAST FOR 2021 The collapse of the ruling regime will remain likely through 2021 The power bloc will retain significant influence in domestic politics Political organisations are likely to enter new alliances and attempt to engage in dialogue with the ruling elites as civil society is expected to become more financially secure and viable The political crisis in relations between Belarus and the West will worsen in 2021 Russia may try to trade its influence in Belarus for the alleviation of Western sanctions; if not, it is likely to continue moderate support for Lukashenka 2 BELARUS IN FOCUS ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 AND FORECAST FOR 2021 CONTENTS The Ruling Elite ....................................................................4 Security ...................................................................................8 Civil Society and Political Parties ...............................12 Belarus–West relations ...................................................18 Belarus–Russia relations ..............................................21 COLOR KEY THE SITUATION HAS DETERIORATED THE SITUATION HAS NOT CHANGED THE SITUATION HAS IMPROVED BELARUS IN FOCUS ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 AND FORECAST FOR 2021 3 THE RULING ELITE 2020: THE STATE LOST TOUCH WITH SOCIETY AND RESUMED FINANCIAL INTERVENTION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR By Zmicier Kuchlej In 2020, the ruling class faced the most severe challenges of the last 20 years, including the coronavirus outbreak, the presidential election and mass rallies opposing the official results. The existing political system failed to address these issues, and the ruling class was forced to revert to 20th-century governance practices. The mobilisation of a militarized governance style was unable to arrest the weakening of the state and further reduced popular support for public institutions. However, the incumbent ruler and his clique managed to buy time and indefinitely delay any transition process. 4 BELARUS IN FOCUS ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 AND FORECAST FOR 2021 Lukashenka‘s coronavirus rhetoric and lack of action to address this challenge frustrated the Education and Health ministries‘ operations, negatively affecting their public image. In the first weeks after the presidential election, IN THE FIRST the ruling elite‘s monolith of power fractured WEEKS AFTER THE and amid ever diminishing popular support PRESIDENTIAL for public institutions, the Belarusian state ELECTION, THE machine is weakening. RULING ELITE'S MONOLITH Lukashenka has lost his previous support OF POWER among most social groups. Loyalty to him is at FRACTURED a historic low, yet he retains power and control AND AMID EVER over the ruling elites, the security forces and DIMINISHING the edifice of power he created. Loyalty among POPULAR public servants is also gradually eroding, and SUPPORT many have already resigned from the civil FOR PUBLIC service. INSTITUTIONS, THE BELARUSIAN Simultaneously, the political weight of the STATE MACHINE IS security forces has peaked and liberals in WEAKENING the government have lost influence. The National Bank remains the last stronghold of technocrats but retains political disengagement. The public sector‘s lobbying for state subsidies and investment, including for loss-making public enterprises, has succeeded. The current government‘s primary preoccupation is retaining control over the labour movement and preserving public sector jobs. Small and medium-sized businesses receive minimal, if any, state aid. Before and after the presidential election, the state increased financial pressure on the private sector, demonstrating high electoral and protest mobilisation capacity. Simultaneously, the BELARUS IN FOCUS ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 AND FORECAST FOR 2021 5 leadership remained committed to an informal pact with large loyal businesses with no political ambitions. BY THE END In the spring of 2020, the education system OF 2020, was disoriented due to the coronavirus THERE WERE outbreak. For several weeks, the authorities 160 POLITICAL lost control over the education sector, and PRISONERS despite significant pressure from Lukashenka, IN BELARUS around 40% of parents refused to take their FACING CRIMINAL children to schools. CHARGES AND OVER 32,000 The authorities‘ inconsistent response firstly CASES OF to the coronavirus challenge, and then to ADMINISTRATIVE post-election rallies, has prompted doctors to ARRESTS take a pro-active opposing stance regarding state actions while continuing to fight in the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak. In the spring, Civil Society organised substantial support for doctors to help them to address these challenges. Towards the end of 2020, the cost of protest activity gradually increased. After August 9, the hefty fines previously imposed upon rally participants were replaced with harsh crackdowns, arrests, torture, dismissals, and academic expulsions. The actions of security forces resulted in several killings. By the end of 2020, there were 160 political prisoners in Belarus facing criminal charges and over 32,000 cases of administrative arrests. In the second half of 2020, the state changed legislation and law enforcement practice several times, essentially placing the security forces outside the law. In the election aftermath, the incumbent ruler delegated some punitive functions to civil servants 6 BELARUS IN FOCUS ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 AND FORECAST FOR 2021 (housing and utility services, education and social security officials) for use against some parents, IT workers and larger social and territorial groups. FORECASTS FOR 2021 Security officials are likely to retain the level of influence and repression and the ruling elite would not engage in a dialogue with the opposition on ultimatum terms Budgetary intervention in the public sector of the economy will maintain current employment levels The gap between the ruling elite and society will widen further; the regime support base will continue to narrow and erode The gap between the ruling elite and society will widen further; the regime support base will continue to narrow and erode BELARUS IN FOCUS ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 AND FORECAST FOR 2021 7 SECURITY 2020: A YEAR OF SECURITY LOSSES By Andrei Parotnikau 2020 was a challenging year for national security and defence. For the first time in many years, the ratio of gains to losses was persistently negative. The participation of all law enforcement agencies in the suppression of protests, the deteriorating financial situation in military industry, the involvement of law enforcement agency heads in anti- Western propaganda, and Lukashenka‘s appeal to Putin for military support have compromised Belarus‘ reputation as an independent voice on international security issues. The financial situation in the military-industrial complex has become more complicated. Although Goskomvoenprom [the State Military Industry Committee] does not disclose specific performance indicators, indirect evidence points to a deterioration in 8 BELARUS IN FOCUS ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 AND FORECAST FOR 2021 financial performance. It appears that every fifth rouble of the military industry wage bill is financed by bank loans (from March to October this share increased 6.6% to 21.1%). The excessive concentration of defence products remains an issue: the three largest companies provide over 70% of industrial output within Goskomvoenprom (25 enterprises, 22 manufacturers). The EU sanctions against several leading Belarusian military industry enterprises will also harm their performance. Protest rally against Practically all law enforcement agencies, Lukashenka, including the army, border guards and the 30 August 2020. Ministry of Emergency Situations, were Minsk, Belarus Homoatrox BELARUS IN FOCUS ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 AND FORECAST FOR 2021 9 Homoatrox Protest rally against involved in the regime‘s punitive campaign Lukashenka, against widespread protests. Amid reduced 30 August 2020. popular support for public institutions, the Minsk, Belarus involvement of previously apolitical security institutions in assisting the Lukashenka regime has damaged their reputation with the people. High-ranking military officials directly participated in the crackdown on the protest movement and engaged in the propaganda campaign against the protests. This narrative included accusations against the West of planning military aggression against Belarus and allegations of subversive activities against Minsk directed at Ukraine. These repressions and the aggressive rhetoric of officialdom have voided all of the recent years‘ modest successes towards building a regional 10 BELARUS IN FOCUS ANNUAL REVIEW 2020 AND FORECAST FOR 2021 security dialogue. The fact that the Western threat is just a propaganda tool is evidenced by the absence of any significant national defence funding increase. REPRESSIONS Lukashenka’s appeal to the Kremlin requesting AND THE assistance in suppressing popular protests AGGRESSIVE and the scale of Russian participation in RHETORIC OF the “Slavic Brotherhood” exercises have OFFICIALDOM cancelled out any perception of Minsk as HAVE VOIDED ALL an independent player in the international OF THE RECENT security arena. However, despite this, there YEARS' MODEST are no direct signs of deepening cooperation SUCCESSES between Minsk and Moscow. TOWARDS BUILDING A REGIONAL SECURITY DIALOGUE FORECASTS FOR 2021 The power bloc will retain significant influence in domestic politics The Belarusian authorities will continue attempts to involve Moscow in their confrontation with
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Romanian Political Science Review Vol. XXI, No. 1 2021
    Romanian Political Science Review vol. XXI, no. 1 2021 The end of the Cold War, and the extinction of communism both as an ideology and a practice of government, not only have made possible an unparalleled experiment in building a democratic order in Central and Eastern Europe, but have opened up a most extraordinary intellectual opportunity: to understand, compare and eventually appraise what had previously been neither understandable nor comparable. Studia Politica. Romanian Political Science Review was established in the realization that the problems and concerns of both new and old democracies are beginning to converge. The journal fosters the work of the first generations of Romanian political scientists permeated by a sense of critical engagement with European and American intellectual and political traditions that inspired and explained the modern notions of democracy, pluralism, political liberty, individual freedom, and civil rights. Believing that ideas do matter, the Editors share a common commitment as intellectuals and scholars to try to shed light on the major political problems facing Romania, a country that has recently undergone unprecedented political and social changes. They think of Studia Politica. Romanian Political Science Review as a challenge and a mandate to be involved in scholarly issues of fundamental importance, related not only to the democratization of Romanian polity and politics, to the “great transformation” that is taking place in Central and Eastern Europe, but also to the make-over of the assumptions and prospects of their discipline. They hope to be joined in by those scholars in other countries who feel that the demise of communism calls for a new political science able to reassess the very foundations of democratic ideals and procedures.
    [Show full text]
  • En En Amendments 1
    European Parliament 2019-2024 Committee on Foreign Affairs 2020/2081(INI) 2.9.2020 AMENDMENTS 1 - 388 Draft report Petras Auštrevičius (PE652.398v01-00) Proposal for a Recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice- President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on relations with Belarus (2020/2081(INI)) AM\1212303EN.docx PE657.166v01-00 EN United in diversityEN AM_Com_NonLegReport PE657.166v01-00 2/171 AM\1212303EN.docx EN Amendment 1 Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group Motion for a resolution Citation 2 Motion for a resolution Amendment — having regard to the Council — having regard to the Council conclusions on Belarus of 15 February conclusions on Belarus of 15 February 2016, 2016 and the main outcomes of the video conference of Foreign Affairs Ministers of 14 August 2020, Or. en Amendment 2 Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group Motion for a resolution Citation 2 a (new) Motion for a resolution Amendment — having regard to the Conclusions by the President of the European Council following the video conference of the members of the European Council on 19 August 2020, Or. en Amendment 3 Attila Ara-Kovács Motion for a resolution Citation 4 Motion for a resolution Amendment — having regard to the Joint — having regard to the Joint Declarations of the Eastern Partnership Declarations of the Eastern Partnership Summits of 2009 in Prague, 2011 in Summits of 2009 in Prague, 2011 in Warsaw, 2013 in Vilnius, 2015 in Riga and Warsaw, 2013 in Vilnius, 2015 in Riga, 2017 in Brussels, 2017 in Brussels and Eastern Partnership leaders' video conference in 2020, AM\1212303EN.docx 3/171 PE657.166v01-00 EN Or.
    [Show full text]
  • General Assembly Distr.: General 22 September 2017
    United Nations A/72/493 General Assembly Distr.: General 22 September 2017 Original: English Seventy-second session Agenda item 72 (c) Promotion and protection of human rights: human rights situations and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives Situation of human rights in Belarus* Note by the Secretary-General The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the General Assembly the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Miklós Haraszti, submitted in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 32/26. * The present report was submitted after the deadline to take into account information received by the Special Rapporteur during his trip to Minsk in July 2017. 17-16691 (E) 031017 *1716691* A/72/493 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus Summary The present report is submitted by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 32/26. The report examines the relationship between the unique features of governance of Belarus and its situation of human rights. It concludes that one of the main structural reasons for both the entrenched systemic abuse of human rights and the cyclical waves of mass repression in the country is that all powers are assumed by the executive branch, chiefly the President and the presidential administration. Although the Constitution provides for the separation of powers and respect for human rights, the reality is a monolithic power structure with laws and governance aimed at maintaining the concentration of powers and an absence of effective human rights guarantees.
    [Show full text]
  • PDF Print Version
    AUSTRALIA $1.50 · CANADA $1.50 · FRANCE 1.00 EURO · NEW ZEALAND $1.50 · UK £.50 · U.S. $1.00 INSIDE Bahrain joins UAE in signing recognition pact with Israel — PAGE 4 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE Vol. 84/no. 38 SeptEMber 28, 2020 Mass protests, SWP: Join Workers need a union labor actions the fight to in every workplace! say down with defend jobs, Belarus gov’t wages, safety BY ROY LANDERSEN BY LAURA GARZA Well over 100,000 people flooded LOS ANGELES — How can we the Belarusian capital Minsk de- change worsening working conditions, manding the resignation of President combat cuts to our hours and deal with Alexander Lukashenko Sept. 13, the rising prices? These questions were at fifth massive Sunday protest in a row. the center of discussions among meat- Simultaneous protests took place in packers, retail workers and farmwork- 16 other cities. Ever since Lukashen- ers when they met the Socialist Work- ko blatantly falsified the results of the ers Party presidential ticket — Alyson Aug. 9 elections and declared him- Kennedy for president and Malcolm self winner, his government has been Jarrett for vice president — during the rocked by daily protests and strikes. candidates’ tour of Southern California His regime has been stepping up in early September. arrests, beatings and threats against “We have work, but many people workers, students and others who are don’t,” farmworker Fernando Muñoz demanding his resignation, new elec- told Kennedy in Oxnard, a town in an important agricultural area. Muñoz is Teamsters Local 89 tions and the release of all political Teamsters fighting for first contract picket DSI Tunneling in Louisville, Ky., Sept.
    [Show full text]
  • Zois Report 6/2020
    No. 6 / 2020 · November 2020 ZOiS REPORT BELARUS: FROM THE OLD SOCIAL CONTRACT TO A NEW SOCIAL IDENTITY Nadja Douglas ZOiS Report 6 / 2020 Belarus: From the old social contract to a new social identity Content 02 ___ Summary 03 ___ Introduction 05 ___ Social security vs. state security 05 ______ Long-term socio-economic developments 11 ______ Securitisation of state politics 15 ___ A protest-averse society begins to mobilise 16 ______ 2017 as a prelude to 2020 17 ______ From self-organisation to social reinvention 19 ______ Grassroots and individual (female) activists take over 20 ___ Interaction between citizens and the security forces 20 ______ Culture of impunity 22 ______ Countermeasures by the state 23 ___ Conclusion 24 ___ Interviews 24 ___ Imprint Summary State-society relations in Belarus have been tense for many years. The presi- dential elections in August 2020 and the mishandling of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic have proved to be the catalyst that brought these fragile relations to a complete breakdown. Over the years, the widening gap between a new generation of an emancipated citizenry and a regime stuck in predominantly paternalistic power structures and reluctant to engage in political and eco- nomic reforms has become increasingly evident. The deteriorating economy during the last decade and the perceived decline of the country’s social wel- fare system have been important factors in these developments. At the same time, the regime has continued to invest in its domestic security structures to a disproportionate extent compared with neighbouring states, allowing the so-called silovye struktury (“state power structures”) to gain influence at the highest level of state governance.
    [Show full text]
  • Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies Website of the Expert Community of Belarus «Nashe Mnenie» (Our Opinion)
    1 BELARUSIAN INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES WEBSITE OF THE EXPERT COMMUNITY OF BELARUS «NASHE MNENIE» (OUR OPINION) BELARUSIAN YEARBOOK 2010 A survey and analysis of developments in the Republic of Belarus in 2010 Minsk, 2011 2 BELARUSIAN YEARBOOK 2010 Compiled and edited by: Anatoly Pankovsky, Valeria Kostyugova Prepress by Stefani Kalinowskaya English version translated by Mark Bence, Volha Hapeyeva, Andrey Kuznetsov, Vladimir Kuznetsov, Tatsiana Tulush English version edited by Max Nuijens Scientific reviewers and consultants: Miroslav Kollar, Institute for Public Affairs, Program Director of the Slovak annual Global Report; Vitaly Silitsky, Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies (BISS, Lithuania); Pavel Daneiko, Belarusian Economic Research and Outreach Center (BEROC); Andrey Vardomatsky, NOVAK laboratory; Pyotr Martsev, BISS Board member; Ales Ancipenka, Belaru- sian Collegium; Vladimir Dunaev, Agency of Policy Expertise; Viktor Chernov, independent expert. The yearbook is published with support of The German Marshall Fund of the United States The opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessari- ly represent the opinion of the editorial board. © Belarusian Institute for Strategic ISSN 18224091 Studies 3 CONTENTS EDITORIAL FOREWORD 7 STATE AUTHORITY Pyotr Valuev Presidential Administration and Security Agencies: Before and after the presidential election 10 Inna Romashevskaya Five Hundred-Dollar Government 19 Alexandr Alessin, Andrey Volodkin Cooperation in Arms: Building up new upon old 27 Andrey Kazakevich
    [Show full text]
  • A Feminist Revolution?
    A Feminist Revolution? Article by Olga Dryndova January 4, 2021 Inspiring images of the Belarusian revolutionary female trio of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Maria Kalesnikava and Veranika Tsapkala, as well as the numerous images of women peacefully protesting after the falsified August 2020 election, seem to have reached every corner of the globe. Their strength and courage, but also humour and creativity, resonated with many Belarusians, suggesting that much of the society has moved beyond archaic patriarchal values, and that women will be at the forefront in the country’s ongoing struggle for democracy. Statistically speaking, Belarus does well when it comes to gender equality. The Global Gender Gap Report 2020 places Belarus in 29th place (out of 153), while in the section titled ‘economic participation and opportunity’ for women, Belarus performs better than all European states, except for Iceland. Its rankings in women’s political empowerment, however, are below the world average (81st place). In 2018, the share of seats occupied in the Belarusian parliament by women was 33 per cent – twice as high as Russia and higher than Germany, the UK and the US. This has not changed much over time: a 30 per cent quota for female MPs was declared by Alyaksandr Lukashenka back in 2004. Obviously, the Belarusian parliament cannot be treated in the same way that this institution is treated in democratic systems; but, in theory, Belarusian women are represented in politics. Furthermore, the Belarusian National Report on Sustainable Development for the period until 2030 mentions that 70 per cent of civil servants and 68 per cent of judiciary sector employees are women.
    [Show full text]
  • Russia's Assets and Liabilities in Belarus
    RUSSIA’S ASSETS AND LIABILITIES IN BELARUS Mathieu Boulègue CEPA Report | Russia’s Assets and Liabilities in Belarus CONTENTS he current political upheaval in Belarus does not center on The politics of influence .............................. 2 Tgeopolitics, but whatever the The economic and energy sectors .............. 6 outcome of the protest movement, Russia’s security and military clout .......... 7 Moscow will have a say, and a stake, in the Conclusion ........................................................ 10 looming transition of power. The Kremlin’s negative drivers of influence are heavily undermining state cohesion and societal stability through a well-known set of tools.1 ABOUT THE AUTHOR This paper explores Russian influence Mathieu Boulègue is a research fellow at the through the prism of recent developments Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham in the aftermath of the August presidential House, the Royal Institute of International election in Belarus. It identifies and Affairs, in London. assesses the main levers of influence The author is grateful for research assistance in the political, societal, economic, and provided by Kyiv-based journalist Iryna security spheres in order to understand Solomko as well as to CEPA President and the Kremlin’s current assets and liabilities. CEO Alina Polyakova and CEPA Senior Fellow Together with relevant case studies and Edward Lucas for their comments and policy recommendations, it analyzes what suggestions. Moscow can — and cannot — hope to achieve, how, and with whom. ABOUT CEPA The politics of The Center for European Policy Analysis influence (CEPA) is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, non-partisan, public policy research institute. Our mission Russia and Belarus have grown politically is transatlantic: to promote an economically estranged.2 In Minsk, acts of defiance vibrant, strategically secure, and politically started following Russia’s invasion of free Europe with close and enduring ties to Georgia in 2008, when Belarus refused to the United States.
    [Show full text]
  • Criminal Prosecution of Viktar Babaryka in the Republic of Belarus
    CRIMINAL PROSECUTION OF VIKTAR BABARYKA IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS Statement of Facts Personal Information Viktar Babaryka (born 1963, Minsk) is a Belarusian banker, philanthropist, and public figure. Widower, has a son Edward and daughter Mary. Mr. Babaryka has headed Belgazprombank JSC and managed it since 2000 until May 2020. During this time Belgazprombank had entered the top five of the largest banks of Belarus. In 2008, V. Babaryka established the Chance Foundation to help sick children. He financed the Belarusian Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich’s books publication. With the assistance of V. Babaryka, the original Bible of Francis Skorina was returned to Belarus, as well as paintings by famous artists from Belarus - Mark Chagall, Chaim Sutin, Leu Bakst. On May 12, 2020, Mr. Babaryka had publicly announced his presidential ambitions. Nowadays he is considered as the main competitor of President A. Lukashenko in the upcoming presidential elections on August 9, 2020. According to all polls conducted, the rating of V. Babaryka significantly exceeds the rating of President A. Lukashenko. On June 18, 2020 Viktar Babaryka was arrested by the Belarusian authorities and still remains in custody. и до настоящего времени находится под стражей. Arrest On June 18, 2020 Viktar Babaryka who is nominated as a candidate for President of the Republic of Belarus, together with his son Eduard Babaryka who is leading the campaign, were detained by the Department of Financial Investigations of the State Control Committee of the Republic of Belarus. The arrest was preceded by public statements by President A. Lukashenko regarding the allegedly unlawful activities of V.
    [Show full text]
  • — Special Report —
    FROM THE HISTORY OF THE BELARUSIAN REVOLUTION — SPECIAL REPORT — 11/19/2020 FROM THE HISTORY OF THE BELARUSIAN REVOLUTION Publisher: Warsaw Institute Wilcza St. 9 00-538 Warsaw, Poland +48 22 417 63 15 www.warsawinstitute.org [email protected] Authors: Grzegorz Kuczyński – Director of Eurasia Program, Warsaw Institute Jędrzej Duszyński – Executive Assistant, Warsaw Institute Editor: Maciej Śmigiel Translation and proofreading: Paweł Andrejczuk Typesetting and formatting: Dariusz Ligęza –L.STUDIO Front page photo: Pexels/Artem Podrez The opinions and positions presented in this publication reflect the views of the authors only. © Warsaw Institute 2020 2 Special Report www.warsawinstitute.org FROM THE HISTORY OF THE BELARUSIAN REVOLUTION TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 THE BELARUSIAN REVOLUTION: THE BEGINNING AND THE END (?) 5 ROUND TABLE ON BELARUS: REPORT ON THE DEBATE 13 #BelarusAlert REVOLUTION DAY BY DAY 16 AUTHORS 59 www.warsawinstitute.org Special Report 3 FROM THE HISTORY OF THE BELARUSIAN REVOLUTION INTRODUCTION On August 9, 2020, Belarus held a fraudulent presidential election, which was officially won by Alexander Lukashenko, who has been ruling the country since 1994. Even taking into account the whole spectrum of anti-democratic actions characterizing the regime in Minsk, it could be said that it was a kind of a break- through moment, after which the Belarusian society has said “enough.” This was additionally influenced by the economic situation of the country and disappoint- ment with the actions of the authorities against the coronavirus pandemic. The Belarusian people decided to express their dissatisfaction by protesting on a scale which was unprecedented in the history of this country, at the same time attracting the attention of the whole world.
    [Show full text]
  • Growing Crackdown on Human Rights Ahead of Presidential Election
    www.amnesty.org AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT 29 June 2020 EUR 49/2620/2020 BELARUS: GROWING CRACKDOWN ON HUMAN RIGHTS AHEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION The Belarusian authorities have once again flagrantly disregarded the country’s human rights obligations in a growing clampdown on human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in the context of electoral campaigning initiatives across different sectors of society in the run-up to the presidential election, scheduled for 9 August 2020. Opposition candidates and their supporters are targeted, harassed and intimidated. The authorities must end politically motivated prosecutions, intimidation, harassment and reprisals against Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s opponents and their supporters, civil society activists and independent media. All those arbitrarily detained under criminal or administrative proceedings solely for peacefully exercising their human rights must be immediately and unconditionally released. All those suspected of being responsible for human rights violations and abuses must be identified and brought to justice. BACKGROUND The current human rights situation in Belarus is deteriorating. For years, political life in the country appeared dormant. The status quo—the political preeminence of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and his five extended and uninterrupted terms as the president—was seldom challenged, and only by those few who were prepared to, and often did, risk their freedom if not their lives. This year, the prospect of an election in which the incumbent may face a real challenge from a mix of what many people consider to be credible contenders appears to have stirred genuine public interest in politics. The background to this is a growing perception by many that support for Alyaksandr Lukashenka has fallen considerably.
    [Show full text]
  • Letters to Political Prisoners in Belarus
    Brno 15 November 2020 Letters to Political Prisoners in Belarus On the occasion of 17 November, the Centre for Experimental Theatre in Brno, in cooperation with the Embassy of Independent Belarusian Culture in the Czech Republic, will launch an extraordinary project in which important personalities of Czech cultural and public life write personal letters to Belarusian political prisoners. Centre for Experimental Theatre (CED) and the Embassy of Independent Belarusian Culture in the Czech Republic decided to honour this year‘s anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and November 17 with a direct connection to current events in the world and contemporary issues. The result of these reflections is the instigation of personal letters to Belarusian political prison- ers. CED thus wants to build on the legacy of Vaclav Havel, who has always strived to uphold fundamental human rights and freedoms, whether they have been violated in our country or elsewhere in the world. The ethos of 17 November seems to the initiators to be a good date to launch this extraordinary project. The citizens of Belarus have been fighting for fair elections and freedom for many months. „We find it right and extremely important to loudly warn the Czech and world public that Belarus and Lukashenko‘s authoritarian regime are acting unfairly and that they are suppressing basic human rights. In Belarus, people are arrested, imprisoned, beaten, intimidated and otherwise fought for peaceful and non-violent expression of their views. This is inadmissible and we fun- damentally oppose such actions, „explains Miroslav Oscatka, Director of CED. The Ambassador of Independent Belarusian Culture in the Czech Republic, Sjarhej Smatry- chenka, adds: „Of the thousands of people detained in Belarus or imprisoned, especially in connection with protests against the irregular presidential election in 2020, we have selected twelve personalities to encourage and send a message to them that we think of them and that we are not indifferent to their efforts and destiny.
    [Show full text]