| BELARUS Republic of Belarus Respublika Byelarus' Joined United Nations: 24 October 1945 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Click here Updated 12/24/10 |
| CAPITAL |
| POPULATION |
| CHIEF OF STATE |
| SELECTION PROCESS |
Minsk
9,612,632 (July 2010 est.)
Vladimir Semashko
First Deputy Prime Minister
since 19 December 2003
First Deputy Prime Minister
since 19 December 2003
President elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
Lukashenko extended his term to 2001 via a November 1996
referendum; an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term
limits and allowed the president to run in a third election, which was
held on 19 December 2010
Next scheduled election: 2015
Lukashenko extended his term to 2001 via a November 1996
referendum; an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term
limits and allowed the president to run in a third election, which was
held on 19 December 2010
Next scheduled election: 2015
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
SELECTION PROCESS
Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers appointed by the
president; election last held 28 September and 3 October 2008
Next scheduled election: Spring of 2012
president; election last held 28 September and 3 October 2008
Next scheduled election: Spring of 2012
| DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish 3.9%, Ukrainian 2.4%, other 1.1% (1999 census)
| RELIGIONS |
Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
| GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE |
Republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship, with 6 provinces (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality (horad); Legal
system is based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term; first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the 1994
constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999, however, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a
November 1996 referendum; subsequent election held 9 September 2001; an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and
allowed the president to run in a third election, (19 March 2006) and fourth election (19 December 2010); prime minister and deputy prime
ministers appointed by the president
Legislative: Bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki
(64 seats; 56 members elected by regional councils and eight members appointed by the president, to serve four-year terms) and
the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Palata Predstaviteley - last held 28 September 2008 (next to be held spring of 2012); international observers widely
denounced the elections as flawed and undemocratic based on massive government falsification; pro-LUKASHENKO candidates
won all 110 seats
Judicial: Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the
president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives)
system is based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term; first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the 1994
constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999, however, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a
November 1996 referendum; subsequent election held 9 September 2001; an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and
allowed the president to run in a third election, (19 March 2006) and fourth election (19 December 2010); prime minister and deputy prime
ministers appointed by the president
Legislative: Bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki
(64 seats; 56 members elected by regional councils and eight members appointed by the president, to serve four-year terms) and
the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Palata Predstaviteley - last held 28 September 2008 (next to be held spring of 2012); international observers widely
denounced the elections as flawed and undemocratic based on massive government falsification; pro-LUKASHENKO candidates
won all 110 seats
Judicial: Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the
president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives)
| LANGUAGES |
Belarusian, Russian, other
| BRIEF HISTORY |
Prehistoric human habitation is, at present, a point of speculation as no archeological evidence has yet to be unearthed but it is
commonly accepted that there may have been late neolithic immigration. The history of Belarus, or, more correctly of the Belarusian
ethnicity, begins with the migration and expansion of the Slavic peoples throughout Eastern Europe between the 6th and 8th
centuries. East Slavs settled on the territory within present-day Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, assimilating local Baltic —
(Yotvingians, Dnepr Balts), Ugro-Finnic (Russia) and steppe nomads (Ukraine) already living there, early ethnic integrations that
contributed to the gradual differentiation of the three East Slavic nations. These East Slavs were pagan, animistic, agrarian people
whose economy included trade in agricultural produce, game, furs, honey, beeswax and amber. The modern Belarusian ethnos was
probably formed on the basis of the three Slavic tribes — Kryvians, Drehovians, Radzimians as well as several Baltic tribes. During
the 9th and 10th centuries, Scandinavian Vikings established trade posts on the way from Scandinavia to the Byzantine Empire. The
network of lakes and rivers crossing East Slav territory provided a lucrative trade route between the two civilizations. The Rus'
rulers invaded the Byzantine Empire on few occasions, but eventually they allied against the Bulgars. The condition underlying this
alliance was to open the country for Christianization and acculturation from the Byzantine Empire. Between the 9th and 12th
centuries, the Principality of Polotsk (northern Belarus) emerged as the dominant center of power on Belarusian territory, with a
lesser role played by the principality of Turaŭ in the south. In the 13th century, the fragile unity of Kievan Rus' disintegrated due to
nomadic incursions from Asia, which climaxed with the Mongol Blue Horde's sacking of Kiev (1240), leaving a geopolitical vacuum
in the region. The East Slavs splintered into a number of independent and competing principalities. Due to military conquest and
dynastic marriages the Belarusian principalities were acquired by the expanding Lithuania, beginning with the rule of Lithuanian King
Mindaugas (1240–63). From the 13th to 15th century, Baltic, Belarusian and Ukrainian lands were consolidated into the Grand
Duchy of Lithuania, with its initial capital unknown, but presumably that could have been either Trakai, Kernavė, Voruta or Vilnius.
Since the 14th century, Vilnius had been the only official capital of the state. The Lithuanians' smaller numbers and lack of their own
written language in this medieval state gave Ruthenians (present-day Belarusians and Ukrainians) very important role in shaping
Lithuanian political, religious and cultural life, and further assimilation between the Slavs and Balts occurred. In 1511, King and
Grand Duke Sigismund I the Old granted the Orthodox clergy with autonomy enjoyed previously only by Catholic clergy. The
Lublin Union of 1569 constituted the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth as an influential player in European politics and the largest
multinational state in Europe. While Ukraine and Podlachia became subject to the Polish Crown, present-day Belarus territory was
still regarded as part of Lithuania. From 1569 the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth suffered a series of Tatar invasions, the goal of
which was to loot, pillage and capture slaves into jasyr. The borderland area to the south-east was in a state of semi-permanent
warfare until the 18th century. Some researchers estimate that altogether more than 3 million people, predominantly Ukrainians but
also Russians, Belarusians and Poles, were captured and enslaved during the time of the Crimean Khanate. The misfortunes were
started in 1648 by Bohdan Chmielnicki, who started a large-scale Cossack uprising in the Ukraine. Although the Cossacks were
defeated in 1651 in the battle of Beresteczko, Khmelnytsky sought help from Russian tsar, and by the Treaty of Pereyaslav Russia
dominated and partially occupied the eastern lands of the Commonwealth since 1655. The Swedes invaded and occupied the rest in
the same year. Subsequent wars in the area (Great Northern War and the War of Polish succession) damaged its economy even
further. In addition, Russian armies raided the Commonwealth under the pretext of the returning of fugitive peasants. By mid-18th
century their presence in the lands of modern Belarus became almost permanent. Eventually by 1795 Poland was partitioned by its
neighbors. Thus a new period in Belarusian history started, with all its lands annexed by the Russian Empire, in a continuing
endeavor of Russian tsars of "gathering the Rus lands" started after the liberation from the Tatar yoke by Grand Duke Ivan III of
Russia. Under Russian administration, the territory of Belarus was divided into the guberniyas of Minsk, Vitebsk, Mogilyov, and
Hrodno. Belarusians were active in the guerrilla movement against Napoleon's occupation and did their best to annihilate the
remains of the Grande Armée when it crossed the Berezina River in November 1812. With Napoleon's defeat, Belarus again
became a part of Imperial Russia and its guberniyas constituted part of the Northwestern Krai. World War I was the short period
when Belarusian culture started to flourish. German administration allowed schools with Belarusian language, previously banned in
Russia; a number of Belarusian schools were created until 1919 when they were banned again by the Polish military administration.
At the end of World War I, when Belarus was still occupied by Germans, according to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the short-lived
Belarus National Republic was pronounced on March 25, 1918, as part of the German Mitteleuropa plan. Within the USSR, the
name of the country was Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. It was declared on January 1, 1919 in Smolensk under the name of
Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia (SSRB). The Polish part of Belarus was subject to Polonization policies (especially in the
1930s), while the Soviet Belarus was one of the original republics which formed the USSR. When the Soviet Union invaded Poland
on September 17, 1939, following the terms of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact's secret protocol, much of what had been eastern
Poland was annexed to the BSSR. Similarly to the times of German occupation during the First World War, Belarusian language
and Soviet culture enjoyed relative prosperity in this short period. The country suffered particularly heavily during the fighting and the
German occupation. Following bloody encirclement battles, all of the present-day Belarus territory was occupied by the Germans
by the end of August 1941. During the World War II the Nazis attempted to establish a puppet Belarusian government, Belarusian
Central Rada, with the symbolics similar to BNR. After the end of War in 1945, Belarus became one of the founding members of
the United Nations Organisation. Joining Belarus was the Soviet Union itself and another republic Ukraine. In exchange for Belarus
and Ukraine joining the UN, the United States had the right to seek two more votes, a right that has never been exercised. On April
26, 1986 the Chernobyl accident occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine situated close to the border with
Belarus. It is regarded as the worst nuclear accident in the history of nuclear power. On 27 July 1990, Belarus declared its national
sovereignty, a key step toward independence from the Soviet Union. The BSSR was formally renamed the Republic of Belarus on
25 August 1991. Around that time, Stanislav Shushkevich became the chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus, the top
leadership position in Belarus. On December 8, 1991, Shushkevich met with Boris Yeltsin of Russia and Leonid Kravchuk of
Ukraine, in Belavezhskaya Pushcha, to formally declare the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the formation of the Commonwealth
of Independent States. In 1994, the first presidential elections were held and Alexander Lukashenko was elected president of
Belarus. Under Lukashenko, economic reforms were slowed. The 1996 Belarus Referendum resulted in the amendment of the
constitution that took key powers off the parliament. In 2001, he was re-elected as president in elections described as undemocratic
by Western observers. At the same time the west began criticising him of authoritarianism. In 2006, Lukashenko was once again re-
elected in presidential elections which were again criticised as flawed by most EU countries.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Belarus
commonly accepted that there may have been late neolithic immigration. The history of Belarus, or, more correctly of the Belarusian
ethnicity, begins with the migration and expansion of the Slavic peoples throughout Eastern Europe between the 6th and 8th
centuries. East Slavs settled on the territory within present-day Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, assimilating local Baltic —
(Yotvingians, Dnepr Balts), Ugro-Finnic (Russia) and steppe nomads (Ukraine) already living there, early ethnic integrations that
contributed to the gradual differentiation of the three East Slavic nations. These East Slavs were pagan, animistic, agrarian people
whose economy included trade in agricultural produce, game, furs, honey, beeswax and amber. The modern Belarusian ethnos was
probably formed on the basis of the three Slavic tribes — Kryvians, Drehovians, Radzimians as well as several Baltic tribes. During
the 9th and 10th centuries, Scandinavian Vikings established trade posts on the way from Scandinavia to the Byzantine Empire. The
network of lakes and rivers crossing East Slav territory provided a lucrative trade route between the two civilizations. The Rus'
rulers invaded the Byzantine Empire on few occasions, but eventually they allied against the Bulgars. The condition underlying this
alliance was to open the country for Christianization and acculturation from the Byzantine Empire. Between the 9th and 12th
centuries, the Principality of Polotsk (northern Belarus) emerged as the dominant center of power on Belarusian territory, with a
lesser role played by the principality of Turaŭ in the south. In the 13th century, the fragile unity of Kievan Rus' disintegrated due to
nomadic incursions from Asia, which climaxed with the Mongol Blue Horde's sacking of Kiev (1240), leaving a geopolitical vacuum
in the region. The East Slavs splintered into a number of independent and competing principalities. Due to military conquest and
dynastic marriages the Belarusian principalities were acquired by the expanding Lithuania, beginning with the rule of Lithuanian King
Mindaugas (1240–63). From the 13th to 15th century, Baltic, Belarusian and Ukrainian lands were consolidated into the Grand
Duchy of Lithuania, with its initial capital unknown, but presumably that could have been either Trakai, Kernavė, Voruta or Vilnius.
Since the 14th century, Vilnius had been the only official capital of the state. The Lithuanians' smaller numbers and lack of their own
written language in this medieval state gave Ruthenians (present-day Belarusians and Ukrainians) very important role in shaping
Lithuanian political, religious and cultural life, and further assimilation between the Slavs and Balts occurred. In 1511, King and
Grand Duke Sigismund I the Old granted the Orthodox clergy with autonomy enjoyed previously only by Catholic clergy. The
Lublin Union of 1569 constituted the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth as an influential player in European politics and the largest
multinational state in Europe. While Ukraine and Podlachia became subject to the Polish Crown, present-day Belarus territory was
still regarded as part of Lithuania. From 1569 the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth suffered a series of Tatar invasions, the goal of
which was to loot, pillage and capture slaves into jasyr. The borderland area to the south-east was in a state of semi-permanent
warfare until the 18th century. Some researchers estimate that altogether more than 3 million people, predominantly Ukrainians but
also Russians, Belarusians and Poles, were captured and enslaved during the time of the Crimean Khanate. The misfortunes were
started in 1648 by Bohdan Chmielnicki, who started a large-scale Cossack uprising in the Ukraine. Although the Cossacks were
defeated in 1651 in the battle of Beresteczko, Khmelnytsky sought help from Russian tsar, and by the Treaty of Pereyaslav Russia
dominated and partially occupied the eastern lands of the Commonwealth since 1655. The Swedes invaded and occupied the rest in
the same year. Subsequent wars in the area (Great Northern War and the War of Polish succession) damaged its economy even
further. In addition, Russian armies raided the Commonwealth under the pretext of the returning of fugitive peasants. By mid-18th
century their presence in the lands of modern Belarus became almost permanent. Eventually by 1795 Poland was partitioned by its
neighbors. Thus a new period in Belarusian history started, with all its lands annexed by the Russian Empire, in a continuing
endeavor of Russian tsars of "gathering the Rus lands" started after the liberation from the Tatar yoke by Grand Duke Ivan III of
Russia. Under Russian administration, the territory of Belarus was divided into the guberniyas of Minsk, Vitebsk, Mogilyov, and
Hrodno. Belarusians were active in the guerrilla movement against Napoleon's occupation and did their best to annihilate the
remains of the Grande Armée when it crossed the Berezina River in November 1812. With Napoleon's defeat, Belarus again
became a part of Imperial Russia and its guberniyas constituted part of the Northwestern Krai. World War I was the short period
when Belarusian culture started to flourish. German administration allowed schools with Belarusian language, previously banned in
Russia; a number of Belarusian schools were created until 1919 when they were banned again by the Polish military administration.
At the end of World War I, when Belarus was still occupied by Germans, according to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the short-lived
Belarus National Republic was pronounced on March 25, 1918, as part of the German Mitteleuropa plan. Within the USSR, the
name of the country was Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. It was declared on January 1, 1919 in Smolensk under the name of
Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia (SSRB). The Polish part of Belarus was subject to Polonization policies (especially in the
1930s), while the Soviet Belarus was one of the original republics which formed the USSR. When the Soviet Union invaded Poland
on September 17, 1939, following the terms of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact's secret protocol, much of what had been eastern
Poland was annexed to the BSSR. Similarly to the times of German occupation during the First World War, Belarusian language
and Soviet culture enjoyed relative prosperity in this short period. The country suffered particularly heavily during the fighting and the
German occupation. Following bloody encirclement battles, all of the present-day Belarus territory was occupied by the Germans
by the end of August 1941. During the World War II the Nazis attempted to establish a puppet Belarusian government, Belarusian
Central Rada, with the symbolics similar to BNR. After the end of War in 1945, Belarus became one of the founding members of
the United Nations Organisation. Joining Belarus was the Soviet Union itself and another republic Ukraine. In exchange for Belarus
and Ukraine joining the UN, the United States had the right to seek two more votes, a right that has never been exercised. On April
26, 1986 the Chernobyl accident occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine situated close to the border with
Belarus. It is regarded as the worst nuclear accident in the history of nuclear power. On 27 July 1990, Belarus declared its national
sovereignty, a key step toward independence from the Soviet Union. The BSSR was formally renamed the Republic of Belarus on
25 August 1991. Around that time, Stanislav Shushkevich became the chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus, the top
leadership position in Belarus. On December 8, 1991, Shushkevich met with Boris Yeltsin of Russia and Leonid Kravchuk of
Ukraine, in Belavezhskaya Pushcha, to formally declare the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the formation of the Commonwealth
of Independent States. In 1994, the first presidential elections were held and Alexander Lukashenko was elected president of
Belarus. Under Lukashenko, economic reforms were slowed. The 1996 Belarus Referendum resulted in the amendment of the
constitution that took key powers off the parliament. In 2001, he was re-elected as president in elections described as undemocratic
by Western observers. At the same time the west began criticising him of authoritarianism. In 2006, Lukashenko was once again re-
elected in presidential elections which were again criticised as flawed by most EU countries.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Belarus
| ECONOMIC OVERVIEW |
Belarus has seen limited structural reform since 1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of
"market socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency
exchange rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprises. Since 2005, the government has
re-nationalized a number of private companies. In addition, businesses have been subjected to pressure by central and local
governments, including arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive application of new business
regulations, and arrests of "disruptive" businessmen and factory owners. Continued state control over economic operations hampers
market entry for businesses, both domestic and foreign. Government statistics indicate GDP growth was strong, reaching 10% in
2008, despite the roadblocks of a tough, centrally directed economy with a high rate of inflation. However, the global crisis pushed
the country into recession in 2009, and GDP fell 0.2%. Slumping foreign demand hit the industrial sector hard. Minsk has depended
on a standby-agreement with the IMF to assist with balance of payments shortfalls. In line with IMF conditions, in 2009, Belarus
devalued the ruble more than 40% and tightened some fiscal and monetary policies. Nevertheless, Belarus missed its 2009 budget
targets with a deficit of less than 1% of GDP. On 1 January 2010, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus launched a customs union, with
unified trade regulations and customs codes still under negotiation. In late January, Russia and Belarus amended their 2007 oil
supply agreement. The new terms will raise prices for above quota purchases and increase Belarus' current account deficit.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Belarus)
"market socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency
exchange rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprises. Since 2005, the government has
re-nationalized a number of private companies. In addition, businesses have been subjected to pressure by central and local
governments, including arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive application of new business
regulations, and arrests of "disruptive" businessmen and factory owners. Continued state control over economic operations hampers
market entry for businesses, both domestic and foreign. Government statistics indicate GDP growth was strong, reaching 10% in
2008, despite the roadblocks of a tough, centrally directed economy with a high rate of inflation. However, the global crisis pushed
the country into recession in 2009, and GDP fell 0.2%. Slumping foreign demand hit the industrial sector hard. Minsk has depended
on a standby-agreement with the IMF to assist with balance of payments shortfalls. In line with IMF conditions, in 2009, Belarus
devalued the ruble more than 40% and tightened some fiscal and monetary policies. Nevertheless, Belarus missed its 2009 budget
targets with a deficit of less than 1% of GDP. On 1 January 2010, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus launched a customs union, with
unified trade regulations and customs codes still under negotiation. In late January, Russia and Belarus amended their 2007 oil
supply agreement. The new terms will raise prices for above quota purchases and increase Belarus' current account deficit.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Belarus)
| POLITICAL CLIMATE |
Lukashenko was quoted as saying that he has an "authoritarian ruling style" that he uses to run the country. The Council of Europe
has barred Belarus from membership since 1997 for undemocratic voting irregularities in the November 1996 constitutional
referendum and parliament by-elections. According to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, Belarus's constitution is
"illegal and does not respect minimum democratic standards and thus violates the principles of separation of powers and the rule of
law". The Belarusian government is also criticized for human rights violations and its actions against NGOs, independent journalists,
national minorities and opposition politicians. During the rule of the current administration in Belarus, there have been several cases
of persecution, including the disappearance or death of prominent opposition leaders and independent journalists. Belarus is also
one of just two nations in Europe that retains the death penalty for certain crimes (the other being Albania). In testimony to the U.S.
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice labeled Belarus, among seven nations, as part of the
US's list of outposts of tyranny. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry announced that the statement from Secretary Rice "are a poor
basis" to form a good Belarusian-American alliance.
Belarus has been described as "a small-scale Soviet Union at its finest period".
A presidential election was held in Belarus on 19 December 2010. The election was originally planned for the beginning of 2011.
However, the final date was set during an extraordinary session of the Belarusian National Assembly on September 14, 2010.
Of the ten candidates, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko was declared the winner by the Central Electoral Commission
with 79.67% of the votes, though opposition supporters decried the election. The inauguration ceremony will be held by February
19, 2011.
On election day, presidential candidate Niakliayeu was seriously beaten by militia on his way to an opposition protest rally in Minsk.
Statkevich was also attacked by "militia" on his way to the opposition protest rally. On the night of the election opposition protesters
tried to storm a principal government building, smashing windows and doors before riot police were able to push them back. Up to
700 opposition activists, including 7 presidential candidates, were arrested in the post election crackdown. Furthermore at least 25
journalists were arrested.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Belarus
has barred Belarus from membership since 1997 for undemocratic voting irregularities in the November 1996 constitutional
referendum and parliament by-elections. According to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, Belarus's constitution is
"illegal and does not respect minimum democratic standards and thus violates the principles of separation of powers and the rule of
law". The Belarusian government is also criticized for human rights violations and its actions against NGOs, independent journalists,
national minorities and opposition politicians. During the rule of the current administration in Belarus, there have been several cases
of persecution, including the disappearance or death of prominent opposition leaders and independent journalists. Belarus is also
one of just two nations in Europe that retains the death penalty for certain crimes (the other being Albania). In testimony to the U.S.
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice labeled Belarus, among seven nations, as part of the
US's list of outposts of tyranny. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry announced that the statement from Secretary Rice "are a poor
basis" to form a good Belarusian-American alliance.
Belarus has been described as "a small-scale Soviet Union at its finest period".
A presidential election was held in Belarus on 19 December 2010. The election was originally planned for the beginning of 2011.
However, the final date was set during an extraordinary session of the Belarusian National Assembly on September 14, 2010.
Of the ten candidates, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko was declared the winner by the Central Electoral Commission
with 79.67% of the votes, though opposition supporters decried the election. The inauguration ceremony will be held by February
19, 2011.
On election day, presidential candidate Niakliayeu was seriously beaten by militia on his way to an opposition protest rally in Minsk.
Statkevich was also attacked by "militia" on his way to the opposition protest rally. On the night of the election opposition protesters
tried to storm a principal government building, smashing windows and doors before riot police were able to push them back. Up to
700 opposition activists, including 7 presidential candidates, were arrested in the post election crackdown. Furthermore at least 25
journalists were arrested.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Belarus
| INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES |
Boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania in 2006; 1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Ukraine remains unratified over
unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and diminishing border security
unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and diminishing border security
| REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) |
None reported.
| ILLICIT DRUGS |
Limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via
Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and lightly regulated financial center; anti-money-laundering legislation
does not meet international standards and was weakened further when know-your-customer requirements were curtailed in
2008; few investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities (2008)
Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and lightly regulated financial center; anti-money-laundering legislation
does not meet international standards and was weakened further when know-your-customer requirements were curtailed in
2008; few investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities (2008)
| HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENTS, ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUES |
2009 Human Rights Report: Belarus
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Belarus is a republic with a population of 9.5 million. The country has a directly elected president, who is chief of state, and a bicameral
parliament, the National Assembly, consisting of the Chamber of Representatives (lower house) and the Council of the Republic (upper
house). A prime minister appointed by the president is the nominal head of government. In practice, however, power is concentrated in
the presidency. Since his election in 1994 as president, Alyaksandr Lukashenka has consolidated his power over all institutions and
undermined the rule of law through authoritarian means, manipulated elections, and arbitrary decrees. Subsequent presidential elections
have not been free or fair, and the September 2008 parliamentary election failed to meet international standards. While civilian authorities
generally maintained effective control of the security forces, their members continued to commit numerous human rights abuses.
The government's human rights record remained very poor as government authorities continued to commit frequent serious abuses.
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Belarus is a republic with a population of 9.5 million. The country has a directly elected president, who is chief of state, and a bicameral
parliament, the National Assembly, consisting of the Chamber of Representatives (lower house) and the Council of the Republic (upper
house). A prime minister appointed by the president is the nominal head of government. In practice, however, power is concentrated in
the presidency. Since his election in 1994 as president, Alyaksandr Lukashenka has consolidated his power over all institutions and
undermined the rule of law through authoritarian means, manipulated elections, and arbitrary decrees. Subsequent presidential elections
have not been free or fair, and the September 2008 parliamentary election failed to meet international standards. While civilian authorities
generally maintained effective control of the security forces, their members continued to commit numerous human rights abuses.
The government's human rights record remained very poor as government authorities continued to commit frequent serious abuses.
- The right of citizens to change their government was severely restricted.
- The government failed to account for past politically motivated disappearances.
- Prison conditions remained extremely poor, and reports of abuse of prisoners and detainees continued.
- Arbitrary arrests, detentions, and imprisonment of citizens for political reasons, criticizing officials, or for participating in
demonstrations also continued. - The judiciary lacked independence, trial outcomes usually were predetermined, and many trials were conducted behind closed
doors. - The government further restricted civil liberties, including freedoms of press, speech, assembly, association, and religion and
continued to enforce politically motivated military conscriptions of opposition youth leaders. - The government seized published materials from civil society activists and limited the distribution of a number of independent
media outlets. - State security services used unreasonable force to disperse peaceful protesters.
- Corruption continued to be a problem.
- Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and political parties were subjected to harassment, fines, and prosecution.
- Religious leaders were fined or deported for performing services, and churches continued to face persecution from authorities.
- Trafficking in persons remained a significant problem, although some progress was made to combat it.
- There was discrimination against Roma, ethnic, and sexual minorities, and against use of the Belarusian language.
- Authorities harassed independent unions and dismissed their members, severely limiting the ability of the workers to form and join
independent trade unions and to organize and bargain collectively.
23 April 2010
Human Rights Council
Fourteenth session Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to
development
Report of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo*
Mission to Belarus**
Summary
This report explores the human rights aspects of trafficking in persons in Belarus, in the light of international human rights standards.
Based on information gathered prior to and during this visit, the Special Rapporteur highlights a number of strong legislative and policy
measures undertaken to address trafficking in persons. Lastly the Special Rapporteur offers a number of recommendations with a view
to contributing to strengthening ongoing efforts to prevent and combat trafficking in persons and protect the rights of victims of
trafficking.
I. Introduction
1. The Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, undertook a visit to Belarus from 18 to 24 May
2009 at the invitation of the Government of Belarus. The Special Rapporteur conducted meetings and consultations with and visits to
various stakeholders in Minsk and Brest.
2. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government for its hospitality and collaboration in facilitating meetings with officials from its
various branches and for its cooperation prior to, during and following the visit.
3. In Minsk, the Special Rapporteur met with high-level Government officials, including the First Deputy Head of the Presidential
Administration, ministers and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Office of the Prosecutor-General,
Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, and Ministry of Health. The Special Rapporteur also met with
members of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly and with judges of the Supreme Court. She held meetings with
representatives of the National Centre of Legislation and Legal Studies, the State Border Committee and the Secretariat of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The Special Rapporteur visited the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Trafficking, the International Training Centre for Migration and Combating Human Trafficking and
the Minsk City Centre of Social Services for Family and Children. In Brest, the Special Rapporteur met with the Executive Committee of
Brest Province and visited a centre for the temporary stay of migrants as well as the detention facilities adjacent to it.
A. Legislative framework
1. Laws
15. Belarus is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its First Optional Protocol, the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol, the Convention
on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, the Hague
Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, the Convention on the Civil Aspects of
International Child Abduction and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
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Human Rights Council
Fourteenth session Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to
development
Report of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo*
Mission to Belarus**
Summary
This report explores the human rights aspects of trafficking in persons in Belarus, in the light of international human rights standards.
Based on information gathered prior to and during this visit, the Special Rapporteur highlights a number of strong legislative and policy
measures undertaken to address trafficking in persons. Lastly the Special Rapporteur offers a number of recommendations with a view
to contributing to strengthening ongoing efforts to prevent and combat trafficking in persons and protect the rights of victims of
trafficking.
I. Introduction
1. The Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, undertook a visit to Belarus from 18 to 24 May
2009 at the invitation of the Government of Belarus. The Special Rapporteur conducted meetings and consultations with and visits to
various stakeholders in Minsk and Brest.
2. The Special Rapporteur thanks the Government for its hospitality and collaboration in facilitating meetings with officials from its
various branches and for its cooperation prior to, during and following the visit.
3. In Minsk, the Special Rapporteur met with high-level Government officials, including the First Deputy Head of the Presidential
Administration, ministers and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Office of the Prosecutor-General,
Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, and Ministry of Health. The Special Rapporteur also met with
members of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly and with judges of the Supreme Court. She held meetings with
representatives of the National Centre of Legislation and Legal Studies, the State Border Committee and the Secretariat of the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The Special Rapporteur visited the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Trafficking, the International Training Centre for Migration and Combating Human Trafficking and
the Minsk City Centre of Social Services for Family and Children. In Brest, the Special Rapporteur met with the Executive Committee of
Brest Province and visited a centre for the temporary stay of migrants as well as the detention facilities adjacent to it.
A. Legislative framework
1. Laws
15. Belarus is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its First Optional Protocol, the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol, the Convention
on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, the Hague
Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, the Convention on the Civil Aspects of
International Child Abduction and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
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Freedom In The World 2010 Report
Political Rights Score: 7
Civil Liberties Score: 6
Status: Not Free
Overview
Despite incentives from the European Union to introduce reforms, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka maintained a tight grip over Belarus’
s political and economic systems in 2009. He continued to use police violence and other forms of harassment against the political
opposition, and blocked independent media from covering demonstrations through systematic intimidation. After releasing all of its
political prisoners in 2008, the regime incarcerated more activists in 2009. The country made no substantial progress in reforming its
electoral code, and overall hopes for an improvement in the political situation went unrealized.
In an effort to bolster his international standing, Lukashenka released all the political prisoners identified by the European Union (EU) and
United States by August 19, 2008. However, hopes for further progress dimmed when no opposition candidates won seats in the
September 2008 parliamentary elections.
The EU nevertheless indicated a strong interest in improved ties in 2009, releasing Lukashenka from a 13-year travel ban and allowing
him to visit Italy and Lithuania. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi returned the visit in November, making him the first Western
leader to call in over a decade. Belarus also joined the EU’s Eastern Partnership program. While taking advantage of these overtures,
Lukashenka simultaneously launched a new political crackdown, describing opposition activists as “enemies of the Belarusian nation.” In
February the regime arrested more political prisoners, according to local human rights workers. These included Mikalai Autukhovich,
Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka. Autukhovich and Lyavonau had previously been held as political prisoners. The authorities
charged Autukhovich with preparing a terrorist act in June and pressed similar charges against Asipenka in November, but released
Lyavonau on August 8. Among other cases, the courts sentenced “Young Front” activist Artsyom Dubski to one year in prison on July
7, and in October, United Civil Party member Andrey Bandarenka, a former parliamentary candidate, received a seven-year sentence. As
in previous years, the police regularly used violence to break up demonstrations and blocked the media from documenting such events.
Toward the end of the year, the security services kidnapped at least three opposition activists and, after threatening them, dumped them
in the forest far from home.
Belarus is not an electoral democracy. Serious and widespread irregularities have marred all recent elections. The 110 members of the
Chamber of Representatives, the lower house of the bicameral National Assembly, are popularly elected for four years on the basis of
single-mandate constituencies. The upper house, the Council of the Republic, consists of 64 members serving four-year terms; 56 are
elected by regional councils and 8 are appointed by the president. The constitution vests most power in the president, giving him control
over the government, courts, and even the legislative process by stating that presidential decrees have a higher legal force than ordinary
legislation. The National Assembly serves largely as a rubber-stamp body. The president is elected for five-year terms, and there are no
term limits.
Click here to read more »
Political Rights Score: 7
Civil Liberties Score: 6
Status: Not Free
Overview
Despite incentives from the European Union to introduce reforms, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka maintained a tight grip over Belarus’
s political and economic systems in 2009. He continued to use police violence and other forms of harassment against the political
opposition, and blocked independent media from covering demonstrations through systematic intimidation. After releasing all of its
political prisoners in 2008, the regime incarcerated more activists in 2009. The country made no substantial progress in reforming its
electoral code, and overall hopes for an improvement in the political situation went unrealized.
In an effort to bolster his international standing, Lukashenka released all the political prisoners identified by the European Union (EU) and
United States by August 19, 2008. However, hopes for further progress dimmed when no opposition candidates won seats in the
September 2008 parliamentary elections.
The EU nevertheless indicated a strong interest in improved ties in 2009, releasing Lukashenka from a 13-year travel ban and allowing
him to visit Italy and Lithuania. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi returned the visit in November, making him the first Western
leader to call in over a decade. Belarus also joined the EU’s Eastern Partnership program. While taking advantage of these overtures,
Lukashenka simultaneously launched a new political crackdown, describing opposition activists as “enemies of the Belarusian nation.” In
February the regime arrested more political prisoners, according to local human rights workers. These included Mikalai Autukhovich,
Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka. Autukhovich and Lyavonau had previously been held as political prisoners. The authorities
charged Autukhovich with preparing a terrorist act in June and pressed similar charges against Asipenka in November, but released
Lyavonau on August 8. Among other cases, the courts sentenced “Young Front” activist Artsyom Dubski to one year in prison on July
7, and in October, United Civil Party member Andrey Bandarenka, a former parliamentary candidate, received a seven-year sentence. As
in previous years, the police regularly used violence to break up demonstrations and blocked the media from documenting such events.
Toward the end of the year, the security services kidnapped at least three opposition activists and, after threatening them, dumped them
in the forest far from home.
Belarus is not an electoral democracy. Serious and widespread irregularities have marred all recent elections. The 110 members of the
Chamber of Representatives, the lower house of the bicameral National Assembly, are popularly elected for four years on the basis of
single-mandate constituencies. The upper house, the Council of the Republic, consists of 64 members serving four-year terms; 56 are
elected by regional councils and 8 are appointed by the president. The constitution vests most power in the president, giving him control
over the government, courts, and even the legislative process by stating that presidential decrees have a higher legal force than ordinary
legislation. The National Assembly serves largely as a rubber-stamp body. The president is elected for five-year terms, and there are no
term limits.
Click here to read more »
23 December 2010
URGENT ACTION
Opposition activist tortured in detention
Andrei Sannikau, an opposition activist in Belarus and presidential candidate in the 19 December presidential election, has been tortured
while in detention. Andrei Sannikau’s lawyer reported that his legs appear to be broken and the way he speaks and holds himself
indicates that he may have brain damage. He needs urgent medical attention.
Andrei Sannikau was injured when police broke up a protest against reported election rigging during the presidential election on 19
December. According to eyewitnesses, he was assaulted by police who pinned him down with a riot shield and repeatedly jumped onto
it, severely injuring his legs. Friends attempted to drive him to hospital, but the car was stopped by police and Andrei Sannikau was
dragged out of the car and arrested. Witnesses claim that at this time he had no visible head injuries. His wife, Iryna Khalip, who was
travelling in the car with him, was punched in the face and arrested.
Andrei Sannikau’s lawyer was allowed to visit him in detention on the evening of 20 December. According to the lawyer, Andrei
Sannikau had new cuts and bruises on his arms, face and head, he was unable to stand and could barely move. The new injuries strongly
suggest that Andrei Sannikau had been beaten again while in custody. The lawyer described his condition as “horrendous” and said that
the way Andrei Sannikau spoke and held himself suggested he had suffered brain damage.
Amnesty International is gravely concerned that Andrei Sannikau may suffer irreversible brain damage and other injuries if he is not
immediately transferred to a hospital where he can be given proper medical treatment. Amnesty International is also concerned that
Andrei Sannikau remains at risk of torture as long as he is held in police custody.
Additional Information
Andrei Sannikau is a prominent Belarusian activist who formerly worked as Editor of Charter 97, an independent news website, and ran
as an opposition candidate in the 19 December Presidential election in Belarus. President Alyaksandr Lukashenka won the election with
just under 80% of the vote.
Prior to the election, opposition groups called on their supporters to gather in central Minsk after voting finished on 19 December. Up to
30,000 demonstrators gathered and marched to the parliament building unhindered by law enforcement officers, who stopped traffic to
allow the demonstrators to pass. At around 9pm, they gathered outside the parliament building and opposition leaders gave speeches. At
around 10pm, a group of about 20 masked young men who stood by the doors of parliament armed with batons called on the crowd to
storm the building and started to break windows. Eyewitnesses report that Mykalau Statkevich, who was speaking at the time, called on
the crowd to be peaceful. Shortly after this, riot police moved in and cleared the demonstrators from the Square.
Click here to read more »
URGENT ACTION
Opposition activist tortured in detention
Andrei Sannikau, an opposition activist in Belarus and presidential candidate in the 19 December presidential election, has been tortured
while in detention. Andrei Sannikau’s lawyer reported that his legs appear to be broken and the way he speaks and holds himself
indicates that he may have brain damage. He needs urgent medical attention.
Andrei Sannikau was injured when police broke up a protest against reported election rigging during the presidential election on 19
December. According to eyewitnesses, he was assaulted by police who pinned him down with a riot shield and repeatedly jumped onto
it, severely injuring his legs. Friends attempted to drive him to hospital, but the car was stopped by police and Andrei Sannikau was
dragged out of the car and arrested. Witnesses claim that at this time he had no visible head injuries. His wife, Iryna Khalip, who was
travelling in the car with him, was punched in the face and arrested.
Andrei Sannikau’s lawyer was allowed to visit him in detention on the evening of 20 December. According to the lawyer, Andrei
Sannikau had new cuts and bruises on his arms, face and head, he was unable to stand and could barely move. The new injuries strongly
suggest that Andrei Sannikau had been beaten again while in custody. The lawyer described his condition as “horrendous” and said that
the way Andrei Sannikau spoke and held himself suggested he had suffered brain damage.
Amnesty International is gravely concerned that Andrei Sannikau may suffer irreversible brain damage and other injuries if he is not
immediately transferred to a hospital where he can be given proper medical treatment. Amnesty International is also concerned that
Andrei Sannikau remains at risk of torture as long as he is held in police custody.
Additional Information
Andrei Sannikau is a prominent Belarusian activist who formerly worked as Editor of Charter 97, an independent news website, and ran
as an opposition candidate in the 19 December Presidential election in Belarus. President Alyaksandr Lukashenka won the election with
just under 80% of the vote.
Prior to the election, opposition groups called on their supporters to gather in central Minsk after voting finished on 19 December. Up to
30,000 demonstrators gathered and marched to the parliament building unhindered by law enforcement officers, who stopped traffic to
allow the demonstrators to pass. At around 9pm, they gathered outside the parliament building and opposition leaders gave speeches. At
around 10pm, a group of about 20 masked young men who stood by the doors of parliament armed with batons called on the crowd to
storm the building and started to break windows. Eyewitnesses report that Mykalau Statkevich, who was speaking at the time, called on
the crowd to be peaceful. Shortly after this, riot police moved in and cleared the demonstrators from the Square.
Click here to read more »
Belarus: End Arrests; Free Peaceful Protesters
Authorities Holding 7 Presidential Candidates, Hundreds of Others
December 21, 2010
The Belarusian authorities should immediately halt the arbitrary arrests of opposition leaders and supporters, secure the prompt release of
all arbitrarily detained, and ensure the safety of those lawfully in custody, Human Rights Watch said today.
The authorities should conduct an independent and thorough investigation into the public disorder in Minsk that followed the December
19, 2010 presidential elections, analyze the police and security forces' role in the violence, and prosecute those responsible for
wrongdoing, Human Rights Watch said.
"Belarusian authorities have a duty to ensure public order, but that duty needs to be carried out with respect for human rights and the
rule of law," said Anna Sevortian, Russia office director for Human Rights Watch. "It cannot be a pretext for arbitrary arrests and
punitive measures against the opposition."
Public demonstrations involving tens of thousands of protesters in Minsk's Independence Square started peacefully on December 19.
However, after the Central Election Commission, the main governmental body supervising the elections, announced that incumbent
Alexander Lukashenka had received 79.67 percent of the vote, some protesters turned to violence, clashed with police, and tried to
storm the main governmental building in Minsk, news media reports said. Police responded by arresting and beating protesters, in some
cases viciously.
According to media reports, at least 600 opposition activists, including opposition leaders and 7 of the 11 presidential candidates, were
arrested and remain in custody. Among them are several of Belarus's leading human rights defenders. About 150 of those detained were
speedily tried in administrative courts on December 20, and each sentenced to 10 to 15 days of administrative detention, mainly for
"hooliganism".
Five of the presidential candidates were injured during clashes with police. One of them, Vladimir Neklyaev, was taken to the hospital,
having sustained serious head injuries. Witnesses had seen him being viciously beaten by men in special forces uniforms.
The people who described the events said that he was driven away from a hospital later that night by unknown men in civilian clothing,
who wrapped him in a blanket and pushed him into a waiting car. His current medical condition and whereabouts remain unknown.
Another presidential candidate, Vitaly Rymashevsky, was also reported to have been severely beaten.
Click here to read more »
Authorities Holding 7 Presidential Candidates, Hundreds of Others
December 21, 2010
The Belarusian authorities should immediately halt the arbitrary arrests of opposition leaders and supporters, secure the prompt release of
all arbitrarily detained, and ensure the safety of those lawfully in custody, Human Rights Watch said today.
The authorities should conduct an independent and thorough investigation into the public disorder in Minsk that followed the December
19, 2010 presidential elections, analyze the police and security forces' role in the violence, and prosecute those responsible for
wrongdoing, Human Rights Watch said.
"Belarusian authorities have a duty to ensure public order, but that duty needs to be carried out with respect for human rights and the
rule of law," said Anna Sevortian, Russia office director for Human Rights Watch. "It cannot be a pretext for arbitrary arrests and
punitive measures against the opposition."
Public demonstrations involving tens of thousands of protesters in Minsk's Independence Square started peacefully on December 19.
However, after the Central Election Commission, the main governmental body supervising the elections, announced that incumbent
Alexander Lukashenka had received 79.67 percent of the vote, some protesters turned to violence, clashed with police, and tried to
storm the main governmental building in Minsk, news media reports said. Police responded by arresting and beating protesters, in some
cases viciously.
According to media reports, at least 600 opposition activists, including opposition leaders and 7 of the 11 presidential candidates, were
arrested and remain in custody. Among them are several of Belarus's leading human rights defenders. About 150 of those detained were
speedily tried in administrative courts on December 20, and each sentenced to 10 to 15 days of administrative detention, mainly for
"hooliganism".
Five of the presidential candidates were injured during clashes with police. One of them, Vladimir Neklyaev, was taken to the hospital,
having sustained serious head injuries. Witnesses had seen him being viciously beaten by men in special forces uniforms.
The people who described the events said that he was driven away from a hospital later that night by unknown men in civilian clothing,
who wrapped him in a blanket and pushed him into a waiting car. His current medical condition and whereabouts remain unknown.
Another presidential candidate, Vitaly Rymashevsky, was also reported to have been severely beaten.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
The UN General Assembly
65 th session Plenary meeting Item 108
"Report of the Secretary-General of the Organization"
October 5, 2010
Speech by Zoe Kolontaj, Deputy Permanent Representative
Republic of Belarus
The delegation of Belarus welcomes the proposed in the Secretary-conceptual approach to solving the pressing issues on the international
agenda, especially in the context of implementing the commitments in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.
We support additional measures to create innovative mechanisms for financing and investment, provision of resources to consolidate
peace and security, as well as to meet the humanitarian needs and human rights.
We share the Secretary-General proposed the basic mechanism of this approach - multilateralism and partnership, which now have no
alternative.
A good example of practical realization of the UN's partnership policy is the adoption by consensus of the UN General Assembly at its 64
th session of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. We will all be painstaking work together to ensure full and
effective implementation of this comprehensive document.
Successfully moving forward in implementing the MDGs, Belarus, in fact, reaffirms its commitment to protect human rights. In this
regard, we support outlined in the report of the Secretary-General's approach is that the protection of human rights should become an
integral part of Member States' efforts to develop.
Agree with the general that the 2010 is of great importance for determining the direction of efforts in disarmament and nonproliferation.
This year has been marked by a significant number of international activities in the field of disarmament, the analysis of results which
shows that among the many problems associated with international security, still retains its acute relevance of themes of nuclear
disarmament and nonproliferation. Held in May 2010 NPT Review Conference reaffirmed the importance of preserving and
strengthening this international instrument. Hope that the adoption to the Conference Final Document, which contains, inter alia, a
specific list of follow-up, serve a productive basis for the work of States Parties to the NPT to accelerate the achievement of the
objectives of the Treaty. We presume that the provision of non-nuclear weapon States parties to the NPT clear and unconditional
security assurances on the basis of a legally binding instrument will significantly enhance the non-proliferation regime.
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The UN General Assembly
65 th session Plenary meeting Item 108
"Report of the Secretary-General of the Organization"
October 5, 2010
Speech by Zoe Kolontaj, Deputy Permanent Representative
Republic of Belarus
The delegation of Belarus welcomes the proposed in the Secretary-conceptual approach to solving the pressing issues on the international
agenda, especially in the context of implementing the commitments in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.
We support additional measures to create innovative mechanisms for financing and investment, provision of resources to consolidate
peace and security, as well as to meet the humanitarian needs and human rights.
We share the Secretary-General proposed the basic mechanism of this approach - multilateralism and partnership, which now have no
alternative.
A good example of practical realization of the UN's partnership policy is the adoption by consensus of the UN General Assembly at its 64
th session of the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. We will all be painstaking work together to ensure full and
effective implementation of this comprehensive document.
Successfully moving forward in implementing the MDGs, Belarus, in fact, reaffirms its commitment to protect human rights. In this
regard, we support outlined in the report of the Secretary-General's approach is that the protection of human rights should become an
integral part of Member States' efforts to develop.
Agree with the general that the 2010 is of great importance for determining the direction of efforts in disarmament and nonproliferation.
This year has been marked by a significant number of international activities in the field of disarmament, the analysis of results which
shows that among the many problems associated with international security, still retains its acute relevance of themes of nuclear
disarmament and nonproliferation. Held in May 2010 NPT Review Conference reaffirmed the importance of preserving and
strengthening this international instrument. Hope that the adoption to the Conference Final Document, which contains, inter alia, a
specific list of follow-up, serve a productive basis for the work of States Parties to the NPT to accelerate the achievement of the
objectives of the Treaty. We presume that the provision of non-nuclear weapon States parties to the NPT clear and unconditional
security assurances on the basis of a legally binding instrument will significantly enhance the non-proliferation regime.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM BELARUSIAN BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
BHC appealed the results of presidential elections
Submitted by administrator on 22 December, 2010 - 22:49
Posted in Presidential election 2010
The evening of 22 December, representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee transferred to the Central Election Commission of
Belarus appeal for recognition of national elections invalid.
The text of the complaints posted on the 22 pages on which there is justification for this conclusion. Refer the complaint to Harry
Pahanyajla.
In his opinion, the elections were held with gross violations of Belarusian law, who noted at all stages of the campaign:
- A similar complaint brought and a group of Gregory Kostusev - our complaints, I hope, will be discussed at a meeting of the Central
Election Commission in collegial and will be made a detailed reasoned decision on the complaints. If these complaints are not met, the
applicants appealed to the Supreme Court and appeal against the decision of the CEC.
The complaint refers to the imbalance in the formation of election commissions, which are dominated by pro-government structures and
almost no representatives of those parties and movements, from which were nominated alternate candidates. During the signature
collection has been widely used administrative resources, there was no equity in the campaign, and so on.
Click here to read more »
BHC appealed the results of presidential elections
Submitted by administrator on 22 December, 2010 - 22:49
Posted in Presidential election 2010
The evening of 22 December, representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee transferred to the Central Election Commission of
Belarus appeal for recognition of national elections invalid.
The text of the complaints posted on the 22 pages on which there is justification for this conclusion. Refer the complaint to Harry
Pahanyajla.
In his opinion, the elections were held with gross violations of Belarusian law, who noted at all stages of the campaign:
- A similar complaint brought and a group of Gregory Kostusev - our complaints, I hope, will be discussed at a meeting of the Central
Election Commission in collegial and will be made a detailed reasoned decision on the complaints. If these complaints are not met, the
applicants appealed to the Supreme Court and appeal against the decision of the CEC.
The complaint refers to the imbalance in the formation of election commissions, which are dominated by pro-government structures and
almost no representatives of those parties and movements, from which were nominated alternate candidates. During the signature
collection has been widely used administrative resources, there was no equity in the campaign, and so on.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM BELARUSIAN BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
15/09/2010 Statement by Assembly of Democratic NGOs of Belarus
Authorities create legal conditions for the political repression against social activists
With elections approaching, President of the Republic of Belarus civil society, the country feels the increasing pressure on NGOs. One
of the most severe forms of pressure is judicial liquidation of non-governmental organizations.
We are forced to with dismay to note that the Belarusian authorities to return to the practice of mass liquidation of non-profit
organizations. In recent months, the authorities launched a campaign of judicial liquidation of non-governmental organizations who were
registered on opposition principle in the form of institutions. In particular, it was held judicial liquidation of the institution "Belardo, now
undergoing trials to eliminate institutions" Moving Forward "and" Right-wing alliance. "
Simultaneously, justice departments of the city of Minsk and the regions actually suspended registration of such forms of non-profit
organizations such as institutions and associations. Illegally application for creating these kinds of organizations are already blocked at the
consultation stage name, although according to the legislation in respect of them should act according to principle of registration.
We attribute this practice of judicial liquidation and unlawful refusal of registration of the intention of the authorities to create legal
conditions for the political repression against social activists during the election campaign. Judicial liquidation and unlawful refusal to
provide the registration authorities to use the infamous Article 1931 of the Penal Code, which punishes the activities of unregistered
organizations.
We urge the authorities not to make steps towards delegating social structures. Given that the Belarusian legislation provides for a
moratorium on judicial liquidation of political parties during election campaigns, we offer a political solution to extend the moratorium on
cases involving other forms of nonprofit organizations.
If the executive authorities will not go to court to eliminate institutions minor, questionable or man-made reasons, it will allow our
country to avoid criticism of these cases concerning human rights violations during the election campaign.
Need to refrain from any liquidation of non-governmental organizations all the more urgent that this problem was the subject of harsh
criticism of the Belarusian government by the international community and the Council on the UN Human Rights Council under the
universal periodic review of the UN Human Rights Council. Soon, 23 September, the Human Rights Council to adopt the UN
recommendations on human rights situation in Belarus, which, among other things, the Belarusian side requested to refrain from
pursuing non-governmental organizations, including not to exercise their delegation and to repeal article 193.1 of the Criminal Code.
Click here to read more>>
15/09/2010 Statement by Assembly of Democratic NGOs of Belarus
Authorities create legal conditions for the political repression against social activists
With elections approaching, President of the Republic of Belarus civil society, the country feels the increasing pressure on NGOs. One
of the most severe forms of pressure is judicial liquidation of non-governmental organizations.
We are forced to with dismay to note that the Belarusian authorities to return to the practice of mass liquidation of non-profit
organizations. In recent months, the authorities launched a campaign of judicial liquidation of non-governmental organizations who were
registered on opposition principle in the form of institutions. In particular, it was held judicial liquidation of the institution "Belardo, now
undergoing trials to eliminate institutions" Moving Forward "and" Right-wing alliance. "
Simultaneously, justice departments of the city of Minsk and the regions actually suspended registration of such forms of non-profit
organizations such as institutions and associations. Illegally application for creating these kinds of organizations are already blocked at the
consultation stage name, although according to the legislation in respect of them should act according to principle of registration.
We attribute this practice of judicial liquidation and unlawful refusal of registration of the intention of the authorities to create legal
conditions for the political repression against social activists during the election campaign. Judicial liquidation and unlawful refusal to
provide the registration authorities to use the infamous Article 1931 of the Penal Code, which punishes the activities of unregistered
organizations.
We urge the authorities not to make steps towards delegating social structures. Given that the Belarusian legislation provides for a
moratorium on judicial liquidation of political parties during election campaigns, we offer a political solution to extend the moratorium on
cases involving other forms of nonprofit organizations.
If the executive authorities will not go to court to eliminate institutions minor, questionable or man-made reasons, it will allow our
country to avoid criticism of these cases concerning human rights violations during the election campaign.
Need to refrain from any liquidation of non-governmental organizations all the more urgent that this problem was the subject of harsh
criticism of the Belarusian government by the international community and the Council on the UN Human Rights Council under the
universal periodic review of the UN Human Rights Council. Soon, 23 September, the Human Rights Council to adopt the UN
recommendations on human rights situation in Belarus, which, among other things, the Belarusian side requested to refrain from
pursuing non-governmental organizations, including not to exercise their delegation and to repeal article 193.1 of the Criminal Code.
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Aleksandr Lukashenko
President since 20 July 1994
President since 20 July 1994
Sergey Sidorskiy
Prime Minister since 19 December 2003
Prime Minister since 19 December 2003
| TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
None reported.
