Belarusian Authorities Keep Arresting Opposition Leaders and Suppressing Students

Despite recent calls for closer cooperation with the EU from Belarusian authhorities, throwing opposition people behind bars and suppressing students are illustrating the respect for basic civil liberties in Belarus.

On March 13, the leader of Belarusian People's Front (BPF) opposition party, Vintsuk Vyachorka, was detained near his apartment in Minsk. He was released the next day, but banned to leave the country. As Radio Svaboda informs, the activist might have been arrested in connection with participation in the demonstration organized by entrepreneurs on March 12, and to hold them back from organizing the Freedom Day celebrations planned for March 25. Opposition activist Alexander Kozulin is still being kept under arrest. At the same time, senior Belarus diplomat and EU envoy Vladimir Senko refuses to admit that political prisoners exist in the country.

Jelena Katsuba, member of the Belarusian support group in Estonia, claims that Belarusian authorities have formed a special agency that suppresses students. "The students that were preparing to travel to Estonia to observe elections were forced to write official letters of explanation with false reasons for being away from school, e.g. family or health problems," said Katsuba. "Lecture attendance is monitored at universities to prevent any contact with foreigners that students may have," added Katsuba.

The Belarusian support group calls for continuing with scholarships for Belarusian students. Estonia has to date accepted 10 university students from Belarus who have been expelled from universities due to political reasons, with the government giving them scholarships.
Similar scholarships are available in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Belarusian student activists that observed elections in Estonia in March reported that the scholarships from other countries have enouraged students, as they know that there is an escape route to go and contiue their studies elsewhere. Leader of a Belarusian non-governmental organization Third Way, Pavel Marozau, emphasized that it is of vital importance for the Belarusian opposition to feel the support and solidarity from the EU countries.

The Belarusian support group in Estonia was established by Estonian NGOs in cooperation with Estonians who observed Belarusian presidential elections in 2006. With the support from Open Estonia Foundation, the support group organizes the celebration of Day of Solidarity on the 16th day of every month. On that day, it has become a tradition to switch off the light and light candles for 15 minutes. This is done in remembrance of Belarusian politicians who have vanished or suffered from repressions. People in many parts of the world take part in this protest.

Additional information:

Jelena Katsuba
Belarusian support group
Phone: 580 40612
E-mail: jelena@euroopaliikumine.ee  

Maari Ross
Open Estonia Foundation
Phone: 631 3791
Fax: 631 3796
E-mail: maari@oef.org.ee  
www.oef.org.ee