HORNYPHON

 20 years after the fall of the Berlin wall, Belarus remains the last European country, that is still ruled in soviet style by long term leader Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Under the current regime, Belarus is drifting away more and more from any democratic standards. Based on the Report on Belarus, issued by Rapporteur Andrea Rigoni, the Council of Europe decided to deny Belarus the status of 'special guest' at PACE - the Political Assembly of the Council of Europe in June 2009.

One significant problem in Belarus remains FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. According to the Freedom House Index 2008, Belarus is ranked at position 188 ... and only seven countries are ranked worse: Uzbekistan, Cuba, Eritrea, Lybia, Turkmenistan, Burma and North Korea. Even in year 2009, journalists reporting about Belarus have to hide their real names for to protect themselves from persecution by KGB and special forces.

In particular, journalists reporting about human rights issues are observed and tracked by Belarusian KGB strictly. On 14th August 2009, a correspondent and a camera operator of the Russian channel NTV were detained, after they had interviewed relatives of persons, who disappeared between May 1999 and July 2000. The NTV-team was deported the same day to the Russian border - their SIM-cards and cassettes with video footage were confiscated by KGB officers. It seems, that one of the interviewed persons in Minsk was tapped.

Until today, the law enforcing agencies in Belarus failed to solve the disapearances of former vice speaker of the Supreme Council of Belarus Viktar Hanchar, cameraman Zmitser Zavadski, businessman Anatol Krasouske and former Interior Minister General Yury Zakharanka. It is most likely, that the truth is covered up by Belarusian authorities - including Aleksandr Lukashenko.

This audio report covers the situation of Belarusian citizens, who became affected by politically motivated persecution in their motherland.

Six sequences are highlighting the aspects

- political prisoners
- prisoners of conscience
- the death of Yana Palyakova
- female civil society activists
- the situation of repressed mothers
- journalists denied to work in Belarus

In the report, the situation of females is given special attention to meet the significance of women in the sphere of civil society and human rights defenders in Belarus. Activists in these sectors are the main target of political persecution – this is the key for to understand the subject matter. The actual situation confirms this conclusion: among three political prisoners and eleven prisoners of consience, there is not a single politician of the democratic opposition.

The purpose of this report was to put the focus on this blind spot in Europe’s perception of Belarus. Where it was feasible, all source material was collected on the ground, that means: in a country, which is ranked 154th out of 173 countries in the Reporters Without Borders’ ‘world press freedom index 2008’’.

But what's the perspective of Belarusian authorities? On June 8th 2009, Mr. Sergei Martinov, Foreign Minister of Belarus, told reporters after a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Samuel Zbogar: 'Human rights record and level of democracy in Belarus are on a par with those in the neighbouring countries and in many EU states'. (source: BelTA)

Most probably, the experienced democrate Sergei Martinov is not on a par with the human rights situation in Belarus? In any case he is welcome to download and to listen this audio report - before he compares the human rights record of Belarus with other countries - and maybe he could provide some facts for his subliminal allegetions of Belarus' neighbouring countries and many EU states. 

Well then ... right click save, Mister Martinov ....

Once again Benita Ferrero-Waldner failed to meet Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
What is she doing wrong? Even Uncle Karel seems to be at a loss ...

It was not only Batka, who let her down. Only 14 of the initially announced
representatives of the 27 EU Member States participated in the launch
meeting of the Eastern Partnership in Prague. Thus one more or less
so-called president - or what ever - was really not missed there.

Most conversations started with the words:
My name is XYZ, deputy of this and that. Whom are you substituting here?



One Member State was'nt even represented by a single government member
at the EU Summit, which must hurt EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner,
as it was the EU Member State, where she is coming from.

.

Mirek Topolanek, speaking on behalf of the Czech Presidency (most probably
for the last time at any EU Summit) found fantastic words for the EU initiative
of the EU Commission, when he claimed, it 'should not remain an empty box' .

Two months after the tragical death of the victim of the Belarusian regime, the so-called Eastern Partnership will be signed in Prague. Alyaksandr Lukashenka will not represent Belarus at the EU Summit in Prague on 7th of May 2009, where the agreements upon
the Eastern partnership will be signed between the EU and six EaP states.

What a pity for Lukashenka - who was the last time at an European Summit one decade ago at an OSCE meeting in Istanbul. But the signature of Lukashenka at this meeting was worth absolutely nothing - as no elections in Belarus met OSCE commitments since this meeting.

The presidential elections in Belarus, held in March 2006, were considered by the EU Council as <fundamentally flawed> in the Common EU Council Position 2006/267/CSFP. Article 15 of the EU Treaty says, that such a position is binding for all representatives of EU member states and also for EU authorities.

Fundamentally flawed elections means, that the results of such elections are democratically illegitimate - therefore the European Union must consider the signature of a <flaw elected> leader - and also the signatures of his deputies - as null and void on an agreement with the
European Union.

Javier Solana adressed Alyaksander Lukashenka as <Mister President> during his visit in Minsk in February 2009. Thus the Highest Representative of the EU contradicted officially the Common EU Council Position 2006/276/CSFP - which can be considered as betrayal
of Article 15 of the EU Treaty, when it was done willingly.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka may be considered as president by the citizens of Belarus - but for the authorities of EU he has not the legitimation of an democratically elected president. This concerns also the government of the Presidential Republic Belarus - therefore the Belarusian signatures on the Eastern Partnership agreement are null and void.

Though the invitation of the Czech EU Presidency, personally submitted in Minsk
by Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, the flaw-elected leader of
Belarus won't come in person to the EU Summit in Prague on 7th May 2009.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka is reported to suffer an infection, which was described
the first time in the allegorical novel ANIMAL FARM. This novel addresses not
only the corruption of its leaders, but also how wickedness, indifference,
ignorance, greed and myopia destroy any possibility of an freedom and
democracy. ANIMAL FARM portrays poor leadership as the flaw in elections
and it shows, how ignorance and indifference to human rights allow the
horror of a repressive state to happen in Europe - even in the 21st century.

The virus LUKASH1N1A is report to be more dangerous and contagious than
swine influenza. The final stage of the desease is indicated by pathological
authoritarian behaviour (batka-symptom) and in grave cases a patient suffers
he hallucination of being recognized as a legitimate leader by the international
community. (tsar-syndrom)

As Aleksander Lukashenko shows all these symtoms, international quarantine
remains the only way for to isolate him and his specific disease, which seems
to be beyond remedy forever.

The Holy Secret Swiss Guards reported to the Belarusian KGB today, that there was an Belarusian turncoat dedected during the audience, which was given by Aleksandr Lukashenka himself to Pope Bendedict XVI. last weekend. Several leaking sources of the KGB reported worldwide, more detailed information was given by KGB chief himself at a press conference in Minsk. He also provided us with photographic proof about the case, which you can see below.





Therefore, the betrayer of Aleksandr Lukashenka is most probably the son of the last dictator in Europe himself. At least it was Kolya Lukashenka, who handed over a book to the Pope - though he was observed by his father. The book contains not only critical remarks about Aleksandr 'Sasha' Lukashenka, but gives a clear evidence about the political preferences of Kolya.

Is it possible, that Kolya Lukashenka might become the first democrate in his family? Or is he just another genetical determinded turncoat, preparing to jump off the old system at the right moment, as his father successfully did?

The same leaking sources revealed the reason, why Aleksandr Lukashenka entered into direct negotiations with the Pope. The issue was to achieve a pontifical dispense for his future bride Benita, whom Aleksandr Lukashenka likes to marry on 7th May 2009 Prague. This pontifical dispense would be the second one for Benita, therefore the Pope saw no problem at all.

The marriage ceremony of Batka and Benita is prepared quite well. The bride's male attendant Karel Schwarzenberg arranged the formal wedding preparations in Minsk already in early April. Javier Solana, another marriage broker, visited Lukashenka in March 2009. On this occasion, the EU emperor awarded Lukashenka with the honory title 'Mister President' on behalf of the European Council - though the 2006 presidential elections in Belarus were considered by the European Union as fundamentally flawed. What a lovely marriage portion for Lukashenka ... and therefore he had no choice to resist the offer. Therefore even a visit of Benita in Minsk was cancelled - as such a meeting before the wedding could harm the felicity of the bridal couple.

It is worth to note, that the invitiation of Karel Schwarzenberg for to come to the wedding in Prague was not given to Batka Lukashenka only, but to Belarus in general - even to the political opposition - which means: probably also Kolya Lukashenka is going to attend the ceremony, which leads Benita and Aleksandr finally together in love and total harmony. So let's all of us go to Prague and welcome Benita and Batka there - becaus they are the bridal couple of the year 2009!

On March 3, 2009, Belarusian human rights defender Yana Palyakova was sentenced to RESTRAINT LIBERTY (restricted freedom) for a term of 2 1/2 years. At the summary process, judge Buratsau from Salihorsk left Yana Palyakova less than five minutes for to get acquainted with the decree, which transformed her into an accused in a criminal case, which was instigated on demand of the Minsk region prosecutors office.

The months before this trial, which was hardly based on on legal procedures, Yana Palyakova was persecuted by police (militia) and KGB, she became victim of arbitrary abuse of power, she was intimitated by interrogations and chased by anonymous phone calls.

The case of Yana Palyakova was known by OSCE officials since elections 2008 and reported several times by human rights NGOs to the European Commission. Until today, EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner expressed not a single word of condolence for Yana Palyakova, who committed suicide on March 7th, 2009.

The EU Commission seems to put back willingly the basic European values behind economic interests, which should be contracted in the Eastern Partnership with Belarus in May 2009. Yana Palyakova became a victim of this EU policy, which silences knowingly, that the regime led by  Lukashenko is hiding political prisoners in long-term home arrests - also called restraint liberty, restricted freedom or chemistry. Tolerating this knowingly by the representativis of the European Union means to bear responsibility for all these victims - including the death of Yana Palyakova.

In the video published on Youtube, an acquaintance of Yana Palyakova tells about the repressions, which the late woman from Salihorsk had to suffer in autum 2008. As long as the international attention was drawn on Belarus during parliamentary elections in 2008, the regime tried to avoid negative reports in international media. Just five months later, the regime laid a hand on Yana Palyakova.

The video was published on Day of Solidarity, March 16, 2009, by BEL AIR | art in resistance. It is worth to mention, that on the same day the EU Council showed it's solidarity with civil society in Belurus by extending the period, in which the EU travelling ban will remain lifted from Aleksander Lukahenko and those Belarusian officials, which were sanctioned by the EU for rigging elections in 2006.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner studied jurisprudence and received her doctor's decree in 1970. She started her diplomatic career in the Austrian Foreign Ministry in 1984. In May 1995 she became Secretary of State in the Austrian Foreign Ministry and in February 2000 finally Austrian Foreign Minister.

At the latest in year 2000, when she was also the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for one year, Benita Ferrero-Waldner had to familiarize herself professionally with Belarus. One of her statements out of this time (source: osce.org) reads like this:

VIENNA, 17 October 2000 - The following statement regarding the Belarus parliamentary elections was issued by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Austrian Foreign Minister Ferrero-Waldner.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister Ferrero-Waldner, regrets that - according to a statement of the ODIHR Technical Assessment Mission - the 15 October 2000 parliamentary elections process in Belarus failed to meet international standards for democratic elections.

The Chairperson-in-Office takes note of the measures undertaken by the Belarusian Government in the run-up to the parliamentary elections leading to an improvement and a greater transparency of the electoral process. Although progress had been made to meet international standards for democratic elections, the implementation of the four criteria agreed by European institutions has to be considered insufficient to recognise these elections to be free and democratic.

In April 2004, she was running as the canditate in presidential elections for the conservative party ÖVP. Though the additional support of the right-wing party FPÖ led by Jörg Haider, Ferrero-Waldner failed her target. Half a year later, she became Member of the European Commission in charge of External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy in November 2004.

On 5th April 2006, EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner held a speech in European Parliament in Strassbourgh, refering to the presidential elections in Belarus. There she said:

The OSCE/ODIHIR initial report concludes, that the election failed to meet OSCE standards for democratic elections. This was due to the arbitrary use of state power and widespread detentions; a disregard for the basic right for freedom of assembly, association and expression; and problems with early voting, counting and tabulation.

The Commission therefore considers the election as fundamentally flawed. (source: www.europarl.europa,eu)

In the end of this speech she said:

We must continue to apply pressure; demand the release of all those held for political reasons; and insist Belarus lives up to it's international commitment as a member of the OSCE and the United Nations.

The violent suppression of peaceful protests and detention of political opponents and protesters have no part in democratic societies. We must hold firm and show Belarus and it's people, that an alternative - a democratic open future - is possible. The EU will support them all the way.

ALL THE WAY?

On initiative of the EU Commission, the European Council suspended in October 2008 the travelling ban, which was imposed on Aleksander Lukashenko in 2006, as EU sanction for rigged presidential elections in Belarus. On 16th February 2009, Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the EU Council and High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, adressed Aleksander Lukashenko as MR. PRESIDENT during his first visit in Minsk.

It was exactly the same Javier Solana, who had earmarked the presidential elections in Belarus as 'fraudulent' in 2006. Mr. Solana did'nt mention the 2006 elections and also not the elections, which fell short of OSCE standards in September 2008. Mr. Solana did'nt talk with Lukashenko about human rights or democracy. Which European Values did Solana represent in Minsk? Did he represent European Values at all?

There was also a Minsk-visit of Benita Ferrero-Waldner on the EU agenda, scheduled for 12th February 2009. Maybe this was the reason, why the EU Commissioner did not protest, when the Belarusian human rights defender Yana Palyakova was sentenced in a politically motivated trial to RESTRAINT OF LIBERTY for a term of 2 1/2 years on 3rd February 2009. Was this the EU support ALL THE WAY, which was promised by Ferrero-Waldner?

The EU Commissioner even did not cancel her Minsk visit, after this politically persecuted human rights defender died on 7th of March 2009. The decision for to postpone the visit was made FOUR DAYS LATER, on 11th March 2009! Does'nt this indicate clearly, that the death of Yana Palyakovski was'nt an immediate reason for Ferrero-Waldner to postpone her visit in Minsk? Does anybody understand such an inhuman cynism?

Until today, there was not a single word of regret expressed by Benita Ferrero-Waldner on behalf of the judiciary victim Yana Palyakova. Was'nt it the proactive diplomacy of Ferrero-Waldner, which made it possible, that the EU tolerated all the politically motivated senctences in Belarus, which are known as RESTRAINT OF LIBERTY?

Was'nt it the silence of Javier Solana and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, which was deadly for Yana Palyakova? Did'nt they give the Lukashenko diplomatic rear cover for to hide his political victims in alternative facilities and in home arrests?

Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Yana Palyakova, both studied jursiprudence. They never met, but their stories of life and death will be connected forever, since the silence created by the one was deadly for the other.

Today is Day of Solidarity in Belarus. Today the EU Council will decide in Brussels, if the Lukashenko regime will be included into the Eastern Partnership of the European Union. -16th March 2009. Will they remain Brussels remain silent?

In October 2008, the EU Council lifted the sanctions for election fraud in Belarus commited in 2006. The next step might be the investment of EU tax money into a EU partnership with the authoritarian regime in Minsk. Acording to Aleksander Lukashenko, the Belarusian longterm leader dislikes any 'mediators' in this process.

The EU Council is going to decide about the EU-partnership already in March 2009, as the contracts should be signed in Praha in the beginning of May 2009. The rapid train of EU recognition for Aleksander Lukashenko increased full speed - and decisions will be made, before citizens realise, what's going on. Recently there was no public discussion inside the EU and European media seem to lack expertise about the actual situation in Belarus. 

The recent peak in the run-up of the official recognition of Aleksander Lukashenko by the European Union was reached by EU top diplomate Javier Solana in February 2009, who adressed Lukashenko as 'Mr. President'. It was exactly the same Javier Solana, who had specified the Belarusian presidential elections 2006 in interviews as 'fraudulent elections' in 2006.

EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner will visit A. Lukashenko in Minsk in March 2009. Of course, she will also meet representatives of civil society and human rights organisations on her way. That's the best way for keeping critical voices inside Belarus quiet, until the contracts in Praha are signed.

A  new video of BEL AIR - published on YouTube - records this political process and raises the voice of EU citizens for Belarusian citizens, which are still repressed and persecuted by the Lukashenko regime. For observers it is quite obvious, that political persecution in Belarus is covered up by transforming them into 'criminal cases'. The 'Case of 14' in 2008 was a prime example, how to fool the European Commission. Observers wonder, whether EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner ever realised, that the 'Case of 14' was an result of systematical violation of human rights, which destroyed the future of 14 people with one strike.

Since the visit of Javier Solana in Minsk, the term HOME GULAG became an undisputed reality for Maxim Dashuk and Artyom Dubski in February 2009. The status of the prisoners Mikalay Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau and Uladzimir Asipenka is completely unclear. Two of these small business men were already political prisoners in Belarus, now they became involved by authorities in a criminal case. Systematic discrimination of citizens never stopped in Belarus, while Brussels top officials are reporting about liberalisation.
   
The comple video message of BEL AIR adresses directly José Manuel Barroso, President of the EU Commission, as well as defenders of human rights and European Values. In the beginning of March, also a German version appeared on YouTube.

VIDEO BY  BEL AIR | February 2009 

Lukashenko invented the HOME GULAG to appease the EU Commission.

EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner continues to smile. From her
point of view, Belarus is a country without political prisoners.

What about some months of HOME GULAG, Mrs. Ferrero-Waldner ??

European citizens are fed up with your smiling appeasement policy
towards the last dictatorship in Europe.

photo: charter97.org

Created by BEL AIR as an act of solidarity with political prisoner ALES BARAZENKA,
who goes on trial today - and with all Belarusian citizens which were deprived of
their individual freedom for political reasons - in particular:

Tatsiana Tyshkevich, Artsiom Dubski, Aliaxei Bondar, Mikhal Kryvau, Ales Straltsou,
Mikhal Pashkevich, Ales Charnysheu, Anton Koipish and Uladzimir Siarheyeu.

---> listen to it and please share it !!
www.backlab.at/kingdom/BEL_AIR_we_miss_you.mp3

Thanks to the decision fo ALL FOREIGN MINISTERS of the European Union, Alexander Lukashenko is officially permitted to travel freely within the 27 countries of the European Union since October 13, 2008.

The same day, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner
met with Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov.

"We have to show that progress is being rewarded," Ferrero-Waldner said
after this meeting.

Which progress did you mean, Mrs. Ferrero-Waldner ???

THREE QUESTIONS
EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner

Was it a progress for you, that in Belarus peacefully protesting people were
hunted like rabbits by special police in Minsk in January 2008 ???

Was it a progress for you, that in Belarus these unguilty people were sentenced
to <restraint of freedom> up to 2 years -  because you and the representatives
of the EU are willing to tolerate <inofficial political prisoners> in Belarus ???

Was it a progress, that you and the Foreign Ministers of the European Union
betrayed the most basic human rights in favour of  the appeasement policy
towards Belarus - a policy which is represented personally by you ???

Please don't answer me, Mrs. Ferroro-Waldner ... answer to the 14 people
which were brutally beaten up and detained by Belarusian police, answer
those which were interrogated and humiliated by Belarusian KGB officers,
answer those which were debased and sentenced by Belarusian judges,
answer those which were exmatriculated from universities and finally ...

... please answer those nine unguilty people, Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Waldner,
which were deprived from their personal freedom so far - and don't forget
Alexander Barazenka - which is in prison in Belarus at the moment, while
you and the representatives of the EU "are rewarding the progress made
by A. Lukashenko and his regime" ...

Listen to the names of  the ten people which we are missing, because of
your embarrassing policy - which you express with personal appeasement
towards the highest representatives of the totalitarian regime of Belarus.

WE MISS YOU is dedicated to:
Tatsyana Tsishkevich, Alyaksei Bondar, Artsyom Dubski, Mikhail Kryvau,
Mikhail Pashkevich, Alyaksandr Straltsou, Alyaksandr Charnyshou,
Mikhail Subach, Paval Vinahradau and Maxim Dashuk

PS. the 16th of each month is a Day of Solidarity with democratic people
and civic society in Belarus

photos: josef gaffl | austria

Be with us,
in darkness and terrible nights.

Be with us,
together we can make our road faster.

- KRAMA -

PROTOKOL

I came with my vinyl records to Belarus in spring 2004 for the
very first time, playing at Matrix (Brest) and at Club Bronx (Minsk).
probably I was the first Austrian DJ here ... but for sure the first
one who returned for several times :))

In 2005 and 2007 I had shows in Novopolotsk (Piranas & Pistols)
and in Minsk (Bronx) ...  in 2006 I was co-producer of the CD
<Zaenka> with the Belarusian band 'Indiga' ... probably this was
the first cooperation between artists from Belarus and Austria ...
but for sure not my last one :))

In summer 2007 I invited Rusia and the band Indiga to Austria,
where they performed with Austrian artists on stage. All these
artists together appeared as the "Zaenka Collective".
 
In October 2008 I rocked the club New Sound Land in Baranovichi
and before I left  Belarus once again ... I shaked the audience at
"The Black Door" in Minsk. www.interfax.by/event/28468

About "parking" the car I just can say: this was not parking,
I placed the car there, because it is trash :))

more blabla ...
www.backlab.at/kingdom/dj_acid_buzz.htm

THE DOORS re-shaked by DJ Acid Buzz
www.backlab.at/kingdom/Acid%20Buzz%20Shake%20The%20Doors.mp3

 

elections calculation control:
110 - 1 - 1 - 0 = !! ZERO !!

 

Tuesday | 19th August 2008

Dear Andrei !

I hope, this postcard will arrive at the penal colony -
when you are already with your family and friends ...
in freedom !

Yours Josef

Wednesday | 20th August 2008
ANDREI KIM WAS RELEASED today from penal colony

Also released was Syarhei Parsyukevich

Both Belarusian citizens were deprived from personal freedom
by political motivated accusations and sentences. By this, they
were deprived to live with their families and friends for months.

They were discriminated by policemen, witnesses and judges.
Syarhei Parsyukevich was beaten up by a policeman in jail.

The juridical system of Belarus is abused as a tool of political
oppression and intimitation of all citizens in Belarus - either
directly (like Kim and Syarchei) or indirectly.

Each single militia man, each single KGB officer, each single
judge in Belarus has the choice to SAY NO to political abuse
of herself or himself. The government of Belarus has no right
to order individuals acting like bloodhounds.

I wish them the power and the courage to say NO from now on.

Tanga na krai | video @ youtube
vocals by Rusia | remix by DJ Acid Buzz

Andrej Kim, 22
is a proud and upright citizen of Belarus. he was standing infront court
this week for to hear the decision on his cassation appeal. 3 months
ago, he was sentenced to a term of 1.5 years imprisonment in penal
colony by judge Alona Ilyina.

the senctence was affirmed on 23rd July 2008 at the Minsk city court
by chairman Uladzimer Nazaranka and the judges Syarhei Khrypach
and Valyantsina Kryvaja.

thanks to all people which sent to the political prisoner.
Andrej Kim will be released on 22nd July 2009

if you like to send him a letter or postcard, please use the adress of
his detention center in the city of Babruysk, Belarus

ANDREI IVANOVICH KIM
213807 Republic of Belarus
Mogilev region, Bobruisk
Sikorskogo street 1
Penal colony №2, Brigade 7

213807, Могилёвская обл., г. Бобруйск,
ул. Сикорского, 1, ИК-2, отряд 7.
Киму Андрею Ивановичу

updated information about political prisoner Andrei Kim
http://www.charter97.org/en/news/hottopic/13/

http://community.livejournal.com/andrei_kim/