[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 18, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7874-S7875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             ``DISAPPEARED'' BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, earlier today, I had the opportunity to 
meet with the wives of four Belarusian opposition leaders who have 
either disappeared, been imprisoned, or have died under mysterious 
circumstances. Theirs is a compelling story which starkly illustrates 
the human toll of Alexander Lukashenka's regime in which human rights, 
democracy and the rule of law are violated with impunity.
  These courageous women--Ludmilla Karpenko, Irina Krasovska, Tatiana 
Klimova and Svetlana Zavadska--conveyed their concerns about their 
husbands as well as about the continuing climate of fear in Belarus.
  Earlier this month, I led a delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary 
Assembly Annual Session, where I met with Anatoly Lebedko, one of the 
leaders of the Belarusian democratic opposition.
  Belarusian presidential elections are quickly coming up--on September 
9. Unfortunately, the Belarusian authorities have not yet made a 
serious commitment to abide by criteria set forth well over a year ago 
by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, of 
which Belarus is a member. These criteria include an end of the climate 
of fear, equal access to the state media for all candidates, respect 
for freedom of assembly, as well as transparency and fairness in the 
registration of candidates and functioning of electoral commissions.
  The Helsinki Commission, which I chair, continues to receive 
troubling reports concerning developments in Belarus. Indeed, the 
prospects for free and fair presidential elections this fall remain 
dim. The unbalanced composition of the regional electoral commissions 
is particularly disturbing given the apparent rejection by the 
authorities of all candidates--over 800--proposed by Belarusian 
democratic parties and non-governmental organizations. The Belarusian 
authorities need to guarantee the impartiality of the electoral 
commissions by ensuring that democratic parties and non-governmental 
organizations, NGOs, are represented meaningfully and to correct other 
reported violations of the electoral code.
  The State Department has urged the Belarusian authorities to mount a 
credible investigation to account for missing former Minister of 
Internal Affairs Yury Zakharenka, 13th Supreme Soviet Deputy Chairman 
Viktor Gonchar and his associate Anatoly Krasovsky, as well as Russian 
Television cameraman Dmitry Zavadsky. They have urged the immediate 
release of political prisoners and 13th Supreme Soviet members Andrei 
Klimov and Valery Shchukin. Such an investigation, as well as the 
release of political prisoners, will be an essential factor in reducing 
the current climate of fear.
  Finally, the Belarusian authorities need to work with the OSCE to 
facilitate the work of international and domestic observers and to help 
ensure that all candidates are able to organize freely, without 
harassment, and carry their campaigns to the people.
  While it is not yet too late for the Belarusian authorities to take 
the steps necessary to ensure an atmosphere conducive to elections that 
will meet international democratic standards, time is of the essence. 
Free and fair presidential elections are an essential step if Belarus 
is to move ahead and end its self-imposed isolation. As President Bush 
has remarked in connection with this week's observance of Captive 
Nations Week, America must remain vigilant in our support of those 
living under authoritarianism. The people of Belarus have that support 
as they seek to overcome the legacy of

[[Page S7875]]

the past and build an independent nation based on democracy, human 
rights and the rule of law.

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