[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 39 (Thursday, March 25, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S3173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   OPPOSITION UNDER ATTACK IN BELARUS

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, in recent days the Belarusian Prosecutor 
General's office opened criminal proceedings against one of the leaders 
of the embattled Belarusian democratic opposition, Anatoly Lebedka. 
Anatoly, who is chairman of the United Civic Party, has been accused of 
defaming Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko during an interview 
with Russian television last month where he linked the recent 
Belarusian-Russian dispute over gas deliveries with the Belarusian 
authorities' failure to build an efficient economy. Anatoly also 
mentioned a shadow budget replenished through illegal arms sales and 
the cover-up of the truth about political disappearances in Belarus.
  Given the pattern of behavior of the Lukashenko regime, it is crystal 
clear that this case is politically motivated and designed to suppress 
dissent. Lebedka's United Civic Party is a member of the Popular 
Coalition Five Plus, an opposition bloc which is planning to field 
candidates in this fall's parliamentary elections.
  The action against Anatoly Lebedka and on the opposition fits 
squarely within a pattern of the suppression of independent thought and 
action in Belarus. Lukashenko's repression of those who would dare to 
challenge him has only intensified over the past year. Just last week, 
a criminal case was opened against the Belarusian Helsinki Committee 
chairperson Tatiana Protska and accountant Tatiana Rudkevich. This 
comes after politically-motivated economic sanctions were imposed on 
the Committee recently. Also within the last few days, a court seized 
property of Iryna Makavetskaya, a correspondent for one of Belarus' 
leading independent newspapers, Beloruskaya Delovaya Gazeta.
  Lukashenko has a choice--he can continue to act as a pariah, 
suppressing the voices of democracy in Belarus, or he can realize that 
the only way to reverse his self-imposed isolation from the 
international community and increasingly, from his own people is to end 
his offensive against democracy and civil society.
  Meanwhile, it is essential that the United States back up its 
rhetorical support for democratic forces in Belarus through concrete 
assistance. Earlier this Congress, I introduced the Belarus Democracy 
Act, a measure with bipartisan support designed to promote democracy, 
human rights and the rule of law in Belarus. In light of the campaign 
of repression against democratic forces in Belarus, timely 
consideration of the Belarus Democracy Act is warranted. I urge 
colleagues to support this important legislation.

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