Andrei Sannikov: USA must come back to Europe

The leader of the European Belarus civic campaign met the US vice-president Joe Biden and senator John McCain.

A forum “How we can effectively support freedom and democracy” took place on 26-27 April in Sedona (Arizona, USA). The event was organized by McCain institute of the University of Arizona

The vice-president of the United States Joe Biden, senator John McCain, senators Lindsey Graham, Kelly Ayotte, Sheldon Whitehouse, former senators John Keel and Joseph Lieberman, the presidents of Georgia and Macedonia Mikhail Saakashvili and George Ivanov, the Minister of Defense of Canada Peter MacKay, the president of non-governmental organization Freedom House David Kramer, the president of General Electric Jeff Immelt, the president of Wal-Mart Bill Simon, the leader of the European Belarus civic campaign and 2010 presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov, former Prime-Minister of Russia Mikhail Kasianov, heads of human rights organizations, ambassadors, including a former US ambassador to NATO Kurt Walker, who was one of the forum’s organizers, took part in the forum.

The forum was opened with a talk between senator John McCain and vice-president Joe Biden, who discussed the current problems of international politics. The talk was about the US’ domestic and foreign policy, common values of the Republicans and Democrats, about the role of America in the world. Biden and McCain, despite belonging to different parties, showed sincere interpersonal relations (which greatly impressed all the forum’s participants) and their adherence to increasing the significance of the US’ role in the world.

Very acute modern day problems were looked into at the forum. Naturally, the accent was made on how the United States can and must assist democracy development.

The leader of the European Belarus made a speech in the section, which was called “Less free Europe?”. The discussion was led by the vice-president of the Atlantic Council Daemon Wilson, who is very well familiar with the situation in Belarus.

“I spoke on the situation in Belarus, that Belarus started its independent existence as a responsible and reliable partner in international relations, as an active participant of the disarmament process, including nuclear disarmament, and strengthening of international security. The regime Lukashenka today is not only known for its mass violations of human rights, but poses a threat to security in the region and the world. In particular, there are calls for Belarus’ withdrawal from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The situation in Belarus today cannot be viewed as a problem of a separate country. This problem has become regional as we can see from the processes, which are taking place in Russia and Ukraine.

The authoritarian model is spreading at a very fast pace, and the democratic world has not found ways to firmly resist it. Unfortunately, Europe is starting to talk again about the necessity of engaging Lukashenka, different options of such engagement appear – constructive, limited, selective. Only one thing is hidden beneath it – the legitimization of the dictatorship’s existence. We must speak today of disengagement, not engagement, of the dictatorship from international communications”, - Andrei Sannikov told the charter97.org web-site.

The leader of the European Belarus spoke of political prisoners at the forum, that more and more alarming news on their situation had been coming recently.
“I emphasized that the USA’s position has been steadily principled, but today the United States is taking a passive role. A close cooperation of the USA and Europe is needed for democracy and freedom support, as well as the development of joint approaches and actions towards the dictatorship. Such approaches deemed arising at the beginning of 2011, but unfortunately started getting forgotten today. In particular, such approaches embodied in the statement of three US senators John McCain, Joseph Lieberman and John Kerry, which was issued literally on the next day after the brutal crackdown on the peaceful protest manifestation and mass arrests in Minsk on 19 December 2010”, - Sannikov stated.

Already on the first day of the forum the politician managed to discuss the situation in Belarus with the US vice-president Joe Biden and senator John McCain.

“The vice-president took with great attention what I told him about the current situation, about the monstrous pressure on political prisoners. When I asked him what message to send to the people of Belarus, he said “The US supports freedom fighters in Belarus and take a principle position in regards to Lukashenka’s regime. There have been noted no progress in Belarus in terms of democracy and human rights, on the contrary the situation has only worsened. That is why the US’ position remains unchanged”.

The senator McCain supported my anxiety over the development of events in Belarus. Both politicians noted that they would follow the events attentively and react accordingly.

There was a good conversation with a former senator, an influential American politician Joseph Lieberman, who also asked to send the words of support and solidarity to all those, who fights for democracy in Belarus. We discussed the situation in detail with the president of Freedom House David Kramer, with the heads of other human rights organizations, with the ambassadors of the Baltic states to the USA, civic activists, lawyers etc.”, - Sannikov told.

It is worth noting that one of the main ideas of the conference was the necessity for the USA to come back to Europe.

“The Republican as well as the Democrats said that America somewhat distanced from the European affairs and did not that actively participate in the processes happening there, particularly in regards to freedom and democracy. This opinion was shared by the representatives of official bodies and public associations of Europe, who were present at the forum”, - the leader of the European Belarus said.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Hot Chernobyl Way 2013

This year the traditional Chernobyl Way held in Minsk was quite rough.

Before the manifestation, many activists of the ecologic movement opposed to the construction of the nuclear plant had been detained. For example, chairperson of the Council of Ekodom Iryna Sukhiy, activists Vasil Siniukhin, Kanstantsin Kirylenka and Volga Kaskevich were arrested in front of their buildings. They were kept in the Piershamaiski police department and released right when the Chernobyl Way was over. Other ecologists, blocked in their apartments, couldn’t join the demonstration. The ecologists had intended to protest against the construction of the nuclear power plant in Belarus during the Chernobyl Way 2013.

Earlier today in the town of Astraviets of the Grodna region where the nuclear power plant is being built leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Liabedzka and several accompanied journalists were detained twice.

Human rights activist Viachaslau Dashkievich was arrested near the building of the Savietski police department where some of the detained were taken. After the Chernobyl Way, activist of the anarchist movement Igar Trukhanovich was beaten up by four special services officers in civilian.

Even the journalists that were shooting the assault against Igar were detained, as well as other meeting participants on Bangalor Square.
Meanwhile, the Minsk State Executive Committee has authorized this Chernobyl Way. The participants of the demonstration did not break any law. At 18:30, people gathered near the October cinema house. They were holding transparents “Our Lives - The Nuclear Plant’s Price”, “We Are Against Nuclear Plant Construction”, “Hot Summer 1986 – For Whom?”. Young people in tissue masks distributed leaflets “Budget Spent on Nuclear Plant Leaves Nothing for Salaries”. The flags of the civil campaign European Belarus, Tell the Truth movement, the Belarusian Christian Democracy and the National People’s Front could be seen in the crowd.

Those in the head of the demonstration were carrying the icon of the God Mother of Chernobyl. The people were chanting Long Live Belarus, No to the Nuclear Power Plant in Belarus, Astraviets is the Second Chernobyl, Stop Dictatorship. Liapis Trubietskoy’s songs could be heard: Ne Byts Skotam and Gray!.
The demonstration urged to release all political prisoners. The participants of the demonstration called all thirteen prisoners by names.

According to the organizers, about 2000 people took part in the demonstration. The place of the meeting, Bangalor Square, was surrounded with metal fence and yellow tape. OMON searched each participant of the demonstration carefully. They didn’t allow carry loud speakers on to the stage, although the organizers of the Chernobyl Way had received permit to use loud speakers.

During the meeting, a resolution was adopted that included demands to stop the construction of the Astraviets Nuclear Power Plant and release political prisoners. It was also announced that the National ecologic committee named after Ivan Nikitchanka would be founded.

The organizers of the demonstration summed up the outcome of the Chernobyl Way in an interview to charter97.org:

Maksim Viniarski, activist of the civil campaign European Belarus:

“It was a peaceful action, even though the powers basically provoked its participants to break the law, and broke it themselves. The manifestation was authorized only on a narrow pavement of Surganau Street, where that many people simply cannot get through. From time to time people had to step on the road, with a very intense traffic.

The powers’ hypocrisy is appalling: they had organized an embarrassing chase of the ecologist while the demonstration had been officially authorized. The reasons to that are obvious. During the demonstration, the anti-nuclear activists planned to tell about the danger that our country will face if the Astraviets Nuclear Power Plant is built. Opposition activists may talk about this issue, but it is a completely different situation when respected experts whose opinion is vital for international institutions make a serious scientific case for it.

The powers lied about the nuclear power plant in 1986, and they still do. They understand that the opinion of ecologists and anti-nuclear activists is one of the key obstacles for this lie.”

Vital Rymasheuski, co-chairperson of the Belarusian Christian Democracy:

“I believe that the statements and publications the ecologists had produced before the Chernobyl Way annoyed Lukashenka. These preventive arrests have only one purpose: to intimidate. Today Lukashenka said in an interview that crops will continue to be cultivated and agriculture will continue to develop in the contaminated lands. This is a nervous reaction to the slogans that had been voiced before the action. And ecologists are most of all others opposed to the construction of the new Chernobyl – the Astraviets Nuclear Power Plant, the issue very sensitive for the Belarusian powers. That is why the ecologists were among the first to be arrested. The powers create obstacles to prevent anti-nuclear activists from speak more actively against the construction of the nuclear power plant.”

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Belarus may waive its non-nuclear status

Lukashenka's propagandidsts threaten that the country may withdraw from the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances.

This statement was made by official politologist Yury Shautsou. According to him, Minsk may resort to this measure as a response to sanctions against Belarusian officials and oligarchs imposed over human rights violations, electoral fraud and persecution of opposition.

The Belarusian MFA again accused the US and the UK of violating their “commitments to Belarus”. This opinion was expressed in Belarus's statement at the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Belarus stressed that the tripartite security assurances provided in accordance with the 1994 Budapest memorandum in connection with Belarus’s voluntary renunciation of its status as a nuclear power are very important for Belarus.

The Belarusian delegation emphasised that despite the formalised and repeatedly reaffirmed commitments, some nuclear powers ignore them in practice, while continuing to apply economic and political pressure.

The politologist supposes the sanctions against the regime may lead to Belarus's withdrawal from the Budapest Memorandum.

Yury Shautsou speaks about the effect of this step for the country.

“It means Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan may receive a legal ground to return their nuclear status. I am not sure about other countries, but Belarus can definitely count on deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on its territory. Moreover, the Belarusian government already have 2.5 tonnes of nuclear materials, a part of them highly enriched enough to make, for example, a 'dirty bomb', in a short time,” he said in an interview with Rosbalt news agency.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

KGB puts on Anonymous mask: Belpartizan website hacked

Hackers from the law enforcement agencies threaten to hack the websites of Charter'97 and Viasna human rights centre.

“Belorusski Partizan”, a Belarusian independent website, has been hacked today, April 25.

A message from anonymous hackers was left on the site's main page. The hackers say they are “followers of Anonymous group”.

Anonymous is a group promoting the ideas of anonymity and freedom on the internet. Anonymous stands against internet censorship, persecution and control. The group hacked various state website sin protest and carried out attacks on big security organisations. The group members and supporters often wear Guy Fawkes masks, a symbol of the movement. The Guy Fawkes mask is also a symbol of fighting against repressive governments, as shown in the film V for Vendetta.
Hackers from the law enforcement agencies says they “could have hacked you [Belorusski Partizan”], Charter'97, Viasna human rights centre and many other sites long ago, but we give you an opportunity to work under our control.”

The website of Charter'97 was really attacked two days ago. The website remained blocked for an hour due to a DDoS attack, but the tech support team managed to cope with the problem. The analysis of the botnet involved in the attack shows the Russian-Belarusian-Ukrainian trace (more than 60% of IP addresses are Ukrainian and 30% are Belarusian).

The first time when our technical support team noticed suspicious activity and mass hacking attempts was a month ago (March 20). We also faced attempts of putting the website into the database of infected websites on false reports.

The analysis of the traffic for our website and “Belorusski Partizan” shows a unusual sharp decline in visitors in the last three days. It is probably connected with enabling additional blocking tools for our website inside the country.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Sannikov: Lukashenka occupation regime defends itself with Russian weapons

The leader of the civil campaign European Belarus condemns opening a Russian air base in our country.
“It is not Russia that sets up air bases in Belarus. It is dictator Lukashenka who deploys a Russian military facility on our territory. He does it to strengthen the dictatorship and defend it from democratic changes. Moreover, this decision is targeted at Europe, as Lukashenka admitted himself.

A foreign state's military bases on the territory of another state is an ordinary thing, but it such a decision is taken by the legitimate head of state and approved by the legitimate parliament. Such decisions provoke public discussions. A real military threat is needed to made it. It is absolutely clear in this case that Belarus doesn't face military threats. All military preparations carried out by the Lukashenka regime are aggressive. Belarus does not have legitimate authorities, so such actions are illegal according to the standards of international law. Moreover, they threaten Belarus and the country's security.”

The politician thinks Europe should pay close attention to the aggressive defiance as well as to the forthcoming joint military exercises with Russia and understand that any attempts of resuming cooperation with the dictator will come to no good both for Belarus and Europe.

“Lukashenka does not represent the people of Belarus. His regime is occupying. Any contacts with him not only make the dictatorship stronger, but prolong the occupation of Belarus, also with the help of Russian weapons,” Sannikov said.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Mikuláš Dzurinda: In no case should sanctions against Lukashenka be softened

A former prime minister of Slovakia is shocked by holding the Belarusian-Lithuanian Forum.

Mikuláš Dzurinda said it in an interview with charter97.org.

A big Belarusian-Lithuanian economic forum was held in Lithuania recently. Prime ministers of Lithuania and Belarus Butkevičius and Miasnikovich took part in the event. Participants discussed closer economic ties between the countries, in particular, the increase in the amount of transit of Belarusian potassium and oil products through Lithuania. Do you think it is legitimisation of the Lukashenka regime in the West, though political prisoners are still in jails and the EU sanctions are in force?

I was very surprised. I can say I was even shocked by the news. I firmly oppose these actions. It is normal when neighbouring states cooperate in various areas, including foreign trade. Unfortunately, Belarus is not a normal democratic state. The regime is totalitarian, without a doubt. I think I won't be mistaken if I say there is a ban on contacts with Lukashenka. I am surprised by and deeply disappointed with the approach demonstrated by Lithuania. I think not only I, but also the people engaged in foreign policy and diplomacy reacted in the same way, because it doesn't help to get rid of Lukashenka's regime and bring freedom to the people of Belarus.

We know from our experience that repression become tougher in Belarus as the position of the Lukashenka regime softens. Don't you think certain European politicians give a license for repression by their actions?

I understand it perfectly. That's why I say that I am shocked, because I have my own experience – the experience of former Czechoslovakia. Basing on this experience, I can only stress that in no case should sanctions be softened. They must be strengthened, because Lukashenka doesn't implement any obligations. No compromises are possible with this regime, at least until freedom fighters are released.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Lukashenka: Don't make us bow that deeply

The Belarusian governor delivered a message to the people and the "parliament".

“The IMF, the EU and even Russia are saying the same: carry out privatisation, sell state-owned enterprises. I told them: We are not against selling any enterprise. But you must pay a proper price. Don't make us bow that deeply. It especially concerns our partners, our brothers. They should not do this,” Lukashenka said.

“We are reproached for violating human rights. But how should we understand the fact that the European Union has just ripped off a huge part of the population? Yes, it wasn’t poor people, hiding their money in offshores, but it was legal. And European Union officials probably kept their money there,” said Lukashenka.

“And then they retroactively froze everything and took away 60%. That’s human rights for you from the European Union’s point of view,” remarked he.

“Cyprus would not have gone for it but the European Union demanded it. I know it precisely. So human rights mean taking property away from people, although not poor people,” added Lukashenka.

“I like the phrase Dmitry Medvedev said that the European Union robs the robbers or something like that. Therefore, I am calm about it. It wasn’t poor people, who had been hiding money in offshores and have shared it with the Cyprian nation as dictated by the European Union,” said he. Lukashenka also added that the situation was totally not stressful for him.

“We are allies with brotherly Russia. We have no political differences. We are on the way towards the highest level of bilateral cooperation within the Union State, however some would not want it,” he said, adding that relations with the neighbors are a natural priority for Belarus.

“Once again I want to say it, frankly and absolutely honestly, for the EU, the United States and others: when negotiating with you, we will never proceed from the position whether we are with you or with Russia. There is no such choice for us and cannot be!” he said.

“We must ensure the economic security of the state. The economy is the foundation for the whole state and the whole national security. We must not slow down the fight against corruption, first and foremost in those sectors which use budget money. Every official should clearly understand that he will be held accountable for the abuse of power for personal gains,” the governor said.

“I also warn the directors of the companies who do not take run checks into the background of counteragents to make sure their reputation is credible, and who do not understand or do not want to understand that they should be crystal-clear because they are “on the frontline”, deal face to face with their own people and personnel. I think that the level of personal responsibility, control and adequate reaction from the state should be raised manifold,” Lukashenka said.

“Several serious organizational and personnel decisions have been made to enhance the protection of the state border. Order will be instituted in border checkpoints. I have repeatedly addressed the matter and have warned the top officials of the State Border Committee that have been renewed considerably recently: god forbid that anyone else easily crosses the state border, you will have yourselves only to blame. I would like to warn everyone, who tries to cross the state border, that we will act without mercy [against trespassers]. The border service has been given relevant instructions. The situation has deteriorated so much that border guards were afraid to stop a trespasser, who crushed everything on the way to enter Belarus. We had to spend days and a lot of money to catch him inside the country, had to mobilize the Interior Ministry, the Customs Committee, and the border service. So I would like to issue a public warning that the border service will use firearms upon the first act of disobedience,” stressed Lukashenka.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Policemen chained Hrodna resident to radiator for 24 hours

Policemen from Hrodna obtained necessary evidence from detainees by beating and chaining them to a radiator.

Charter97.org has learnt it from a reader on condition of anonymity.

Hrodna's Leninski district court hears a drug case. Three young men, 23, 24 and 25, are in the dock. One more guy, 19, has been in custody since November 13, 2012, on a request of a deputy prosecutor.

Court proceedings began on January 9, 2013. Evidence of witnesses for prosecution was heard. Later, they changed their evidence in favour of the 19-year-old detainee saying they had been pressed by an investigator and a police officer. One of the accused man also reported about pressure on him. He was chained to a radiator for 24 hours to obtain the evidence the investigator wanted.

The youngest of the defendants refused to admit his guilt and was thrown into a temporary detention facility and then into a pretrial detention centre of prison No. 1 in Hrodna on November 13, 2012. The young man had to confess under pressure. On February 12, 2013, he explained at the trial that he had been beaten by jail guards just after arrival. He said he had been pressed by a police agent. The judge, however, ignored his words as well as statements of other participants of the trial. No checks were appointed over the facts.

On March 29, lawyers of two defendants filed motions to examine exhibits. The judge was shown the exhibits only of one of the defendants. There were no physical exhibits of the 19-year-old man. The judge adjourned the trial until April 15 in a hope that physical evidence would be showed later. However, they were not presented at the trial on April 15. according to the prosecuting official, the exhibits were destroyed. The lawyer of the 19-year-old man filed a motion to release his client on his own recognizance. The motion was denied, because, as the prosecuting official said, the destroyed exhibits were not a reason for changing the pretrial restrictions. The young man has been in custody for the fifth month without direct proofs of his guilt.

The next court hearing will be held on April 25. The young man will be in custody only because it is convenient to the judge, the prosecuting official and the deputy prosecutor of Hrodna's Leninski district, the investigator and the police agent responsible for drug-related crimes.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Barysau entrepreneurs threaten to go on strike

They disagree with the rising of rent at the local market.

One of the entrepreneurs has said the following:

"I have a pavilion of 27,8 square meters, I pay approximately 1 million 300 thousand roubles. They want the rent to become 2 million 700 thousand since May."

300 entrepreneurs of Barysau market came to work 1.5 hours later on Wednesday and threatened to go on strike for a day. The administration wants to raise the rent by 102%. Entrepreneurs agree to 60%, says Chairman of the public association "Perspective" Anatol Shumchanka.

In the morning on April 17 there was a meeting, attended by the director of the market. However, the head of the district consumer association was absent - he left for a business trip. Therefore, the entrepreneurs invited him to attend the next meeting in a week through the market director.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Sannikov: “Dialogue” will give Lukashenka a blank cheque for 8 years

A discussion “Prospects for Belarus: Bringing down the Last Dictatorship in Europe” was held in the UK parliament.

Andrei Sannikov, a former political prisoner, leader of European Belarus civil campaign and 2010 presidential candidate, held a meeting in the UK parliament on April 16, the Day of Belarusian Solidarity. The event was organised by the Henry Jackson Society and was conducted by John Whittingdale, a member of the House of Commons.

“After obtaining the country's independence, the starting potential of Belarus was not worse than that of other countries, which later became the EU members. In the early 1990s, Belarus laid the solid foundation for participating in international relations as a full reliable and predictable partner. Belarus greatly contributed to strengthening the international security. Serious steps to rapprochement with Europe were made, important agreements with the EU were signed and an application for joining the Council of Europe was submitted. All of this ended with Lukashenka's coming to power. Due to his policy, Belarus remains the only European country, which is not a member of the Council of Europe,” Andrei Sannikov said.

The politician said the reasons for such a long rule of Lukashenka:

“As for reasons for the longevity of his dictatorship, the fact that neither we in Belarus nor the international community realised the danger of the regime and and showed a proper and timely reaction to its crimes can be mentioned among major causes. There were many crimes: we can recall the unprecedented beating of members of the Supreme Council, suspension of implementing treaties on disarmament and nuclear safety, killing of a two-men balloon crew and so on,” the European Belarus leader said.
According to the former political prisoner, there are no doubts today about the character of the Lukashenka dictatorship. The regime requires a proper attitude.

“Europe should not forget the history of its mistakes relating to appeasement of dictators. In no case should the dictatorship be encouraged to commit new crimes. Europe has all opportunities to achieve the release of political prisoners to work out a strategy that should really influence the situation in Belarus. The dictatorial regime of Lukashenka is applying unprecedented pressure on the opposition, the independent media, journalists, human rights activists and the entire society. Lukashenka is unable to have a dialogue, let alone agree on cooperation and a dialogue inside the country – the only thing worth discussing.

Today's talks about the dialogue hide a very dangerous scenario. In real case, the matter is that Lukashenka will receive a mandate for 8 more years, because any legitimisation will allow him to receive resources to keep his power, hold another pseudo-election in 2015 further removing his opponents and civil activists,” he stated.

Europe may give much to launch changes in Belarus, Sannikov believes.

“Europe just needs to follow the principles, on which the united Europe was founded. Sanctions are needed first of all to release the political prisoners. They should be a part of the European strategy on Belarus. In the current situation, assistance to the independent media, human rights defenders and the democratic movement should be rendered. Supporting Ales Bialiatski's nomination for the Nobel Piece Prize would be significant help. In this regard, I call on members of the British Parliament to submit Bialiatski's nomination to the Nobel Committee,” the politician said.

The former presidential candidate answered questions from the audience about the situation in Belarus, possible development prospects and the role of Europe and the UK in the relations with our country.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Explosions in Boston: three dead, more than a hundred wounded

Two explosions near the finishing line of the Boston Marathon left three people dead and at least 140 injured.

The FBI has taken over co-ordination of what it described as a "potential terrorist inquiry".

Boston police say officers are working around the clock and all leave has been cancelled.

At least 17 people are critically wounded, officials say, and the injuries include several amputations.
One of the dead was an eight-year-old boy, US media said.

In a televised address, President Barack Obama vowed to bring those behind the attack to justice.

"We will find out who did this. We'll find out why they did this," he said.

"Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice."

Although he did not use the word "terrorism", a White House official later said: "Any event with multiple explosive devices - as this appears to be - is clearly an act of terror, and will be approached as an act of terror."

The first explosion came at about 14:50 local time (18:50 GMT) on the north side of Boylston Street, about two hours after the winners crossed the line.

There was initial confusion and panic. Some runners fell to the floor while police and bystanders ran to help those caught in the blast.

Then seconds later, another explosion ripped into the crowd further away from the finishing line, between 50 and 100 metres (yards) from the first blast.

TV footage showed bloodied runners and spectators being treated at the scene and the road strewn with debris. Rescuers tore down temporary fencing to reach the casualties.

Medical officials speak of at least 140 injured, with injuries including severed limbs, shrapnel wounds, cuts and bruises,

At an initial news conference, Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said authorities had received "no specific intelligence that anything was going to happen".

He urged people to stay indoors and not congregate in large groups.

At a second news conference he said the death toll now stood at three. He said that no suspects were in custody.

A search thought to be related to the inquiry was under way at a flat in a Boston suburb, Boston media reported.

Police said a search warrant was issued on Monday in the Revere district but provided no further details.

The White House and security experts are being cautious as to whether domestic terrorist groups or jihadists were behind the attacks, says the BBC's security correspondent, Gordon Correra, in Washington.

The device itself is thought to be fairly crude and there is a very clear focus on finding the evidence rather than speculating, he adds.
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said Boston would be "open" on Tuesday but that there would be "a heightened law enforcement presence".

"There will be random checks of backpacks and other parcels. We are also asking that everyone be on a state of heightened vigilance," he said.

FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers also appeared, saying that the inquiry involved city, state and federal officials, but refusing to give any details of the investigation.

Details of the victims have also not been revealed, however an eight-year-old boy is said to be among the dead. Quoting a family friend, Associated Press said the boy's mother and sister were also injured as they waited for his father to finish the race.

Officers have already begun poring over video and photographs from the marathon.

Unconfirmed reports said two other unexploded devices were found near the end of the race but were safely defused.

State police officer Roupen Bastajian had just finished the race when he heard the blasts.

"I started running toward the blast and there were people all over the floor," he said.

"We started grabbing tourniquets and started tying legs. At least 25 to 30 people have at least one leg missing, or an ankle missing, or two legs missing."

A doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital said "several amputations" had been performed there.

As a massive security operation swung into operation, the Federal Aviation Administration barred low-flying aircraft from within 3.5 miles (5.6km) of the site.

Key sites in Washington DC and New York have also seen security tightened.

Shortly after the blasts, a fire broke out at Boston's John F Kennedy Library a few miles away from the explosions.

Police said the blaze might have been caused by an incendiary device but it did not appear to be related to the explosions.

The annual Boston Marathon this year had a field of about 23,000 runners and was watched by hundreds of thousands of spectators.

It is held on Patriots Day, a Massachusetts state holiday which commemorates the first battles of the American Revolution in 1775.

British police are reviewing security plans for Sunday's London Marathon, the next major international marathon, following events in Boston.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Mikalaj Statkievich: Milinkievich’s dilemma looks fake

Mikalaj Statkievich’s spouse cited the political prisoner’s opinion on the EU’s dialogue with Lukashenka.

The other day Maryna Adamovich posted on her Facebook account:

“I was asked for commentaries, but I categorically refused… But now I am preparing Mikalaj’s articles for publishing. I found them on an old USB drive. I do not remember now if it was published, but it was written for Barysau News in June 2009. Does not it seem to you that it is urgent today too? Nothing has changed in the arguments of the parties…

I hope Mikalaj will not be against it. But there is something symbolic in that the text popped up just now, I think. The text of almost four-year remoteness:

“Commentary on Milikievich’s letter

The chief editor of Barysau News newspaper Anatol Bukas suggested me to comment a letter by a former presidential candidate Aliaksandr Milinkievich that he received. I respect Anatol Uladzimiravich too much for his professionalism, courage and adherence to his principles even if someone might not like the commentary.

Mr. Milinkievich’s letter may be divided in three parts for convenience. In the first part, devoted to the analysis of the international situation around Belarus, the author of the letter criticizes the European Union’s previous policy towards our country, when official Minsk was demanded democratization, and praises the new policy of dialogue between Europe and Belarusian authorities. In the letter’s second part the author divides Belarusian opposition into those who exclusively fights Lukashenka and those, who support a European choice for Belarus. The third part of the letter is devoted to the unity of Belarusian pro-European forces, which is supposed to find realization by the means of a Congress of pro-European forces in Belarus, which the author suggests to summon. I should speak on each of these parts.

1). The analysis of the relations of the Belarusian authorities and the European Union does not recollect previous unsuccessful attempts of the West to establish a dialogue with official Minsk. An OSCE ambassador Wieck’s dialogue attempt alone is an enough example. All these attempts failed not due to the lack of flexibility of Western politicians, but only because there was enough Russian subsidies for our inefficient economy to have its head above water. But those are not these inaccuracies that are the main drawback of the letter’s first part. The problem is that the author did not make an analysis of the situation inside the country, did not answer the main question of whether the Belarusian regime is capable of democratizing under the influence of the West. Is it capable of democratizing at all? It is exactly the answer to this question that the opposition’s strategy depends on.

2).The dilemma for the opposition, as formulated by Milinkievich, “either to Europe or against Lukashenka” looks fake with not significant proof that a dialogue with the European Union is capable of democratizing Belarus. A successful European integration is impossible without the establishment of democracy in the country. The analysis of Belarus’ political and economic system, made by the European coalition two years ago, shows that all the major components of the system (state controlled economy, the electoral system, controlled media and parliament etc.) are interconnected, interlinked one with another and support each other. Attempts to democratize even one of the components lead to the collapse of the whole system. Thus, Glasnost, introduced by Gorbachev, the refusal from the control over media, once pulled down the Soviet system. The incumbent head of Belarus perfectly remembers that and for that reason will for no benefits agree on democratization, which he perceives as a threat of losing the power. Thus, from the point of view of the analysis, made by the European coalition and disproved by no one, the dilemma for the opposition would sound like “either to Europe without Lukashenka, or with Lukashenka to Asia”.

3). The unity of European forces in Belarus is actually very important. That is why it is not clear, why representatives of the Movement for Freedom, who have joined the initiative group for holding a Congress of European Forces, initiated by the European coalition, almost immediately started blocking the work of this group. All these months the, while rejecting the democratization strategy, suggested by us; have not suggested one of their own. Representatives of the movement were the only ones out of the Congress initiative group’s subjects, who contrary to the real actions of the regime, claimed that Europe’s influence is capable of democratizing the Belarusian regime. Instead of joint work on a common strategy of European forces and preparation of a joint congress, Milinkievich is now disseminating this letter about the preparation of his own congress with a similar name.

Despite all the declarations of unity, such activities lead to the split of the European forces of Belarus, although this split between those, who are ready to fight, and those, who hope for the “leading united Europe’s politicians”, seems objective.

No one argues with Mr. Milinkievich that the participation of our country in joint projects with united Europe is favorable for Belarus. But it is just that support or lack of support on the part of the Belarusian opposition and Milinkievich to this participation only influences it insignificantly and symbolically. But if the head of the Movement for Freedom wants so much to take the functions of a symbolic lobbyist of official Minsk in its cooperation with the European Union, then how does he want to combine this function with the proclaimed desire to compete against Lukashenka in presidential elections? It is impossible to simultaneously be a lobbyist or an intermediary and an opponent to the authorities, since it causes mistrust to his capabilities to carry out a function of an authorities’ intermediary and a function of their opponent with democracy supporters. One must choose – either an intermediary, or an opponent and fighter. This is the dilemma.

Mikalaj Statkievich, coordinator of the European coalition”.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

U.S. Embassy: Sanctions against Lukashenka does not violate the Budapest Memorandum

Assertions by the government of Belarus that U.S. sanctions violate the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances are unfounded.

This is stated in a statement of the U.S. Embassy in Minsk

«Although the Memorandum is not legally binding, we take these political commitments seriously and do not believe any U.S. sanctions, whether imposed because of human rights or non-proliferation concerns, are inconsistent with our commitments to Belarus under the Memorandum or undermine them. Rather, sanctions are aimed at securing the human rights of Belarusians and combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and other illicit activities, not at gaining any advantage for the United States», stated in the document.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Milinkevich calls on EU to lift sanctions from Lukashenka

Representatives of the European Parliament were trying to convince the Belarusian opposition at a conference in Brussels that a dialogue with the government was necessary.

Organisers didn't suppose the conference, which was held on April 9 in Brussels, would attract so much attention. Read Radio Svaboda's coverage of the event below.

The increased interest was provoked by the statements published on the internet ahead of the conference – a declaration of three opposition politicians and a reply of Andrei Sannikov, a coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign, candidate for presidency in the 2010 elections and former political prisoner.

The main question that again split the opposition is whether a dialogue with the regime is needed.

The conference was titled “The Dialogue on Modernisation with Belarusian Society”, but MEPs and Belarusian civil society representatives spoke on a wider range of matters.

The room was nearly full to capacity and the Belarusian language was heard in corridors of the EP building. Besides the invited guests, the event was attended by Belarusian students from Warsaw, representatives of Belarusian emigrants, analysts and journalists.

Polish MEP and Chairman of the EP Delegation for relations with Belarus Filip Koczmarek, the organiser of the conference, welcomed the participants. He proposed to analyse the results and talk about the future of the European Dialogue on Modernisation with Belarusian society, the project launched last March.

Under Secretary of State at the Polish MFA, Jerzy Pomianowski noted the authorities did not demonstrate intentions to the dialogue on modernisation, but some significant changes had happened in Belarusian society. According to Pomianowski, the authorities do not understand that “modernisation does not mean painting the fence”.

Vice President of the European Parliament Jacek Protasiewicz noted the dialogue was necessary and recalled the experience of the Polish Solidarity movement. According to him, cooperation with the elite on a local level was necessary. These contacts and experience will be useful in the period of transformations that will began sooner or later, he says.

Elmar Brok, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the EP, stressed that the problem of effectiveness of the Dialogue on Modernisation was not in increasing financial aid, but in how the money is used. He was sceptical about the Eastern Partnership summit scheduled for autumn in Vilnius.
Aliaksandr Milinkevich, the leader of the Movement For Freedom, supported the dialogue between the EU and the regime, because, as he thinks, it “will distract Belarus from Russia”. The politician said the liberalisation of 2009-2010 was successful and that “the Russian secret services were involved” in the provocations during the post-election protests on December 19, 2010. Milinkevich called on the EU to lift sanctions.

Gunnar Wiegand, the Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE, European External Action Service, said Stefan Fule and Uladzimir Makei agreed at a meeting in Tbilisi that Belarus would join the Dialogue on Modernisation. He gave to understand that the dialogue with the government would be held in parallel with the dialogue with civil society.

Aliaksandr Autushka-Sikorski, a coordinator of the Dialogue on Modernisation's Working Group on Economic, Social and Sector Policy Issues, presented a series of slides with analysis and assessment of the project's effectiveness. According to him, 95% of Belarusians didn't hear about the Dialogue. He said the so called “second road” of the Dialogue with participation of the Belarusian government would be opened.

Belarusian participants split over the possible dialogue with the authorities. Human rights activist Valiantin Stefanovich remarked that one should not hope for many steps by the authorities. “If there is modernisation, it will be an authoritarian modernisation, without democratisation of society,” he said.

Anatol Liabedzka criticised the idea of the dialogue with the government without participation of civil society:

“We still have three conditions: the release and rehabilitation of political prisoners, holding free and transparent elections and a dialogue on modernisation. Only this order is possible, no other way.”

One cannot say who had stronger arguments. No decisions or resolutions were adopted at the conference. By all appearances, the Dialogue on Modernisation will be continued.

Time will show whether an attempt to involve the Belarusian government in the process will be successful.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Andrei Sannikov: Dictatorship cannot be legitimized

The leader of the European Belarus proposed his plan of liberation of the political prisoners.

On April 8, Aliaksandar Milinkevich, Uladzimir Niakliaeu and Aliaksiei Yanukievich submitted an appeal to the European Union. In this regard, leader of the civil campaign European Belarus, presidential candidate during the 2010 elections and former political prisoner Andrei Sannikov made a public statement:

“The leaders of the three organizations – the Belarusian People’s Front, Tell the Truth! and For Freedom – called their appeal “More Europe for Belarus”, but as a matter of fact it should be read as “We Want Legitimized Dictatorship”. This is the purpose behind all these wordings. It is obvious that Europe is trying to revive the dialog with the dictator, a scenario that has been tried and failed so many times. Some European politicians and officials of the European Union are “very tired” of defending their own principles of freedom, democracy and human rights in Belarus. The Belarusian political prisoners are nothing more than an annoying barrier on the way to the revival of previous relationship. This relationship was centered around the verbal critique of human rights violations and on growth of Belarusian business under the dictatorship’s control. It all unavoidably led to strengthening of the dictatorship and intensification of repressions.”

Andrei Sannikov is convinced that after the elections of 2010, the Belarusian dictatorship crossed a new line and openly destroyed the entire opposition and civil society.

”If Europe changes the way it treats Lukashenka, the dictatorship will achieve its goal in no time. O course, we should thank the European Union for keeping its firm position in 2011 and the early 2012. It helped save the lives of those who were thrown behind the bars for their ideas. Even harsh words, not to mention the individual sanctions, have helped us survive in prisons and reformatories. However, we haven’t heard such words for a while, neither from the European Union, nor from countries. On the contrary, the number of envoys who try to convince us that soon all political prisoners will be released is growing. But nothing happens. Or, to be more precise, what is happening is a tremendous pressure on our friends, forced pardon appeals, psychological and physical destruction. The powers toy with the lists of political prisoners, and Belarusian human rights organizations have recently joined these games. It seems that the dictator is succeeding in human trafficking,” the leader of the European Belarus said.

The political prisoners are still behind the bars, while the contacts with the dictatorship are being activated, Sannikov emphasized.

“The statement of the three politicians has been written in accordance with every rule of this type of papers: first define a precise purpose, then do whatever you want. You can make demands, argue with the goal itself, discuss the nation’s interests, democracy’s high principles, but the only thing left is the message that will acquit the abandoned positions. The statement’s purpose is precise: a full-scale dialog and cooperation with the dictatorship. And the carrot here is the topics already popular in Europe: visas, students’ education, near-border travel and so on and so forth,” the politician said.

The leader of the European Belarus pointed out that the time when the appeal was submitted is not occasional:

“A strategic session on Belarus will be held tomorrow in Brussels. Some officials of the European Union have already prepared the decision to resume the dialog with the dictator. A “voice of the society” from Belarus was needed, and we have got one here: the appeal of the three politicians to resume a “full-scale dialog” with the dictator. Let me say at once, that neither the European Belarus, nor our allies have been invited to this meeting, and everything has been done to keep us away from it.”

Since the European Belarus will not be present during the discussion of the strategic decisions, Andrei Sannikov made a “counter-proposal” to the European Union:

“You could demand that all 13 political prisoners are immediately released, and until they are released, you could cease all contacts with the dictatorship, stop the trade of petroleum products and import of potassium fertilizers, freeze bank accounts, reject the dictatorship’s envoys and don’t send yours. Trust me, it’ll work if you really want to help free the political prisoners.”

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Kommersant: Belarus will see default, change of government … and president

Belarusian authorities have found a “relatively fair” way of depriving the population of money.

Right after the devaluation of the national currency in 2011 the National Bank dramatically raised the prime interest rate, and the Belarusians started bringing money to banks, and some sold apartments for a “guaranteed” revenue.

The events in Cyprus were the main news in Belarus for several days. The interest to Cyprus only appeared with local citizens because the country had been experiencing a “deposit fever” for one and a half years already: banks generously provided depositors with unprecedented interest rates and the zombie-population actively took out their foreign currency reserves, converted them into Belarusian roubles and put on national currency deposits. It is all very much similar to the financial pyramid MMM or simple gambling: everyone in Belarus knows that he/she must withdraw the money from of the accounts before the state devaluate the currency another time or freeze the possibility to withdraw deposits.

The deposit interest rates by the end of last year became the main topic for kitchen, office and street conversations; some even sold their apartments: the interest rate incomes were incommensurably higher than the rent ones.

According to government experts’ assessments in 2011 the Belarusians saved in cash around $12-14 billion. In February 2012 the National Bank reported that in the first month of the year the population sold $203.5 million more foreign currency than bought. And the monthly cash turnover dropped in the country compared to January 2011 by 8.4%. At the same time the amounts of deposits in roubles rose by 1 trillion 233 billion roubles ($142 million).

“The population has started actively taking cash to time deposits in roubles instead of stores and investing in foreign currency, - Aliaksandr Mukha from the research group BusinessForecast.by is surprised. – Moreover, the population even sells foreign currency”.

De-dollarization continues. In February 2013 the amount of deposits in roubles increased by 13.4% and by 1 March accounted for 27.9 trillion roubles ($3.26 billion). And natural persons’ foreign currency deposits have only grown by 0.1% up to $6.43 billion.

In 2012 the national currency deposits of the population and legal persons in Belarus’ banking system have grown by 58% and on 1 January 2013 accounted for 54.3 trillion roubles. At the same time the population’s deposits in roubles have increased by 75%.

The deposits of population in Priorbank (largest private bank in the country, part of the Raiffeisen AG group) in Belarusian roubles increased by 2.3 times in 2012 and by 26% in foreign currency. Now they account for 610 billion roubles and €62 million.

The head of the analytical center Strategy Leanid Zaika says that in the country it is possible today to earn up to 5% of a deposit’s amount monthly. “Even professors are now playing these games”, although, according to him, “not a single serious analyst will try to” predict the situation in the deposits market.

An employee of the Belarusian Economic Research and Education Center Dzmitry Kruk considers this a “roulette game”, which popped up because of “the imperfection of the monetary policy and at the background of the problem heritage of the 2011 foreign currency crisis”.

The Belarusians lost around $1 billion in 2011 due to the devaluation of rouble. If the situation repeats the losses will be many times higher.

The current situation in Belarus reminds the situation in Russia in 1998. Exactly the same combination of macroeconomic factor can be observed: budget deficiency, weak current account of the balance of payments, high inflation, fixed exchange rate, beyond-the-clouds interest rates.

Fifteen years ago in Russia this ended with a state debt default, banks bankruptcy, huge devaluation of the national currency, change of the government and later the president. Something similar, apparently, will happen in Belarus.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Sadists from Piershamajski PD beat detained with boots and buttstocks

Cruelty in the behavior of policemen becomes a usual thing in modern Belarus.

After a number of facts of beatings and humiliations of the citizens of our coutnry, the story of moden sadism returned back to the capital. Following the Leninski police department the tendency of beatings continued in the PD of Piershamajski district, the web-site of a human rights organization Platforma reports.

Another tragedy took place on 30 March, when a tipsy birthday boy Viachaslau, unexpectedly even for himself decided to steal an ordinary bottle of vodka from Radzivilauski store in Minsk’s Uruhccha sub-district. What exactly made the fairly wealthy businessman for such a deed remains a mystery. Having celebrated his birthday with friends, Viachaslau offered to go to a shop nearby.

At the place he found out that he left money at home and decided not to ask it from his friend, who remained outside talking to a girl. At this point the tipsy guy had a thought to simply steal a bottle of vodka. He then did not even suspect that in his native country people got beaten for even far less crimes.

Obviously, the deed of the birthday boy did not remain unnoticed by the workers of the store, who detained the thief and called police. Police came in minutes since the police station was nearby. It detained Viachaslau who was arguing with the administrator.

What happened next is terrifying. In several minutes Viachaslau and his friend Pavel, who entered the store to find out what was going on, ended up handcuffed in the store’s utility room.

Then the policemen started severely beating the detained.

The beating went on until the policemen themselves noticed that something was not right with Pavel’s health condition, whose face bled.

At a hospital, where Pavel was taken from the store by the ambulance he was diagnosed with a brain concussion and broken forehead.

“They ordered me to kneel down, - Pavel recollects. – I did not understand the question and asked again what I was supposed to do. A sergeant screamed at me to kneel down. I asked why, but instead of an answer I first received a hit on the back, and when I fell on my knees, they beat me on the face with a boot”.

And Viachaslau ended up with almost a light fear. Multiple head traumas from hits with buttstocks, a lip broken in three places, scars from a machine gun’s belt, with which it was being chocked and a boot mark on the chest may all be considered almost luck in our country. If one considers, then he was exposed of petty larceny, then the use of weapon can be justified.

Even in 6 days the races of the beatings can be seen on Viachaslau’s body and face.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Builders were on strike in Vicebsk

Workers of Vicebsk’s house-building factory refused to start working because of a salary delay.

A mobile phone filmed video appeared on the social network vkontakte, which recorded an argument between the builders and the management. It turned out that the reason for the discontent of the workers was a salary delay like in June 2012 at the panel construction house building factory, People’s News of Vicebsk report.

The thing is that on 1 April the workers of the house-building factory could not receive the salary for February, which had been promised to them. Only after the disturbances money was transferred to the accounts of the workers on 2 April at approximately 12.50, however only 50% of the amount due for February. They promise to pay the second half during a week.
The workers of Vicebsk’s house-building factory are not only discontented with the untimely salary payment, but also its amount – the majority receives from 2 to 3 million roubles. A representative of the ministry visited the panel construction house building factory, who promised to raise the salary in couple months, but the workers do not believe these promises since, according to them, the factory is in a disastrous financial condition.

The workers also say that standing idles happen on a regular basis because of the absence of petrol, diesel fuel, gas or building materials, and this negatively influences the salaries. There are even problems with tools and overalls.

We would remind that salary delays are not rare at Belarusian enterprises and state institutions. Thus, the workers of educational institutions have not been paid the salaries for several months already.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau

Autukhovich case’s investigator escaped to USA

The investigator, who was dealing with Mikalaj Autukhovich’s first case moved to the USA as a permanent residence.

The senior investigator of the Department of Financial Investigations for Hrodna region Mikalaj Alikhver has posted pictures from the USA on the social network Classmates.

According to what a director Volha Mikalajchyk posted on her Facebook account, she received the information of the investigator’s moving for a permanent residence to the USA from the friends of politically imprisoned Autukhovich:

“The very same Alikhver appeared on the Classmates – the senior investigator of the Department of Financial Investigations of the State Control Committee for Hrodna, who dealt with the case of Mikalaj Autukhovich and Yury Lavonau in 2003-2005 before the trial. If you remember, the guys were then sentenced for a so-called economic crime on a fabricated case and served the punishment in a high security penal colony. Everyone was surprised, when the investigator Alikhver, who was in good repute with the State Control Committee’s administration, quit police after the trial and disappeared. People told that he supposedly moved to the USA. It seemed like he won a Green Card.
Having been released, Mikalaj Autukhovich attended a reception with the USA’s ambassador Karen Stuart. He asked her if it was possible to specify whether it was true. She promised to help. But alas…

And today the Classmates suggested me to add him as a friend. I recognized a familiar face and read: Mikalaj Alikhver, 35 years, Atlanta, USA.

But what stroke me the most, was his status above the picture – “I am happy!”. He is hugging his wife in the picture. I look and see that, actually, they are both shining with happiness. What does not happen in life! Autukhovich rots in prison for his second term, and this guy is happy! The highest degree of cynicism.

If Alikhver is happy, it means that pings of remorse do not disturb him. If he is not afraid of anything posting his picture on a social network, then he would be able to give an interview to our journalists. Isn’t it true? And among all people he has something to tell. Even more so that we know how to find him now”.

We would remind that Mikalaj Autukhovich was sentenced to 5 years in high security prison for revealing corruption among the representatives of the local authorities in Vaukavysk.

Commentator Aliaksandr Krasnapeutsau