Post-Referendum Events -- November and December, 1996
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November, 1996
- The OSCE refused to send observers to the poll, and the Council
of Europe said the presidential draft of the constitution does not
comply with European standards. A small delegation from the European
Parliament arrived to monitor the overnight counting of the vote, but
Reuters reported they were unlikely to receive accreditation.
OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 25, 1996; Ustina Markus
- Former head of the Central Electoral Commission Viktar Hanchar
said the results were forged, and independent observers claimed
irregularities in voting procedures. OMRI Daily Digest,
Nov. 26, 1996; Ustina Markus
- A number of western countries and organizations have voiced
concern over the results of the referendum, AFP reported on 25
November. The EU and the OSCE insisted that the Constitutional
Court's decision on the consultative, non-binding nature of the
referendum must be respected. A U.S. State Department spokesman
emphasized the lack of open debate before the referendum, which, he
said, deprived it of legitimacy. He added that the plebiscite was
"neither free, nor fair". Russia, however, said the result of the
referendum was "normal" and concluded that its bid to diffuse the
political crisis in Belarus had been successful. Meanwhile, Belarus
has turned its last 18 nuclear warheads over to Russia.
OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 26, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov
- [The pre-referendum, democratically elected parliament] strongly
condemned the referendum results, which, they stressed, are not due
to come into force for 10 days. In a statement claiming the results
are invalid, they pointed out four procedural violations: the
inability to establish how many ballot papers were issued, because
the president's administration had printed them; early voting, which
began before the publication of the final drafts of the constitution;
funding for the referendum from unknown sources rather than the
Central Electoral Commission; and state control over the media,
allowing a propaganda campaign in favor of Lukashenka's referendum to
begin several months earlier. OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 27,
1996; Ustina Markus
December, 1996
- No diplomats from European embassies accepted Alyaksandr
Lukashenka's invitation to attend the ceremony where Lukashenka
signed a new constitution on 28 November, international agencies
reported. OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 2, 1996; Ustina
Markus
- On 28 November, police only allowed "old" parliamentary deputies
into the parliament to pick up their personal belongings. The rump
old legislature said its government phone lines had been cut, and the
official excuse for their barring was that their rooms needed
"redecoration." The same day, the new House of Representatives opened
its first extraordinary session and dissolved the old legislature.
Anatol Malfeyeu was elected speaker of the new lower house of the
legislature, and Uladzimir Konoplyau was elected deputy speaker. On
29 November, Lukashenka signed a bill terminating the authority of
the old parliament. OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 2, 1996;
Ustina Markus
- President Jorge Sampaio of Portugal refused to meet with
President Alyaksandr Lukashenka before the opening of the OSCE summit
in Lisbon, AFP reported on 1 December. The refusal was officially
attributed to a lack of time in the Portuguese president's schedule;
however, observers noted that the position of the president was in
line with that of the European Union and most western countries,
which criticized the way in which the recent referendum in Belarus
was held. OSCE Chairman Flavio Cotti sought to hold a special meeting
on the situation in Belarus, but was blocked by Russia. Russia,
meanwhile, recognized the referendum as constitutional, noting that
stability in Belarus is a critical precondition for further
integration of the two countries. OMRI Daily Digest, Dec.
2, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov
- Alyaksandr Lukashenka was subjected to harsh criticism at the
opening of the OSCE summit in Lisbon, RFE/RL reported on 2 December.
The more than 50-nation summit said the 24 November referendum was
neither free nor fair. In response, Lukashenka defended the way the
referendum was handled, arguing that it was held in full compliance
with the constitution and legislation of the country. He denied that
there is any political crisis or division in Belarus society, and
warned other countries against interference in the internal affairs
of his country. OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 3, 1996; Sergei
Solodovnikov
- The Vienna-based Helsinki Federation for Human Rights sent a
letter to OSCE Chairman Flavio Cotti urging the OSCE to suspend
Belarus of its membership in the organization. OMRI Daily
Digest, Dec. 3, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov
- Three justices from the Constitutional Court have resigned to
protest President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's new constitution,
international agencies reported on 3 December. One of the justices,
Mikhail Pastukhau, said the existence of a Constitutional Court was
meaningless under the new basic law, which allows the president to
appoint the majority of the court's members, including the chief
justice. Under the old constitution, Lukashenka repeatedly ignored
the court's rulings, including its decision that the 24 November
referendum be non-binding. AFP reported there may be some
complications with the resignations since they must be approved by
the parliament. The three justices, however, sent them to Syamyon
Sharetsky, speaker of the old parliament, which no longer exists.
Pastukhau said a two-thirds majority (133 votes) was needed to
dissolve the old legislature. He added that since the new lower house
passed the law with a simple majority of 103 votes, the legislation
has no legal force. OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 4, 1996;
Ustina Markus
- Alyaksandr Lukashenka has had to withstand further criticism from
member countries attending the OSCE summit in Lisbon, AFP reported on
3 December. OSCE Chairman Flavio Cotti told Lukashenka that the 24
November referendum was illegal and should be declared null and void.
The OSCE leadership urged the Belarusian government to show restraint
toward and start up a dialogue with the opposition. It also pressed
for freedom of the media in Belarus as well as full respect for
internationally accepted democratic and constitutional principles and
practices. Meanwhile, RFE/RL reported on 3 December that the
constitutional crisis in Belarus is not mentioned in the summit's
final declaration, since Belarus, Russia, and some other countries
imposed a veto. OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 4, 1996; Sergei
Solodovnikov
- On 5 December, Belarusian radio reported Lukashenka signed a
decree ruling out further by-elections to parliament and a decree on
elections to the new upper house of parliament, Belapan reported on 8
December. Regional and Mensk city deputies are to be elected by 26
December. OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 9, 1996; Ustina
Markus
- The Belarusian opposition held its first protest rally in the
capital since the 24 November referendum on 8 December, ITAR-TASS
reported. Some 3,000 protesters marched downtown carrying Belarus's
traditional flags and banners "Shame on Russia" and "Hands Off
Belarus." They proceeded to the Russian Embassy to express their
discontent with Russia's position of passive observer of President
Lukashenka's quest for unlimited power. The demonstrators' main
demand was Lukashenka's immediate resignation. Speaking at the rally
together with other former parliament deputies, former Chairman
Syamyon Sharetsky called the recent plebiscite "an act of violence
against people." The protesters called on the democratic forces to
unite in their opposition to Lukashenka. Between 10 and 20
protesters were reportedly detained for disturbing public order.
OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 9, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov
- One of the main organizers of the unauthorized rally on 8
December in Mensk, Social Democrat leader Nikalai Statkevich, was
arrested with 10 people, NTV reported on 9 December. The detainees
are still being kept at a police station and it is not clear when
they may be released, as the court session to consider their case has
been postponed for a few days. It is suspected that Statkevich's
arrest was politically motivated, since, under Belarusian law, the
maximum punishment for disturbing public order in the city is a fine.
Meanwhile, protests against the recent referendum's results are to
continue today in the Belarusian capital. OMRI Daily
Digest, Dec. 10, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov
- The Central Electoral Commission decided not to confirm new
deputies elected during the 24 November parliamentary by-elections,
Belarusian television reported on 5 December. The decision was made
in
accordance with the new constitution which provides for a smaller
parliament. Four new deputies had been elected, and more could have
been expected to win seats in runoff elections. OMRI
Daily Digest, Dec. 10, 1996; Ustina Markus
- About 500 students demonstrated in Mensk on 10 December to mark
the
International Human Rights Day, international agencies reported. The
demonstrators marched down the central avenue waving UN and EU flags,
handing out leaflets containing the UN Charter and other human rights
documents. They protested the government's numerous human rights
violations, and demanded the release of President Alyaksandr
Lukashenka's opponents arrested at recent demonstrations. The rally
was
peaceful, but police arrested several students as the demonstrators
were dispersing. OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 11, 1996; Sergei
Solodovnikov
- At least 40 Supreme Soviet deputies, who refused to recognize the
new Belarusian parliament, assembled in the Mensk-based House of
Writers, Belapan reported. They also adopted a statement reaffirming
their loyalty to the 1994 Constitution, non-recognition of the
results
of the 24 November referendum, and declaring the Supreme Soviet the
only legislature in Belarus. OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 11,
1996; Sergei Solodovnikov
- The European Parliament (EP) condemned Belarusian President
Alyaksandr Lukashenka as authoritarian and autocratic on 12 December,
and urged the European Union to suspend financial aid to Belarus
until
"the Belarusian authorities have clearly indicated their intention to
fully respect democratic and human rights," AFP reported. The
European
deputies also warned that they will not ratify the EU-Belarus
partnership accord. The resolution issued by the parliament condemned
the introduction of a new lower house of parliament that is
completely
under the president's control. It also observed that it recognizes
only
the previous democratically-elected parliament as the sole
representative body in Belarus. The EP insisted on suspension of all
aid programs except the two pro-democracy and press freedom
initiatives. OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 13,
1996; Sergei Solodovnikov
- Prosecutor General Vasyl Kapitan resigned on 12 December citing
health reasons, international agencies reported. President Alyaksandr
Lukashenka accepted his resignation and appointed Aleh Bozhelko as
his
replacement. Reuters reported that the real reason for Kapitan's
replacement was not his health, but his disloyalty to the president.
OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 13, 1996; Ustina Markus
- The EU on 14 December adopted a statement expressing serious
concerns over developments in Belarus, Reuters reported. The EU urged
Lukashenka to restore respect for democratic and constitutional
principles in his country and accept the EU's proposal to send a
fact-finding mission to Belarus. OMRI Daily Digest, Dec.
16,
1996; Sergei Solodovnikov
- The Belarusian Foreign Ministry on 12 December instructed all
border crossing points in the country not to allow deputies from the
old parliament who have not joined the new one to cross the border on
diplomatic passports, Belapan reported. Two days later, border guards
refused to allow the speaker of the old parliament, Syamyon
Sharetsky,
to cross the border into Poland at Hrodna and confiscated his
passport,
saying that it is no longer valid, international agencies reported.
OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 16, 1996; Ustina Markus
- Reuters reported that the leader of the Social Democratic
Hramada,
Mykola Statkevich, has been sentenced to 15 days in prison for his
part
in organizing an unauthorized rally in Mensk on 8 December. A dozen
other rally participants also received fines or sentences. Statkevich
announced that he will stage a hunger strike in protest.
OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 16, 1996; Ustina Markus
- Belarusian Ambassador to the UN Alyaksandr Sychou tried to
dismiss
allegations that Belarus is not abiding by the principles of
democracy.
OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 20, 1996; Sergei
Solodovnikov
- The Political Committee of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary
Assembly decided to recommend that the assembly suspend Belarus's
membership as an observer in the council, Russian TV reported
on 19 December. OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 20, 1996; Sergei
Solodovnikov
- Radio Miensk English
language broadcasts to North America discontinued. December, 1996
- The opposition parliament has set up a shadow cabinet and
appointed its deputy speaker, Henadz Karpenka, as prime minister, NTV reported on 28 December. It also appealed to the UN, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe to support democratic forces in Belarus. The same day, Radio Rossii reported that President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has denied planning to hold a referendum on unification with Russia and suggesting that he be appointed leader of a unified state. He said the idea was "absurd, legalistic nonsense." OMRI Daily Digest, Dec. 30, 1996; Ustina Markus
- The Referendum of
November, 1996 web page
- Summary of Pre-Referendum Events web page
- Summary of Post-Referendum Events, January and February, 1997
web page
- Summary of Post-Referendum Events, March and April, 1997
web page
- Summary of Post-Referendum Events, May and June, 1997
web page
- Summary of Post-Referendum Events, July and August, 1997
web page
- Summary of Post-Referendum Events, September, 1997, to present
web page
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