Post-Referendum Events -- March and April, 1997

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• The Referendum of November, 1996   web page

• Summary of   Pre-Referendum Events   web page

• Summary of   Post-Referendum Events, through December, 1996   web page

• Summary of   Post-Referendum Events, January and February, 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

March, 1997

• A gathering to mark the 930th anniversary of the founding of Mensk turned into a demonstration against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Reuters reported on 2 March. The rally took place one day after the announcement that Russia and Belarus had agreed in principle to hold simultaneous referendums on integration (see related story in Russian section). Between 3,000 and 5,000 people participated in the demonstration and marched to the parliament building. No serious clashes were reported and the protesters disbanded after reaching the parliament.   OMRI Daily Digest, 3 March 1997; Ustina Markus

• Police arrested 16 people following the 2 March demonstration (see the OMRI Daily Digest, 3 March 1997), AFP and Belapan reported on 3 March. Some 5,000 people rallied in Mensk to celebrate the 930th anniversary of Belarus's capital, but the gathering soon turned into a protest against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's pro-Russian policies. The detainees are being held on public-disorder charges and face up to two weeks imprisonment.   OMRI Daily Digest, 4 March 1997; Ustina Markus

• Henry Costo, head of the EU mission to Belarus, held a closed-door meeting with Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka on 3 March to discuss the EU foreign ministers resolutions concerning the joint EU, OSCE, and Council of Europe report on the political situation in Belarus, international agencies reported. Costo said that Lukashenka asked him to refrain from publishing the report, which allegedly contains negative evaluations of the human rights and press freedom situations and the extent of democratization in Belarus. Costo, however, suggested that the report will be published in Belarus in the near future. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has reconfirmed its commitment to reduce official political and economic contacts with Belarus to a minimum, Belapan reported. The U.S. will suspend all of its aid programs except those that support free media and democratic institutions.   OMRI Daily Digest, 4 March 1997; Sergei Solodovnikov

• The new Constitutional Court, appointed after the November constitutional referendum, was sworn in on 4 March, Belarusian radio and NTV reported. The court is made up of 11 justices, six of whom were president's appointees, including Chief Justice Ryhor Vasilevich. Four of the justices had served on the previous Constitutional Court. President Alyaksandr Lukashenka presided over the ceremony, and gave each justice a copy of the new constitution with his autograph. A number of journalists were not allowed into the ceremony.   OMRI Daily Digest, 5 March 1997; Ustina Markus

• Alyaksandr Lukashenka issued a decree on 5 March banning all demonstrations directed against the ever-controversial new constitution, ITAR-TASS reported. The decree was meant to put an end to the "orgy of street democracy" in Mensk, a reference to persistent demonstrations by his critics. The decree prohibits demonstrators from using unregistered flags or symbols at rallies, and defines the distance demonstrators must keep from public buildings and transport facilities. The opposition has been predicting that a new wave of demonstrations would begin this spring, and the decree appears to be a preemptive measure against such rallies. It also proclaims 2 April, the day of the signing of the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation with Russia, a national holiday.   OMRI Daily Digest, 6 March 1997; Ustina Markus

• The Belarusian Foreign Ministry is drawing up an official response to the U.S. State Department report criticizing human rights in Belarus, Belapan reported on 6 March. Foreign Minister Ivan Antanovich said the Belarusian leadership does not agree with the conclusions of the report, noting there are a number of inaccuracies and misunderstandings. But he added that Mensk accepts some of the criticisms. On 8 March, AFP quoted Italian deputy Clemente Mastella as denying that an Italian parliamentary delegation's recent visit to Mensk meant Italy recognized the new Belarusian parliament. He said the visit was strictly a "practical trip" to work out agreements that would allow Italians to adopt Belarusian children. He noted that Belarusian speaker Anatol Malofeyev's interpretation of the visit as a sign of official recognition was erroneous. So far, only Russia and China have recognized the legitimacy of the post-referendum Belarusian parliament.   OMRI Daily Digest, 10 March 1997; Ustina Markus

• Despite the lack of progress toward Russian-Belarusian integration, 5,000 people rallied in the Belarusian capital to protest that goal, international agencies reported on 10 March. Their protest was timed to coincide with the arrival of the Russian delegation. Authorities gave permission only to a token 40 people to picket on the square outside the parliament. Security forces called on demonstrators to disband; when this did not happen, they clashed with the protesters. An unspecified number of demonstrators were arrested and beaten by the police.   OMRI Daily Digest, 11 March 1997; Ustina Markus

• Some 100 people, mostly youths, who took part in a Mensk demonstration against integration with Russia, have been detained by Belarusian security forces, Reuters reported on 11 March. They face fines and up to two weeks in prison. Despite Lukashenka's restrictions on demonstrations, the democratic and nationalist opposition is planning additional rallies for the spring. Vyacheslau Siuchyk, a leader of the Belarusian Popular Front, said a rally will be held on 15 March, the anniversary of the adoption of the 1994 constitution.   OMRI Daily Digest, 12 March 1997; Ustina Markus

• The North Atlantic Assembly (NAA), the interparliamentary organization of NATO members, has said it is freezing all ties with Belarus, RFE/RL reported on 13 March. NAA President and U.S. Senator Bill Roth said the freeze will last until a formal decision is made on Belarus's NAA membership status in April. Belarus is an associate member of the NAA. He said the decision was taken because President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's policies have undermined the rule of law and the democratic legitimacy of the country's legislature.   OMRI Daily Digest, 14 March 1997; Ustina Markus

April, 1997

• FOREIGN JOURNALISTS DEMONSTRATE IN MINSK. Belarusian Foreign Minister Ivan Antonovich today advised correspondents not to attend unsanctioned rallies. Otherwise, he said, Belarusian authorities could not guarantee their safety. He said the new rules could outlaw Belarusian citizens from working as correspondents for foreign news agencies. His comments come after several dozen foreign journalists demonstrated yesterday outside the Foreign Ministry in Mensk calling for the government to honor press freedom. ITAR-TASS says that the demonstration followed reports that police had beaten and detained journalists covering an anti-government rally yesterday in Mensk. More than 100 protesters were beaten by police in what was called the worst violence in the past six months.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 4, Part II, 4 April 1997

• INTERNATIONAL CONCERN OVER SITUATION IN BELARUS. The EU says it plans to urge all 15 EU ambassadors in Mensk to meet with Belarusian Foreign Minister Ivan Antonovich to express concern about what the EU calls the deteriorating situation there, RFE/RL's West European correspondent reported. Meanwhile, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says he achieved more than he had hoped for in his 2 April meeting with Russian President Yeltsin in which the union agreement was signed.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 4, Part II, 4 April 1997

• BELARUS TO RETAIN SEPARATE STATEHOOD. Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka told a press conference yesterday that Belarus's new alliance with Russia does not mean a loss of statehood for either country. According to Lukashenka, unification will "take place in line with the EU model, where each of the members retains its sovereignty." Lukashenka was speaking after meeting in Mensk with Juan Antonio Samaranch, the president of the International Olympic Committee. Interfax quotes Lukashenka as saying that Belarusian athletes will continue to compete at the Olympic Games and other international competitions under the Belarusian state flag.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 5, Part II, 7 April 1997

• BELARUS UNDER FIRE FROM INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. The EU has called the human rights situation in Belarus "inadmissible." In a memorandum sent to Belarusian Foreign Minister Ivan Antonovich on 4 April, the organization criticized Belarus for its failure to uphold press freedom and the right of citizens to demonstrate freely. Also on 4 April, the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe sent a letter to President Lukashenka condemning what it says are blatant violations of human rights in Belarus, RFE/RL's Washington correspondent reported. Meanwhile, Christopher Willoughby, the World Bank's representative in Mensk, has criticized Belarus for having one of the least liberalized economies in the region.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 5, Part II, 7 April 1997

• RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER REFUSES TO COMMENT ON SITUATION IN BELARUS. Yevgenii Primakov says it is not for him to criticize internal developments in Belarus. Primakov was speaking at a press conference in Mensk yesterday following a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart, Ivan Antonovich. Primakov sidestepped questions about his views on the internal situation in Belarus, arguing that the Russian Foreign Ministry should not meddle in the affairs of another country. Primakov said the form of the Russian-Belarusian union depends on the will of the people and will be decided in the future, not immediately. Primakov is scheduled to address a conference in Mensk today on creating a nuclear-free zone in Eastern Europe. He then flies to Paris for talks with French officials on NATO's planned expansion.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 6, Part II, 8 April 1997

• LUKASHENKA ON JOINT RUSSIAN-BELARUSIAN CONSTITUTION. Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says that Belarus and Russia are "in absolute agreement" on a draft constitution for their planned union, Interfax reported yesterday. Lukashenka was speaking after meeting with Primakov. The two leaders also decided to publish the draft in the Russian and Belarusian press tomorrow. Primakov told Lukashenka that he is a "convinced advocate" of the two countries' unification and that he hopes the two nations will "come even closer together" during public discussion of the draft constitution.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 6, Part II, 8 April 1997

• RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN MINSK. Following his meeting in Mensk yesterday with Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Yevgenii Primakov told Interfax that the Belarusian-Russian union involves only "deeper integration between two sovereign states." But he added that the extent of the union will be determined by the peoples of the two states in the future rather than now. The draft of the union charter was published today in the official Russian and Belarusian press for public discussion. Lukashenka told reporters that opponents of integration are making a mistake by insisting on a discussion of the document. He said "the charter only specifies but does not develop the idea of Russian-Belarusian union." While in Mensk, Primakov told an international conference on the creation of a nuclear-free zone in Central and Eastern Europe that one of Russia and Belarus's main tasks is "minimizing the impact of NATO's eastward enlargement."   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol 1, No. 7, Part II, 9 April 1997

• U.S. CHARITY SUSPENDS OPERATIONS IN BELARUS. The U.S. Embassy in Mensk says the U.S.-based charity CitiHope is suspending its humanitarian aid activities in Belarus because the authorities have seized nearly $350,000 from the bank account of its partner, Nadezhda Express, and is refusing to return it, Belapan reported. The embassy says the seizure is a clear violation of a U.S.-Belarusian assistance agreement. CitiHope says it has delivered millions of dollars worth of food and medicaments to needy Belarusians and regrets the government's action. Belapan reports that if the government returns the money, CitiHope will consider restarting its program.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol 1, No. 7, Part II, 9 April 1997

• BELARUSIAN PRESIDENT SAYS RUSSIAN TV STAGED "SAVAGERY" AT UNAUTHORIZED RALLY. Alyaksandr Lukashenka has accused the opposition Belarusian Popular Front of staging unauthorized marches in Mensk to enable opposition and Russian media to report negatively on Belarus. Speaking at a rally in Kobrin in the south of the country yesterday, he said, "We do not need lessons in democracy. Marches are allowed where they are authorized." He claimed that rally participants are being recruited by the opposition. Later, Lukashenka told collective farm officials in western Belarus that Russian TV staged clashes between protesters and riot police. Referring to the suppression of an unauthorized rally last week, he told the farmers that the "savagery" they saw on Russian TV channels "never happened." The opposition says some 300 were injured at the rally and another 300 detained.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 8, Part II, 10 April 1997

• ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION IN MINSK. Some 10,000 workers held an authorized rally near the tractor stadium in Mensk yesterday to protest what they say is government indifference toward their demands for higher wages, new jobs, and the stable functioning of factories, Belapan reports. The Association of Independent Industrial Trade Unions organized the rally. Calls for militia officers' wages to be given to workers instead and for police to stop beating people in the streets were greeted with a storm of applause. Participants pledged to continue their protests until the government and president meet their demands.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 8, Part II, 10 April 1997

• EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT WARNS BELARUS. The Strasbourg-based European Parliament has warned it will block a planned trade and aid agreement between the EU and Belarus unless Mensk undertakes genuine political and economic reform. The European Parliament yesterday complained that Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has adopted an increasingly "dictatorial style of government," which, it said raises serious questions about future EU relations with Belarus. In particular, the parliament accused Lukashenka of total disregard for the democratically elected parliament, which was disbanded last year, and of strongly repressing any opposition to his regime. All international agreements concluded by the EU must be approved by both the European Parliament and the 15 EU governments.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 9, Part II, 11 April 1997

• BELARUSIAN PRESIDENT PRAISES UNION ACCORD WITH RUSSIA. Lukashenka says the Russian-Belarusian union accord, initialed in Moscow last week, will benefit both states. He said on Belarusian TV yesterday that the recent growth in bilateral trade is an indication of the benefits of closer ties. Referring to the crackdown on anti-government protests in Belarus, he commented that those who act within the law and the constitution "won't need to be afraid of truncheons." Opposition parties do not recognize the current constitution, approved in a controversial referendum last November, giving Lukashenka broad new powers.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 9, Part II, 11 April 1997

• BELARUSIAN PRESIDENT ADDRESSES PARLIAMENT. Alyaksandr Lukashenka says no one "either in the West or in the East" has the right to give Mensk grades for political behavior. In his first address to the parliament since last November's constitutional referendum, Lukashenka on 11 April argued that Belarus's international isolation is "gradually disappearing." Lukashenka, who earlier this month signed a union agreement with Russian President Boris Yeltsin, said Belarus saw its security guarantees linked to that union. Also on 11 April, he told journalists that he is prepared to embrace the opposition argument that Belarus should retain its sovereignty within the union. He also called on Belarusian and foreign journalists and political parties to engage in an open dialogue.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 10, Part II, 14 April 1997

• OSCE MISSION TO BELARUS AMID ONGOING INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM. Belarus has agreed to allow an OSCE "mission of enquiry" on its territory, RFE/RL's correspondent in Vienna reported on 11 April. The mission is due to arrive in Belarus tomorrow. Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of the three current governing OSCE member countries--Poland, Switzerland, and Denmark--met in Copenhagen on 11 April and expressed "grave concern" over the situation in Belarus. The same day, U.S. State Department's spokesman Nicholas Burns said that relations between Washington and Mensk will be very difficult as long as Belarus continues to be governed the same way as now. He was commenting on Lukashenka's statement, made earlier that day, saying he sees the possibility for improved relations with the U.S.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 10, Part II, 14 April 1997

• OSCE MISSION ARRIVES IN BELARUS. An OSCE mission arrives in Belarus today for talks with government and opposition leaders about the political and human rights situation there. An OSCE spokesman in Vienna told RFE/RL yesterday that the delegation will remain until the end of the week. He said the Belarusian authorities have promised the mission "full access" to whomever they wish to meet. The delegation is led by Danish diplomat Rudolf Thorning- Petersen. The OSCE wanted to send a mission to Belarus last month, but the trip was canceled when it became clear the mission would be prevented from meeting with opposition members.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 11, Part II, 15 April 1997

• RUSSIAN PREMIER REJECTS CHARGE BY BELARUSIAN PRESIDENT. Viktor Chernomyrdin has rejected a charge by Alyaksandr Lukashenka that someone in the Russian government is accepting orders from the West. Chernomyrdin yesterday called for "common sense" in relations between the two states, which two weeks ago signed a union accord. "I am somewhat bewildered by President Lukashenka's announcement that there is someone in the Russian leadership 'who is fulfilling orders from his overseas masters' to destroy Russian-Belarusian relations," Interfax quoted Chernomyrdin as saying. Some Russian government members who are concerned about Lukashenko's authoritarian tendencies reportedly helped water down the union accord.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 11, Part II, 15 April 1997

• BELARUS REJECTS EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CRITICISM. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry says a European Parliament resolution criticizing the union agreement between Moscow and Mensk is unjustified, ITAR-TASS reported yesterday. Last week, the European Parliament passed a resolution saying it would not recognize the agreement until the Belarusian legislature has been consulted and warning that it will block a planned trade and aid pact between the EU and Belarus unless Mensk undertakes genuine political and economic reform. The ministry said the resolution proved that the European Parliament does not understand the ongoing development of Belarusian-Russian ties.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 12, Part II, 16 April 1997

• NEW INFORMATION ON BELARUSIAN DELEGATION'S TRIP TO NATO. Details of a Belarusian delegation's visit to NATO headquarters last week are just becoming available, RFE/RL's Brussels correspondent reports. The delegation was headed by Ural Latypof, a top adviser to President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who stressed Mensk's desire for closer Belarusian-NATO cooperation. Latypof said Mensk would soon be submitting ideas for its participation in the Partnership for Peace program. Belarus has applied to join that program but has not yet met membership requirements by submitting its participation proposals.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 12, Part II, 16 April 1997

• BELARUSIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULES 1996 REFERENDUM IS BINDING. The Constitutional Court has overturned its ruling on the November 1996 presidential referendum, which gave Alyaksandr Lukashenka sweeping powers, RFE/RL's Mensk correspondent reports. The court ruled last year that the vote was non-binding. Lukashenka responded by issuing a decree that reversed the court ruling, prompting the resignation of seven of the court's justices. Yesterday, the court endorsed the presidential decree by ruling that the referendum is binding.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 13, Part II, 17 April 1997

• OCSE DELEGATION IN BELARUS FACES PROBLEMS BUT MEETS WITH OPPOSITION LEADERS. An OSCE official was barred yesterday from attending a Mensk court appearance of Belarusian opposition leader Vasily Novikov, AFP reported. Novikov, who was deputy speaker of the recently disbanded parliament, was fined 5 million Belarusian rubles ($200) for helping organize an opposition march in Mensk last month. The previous day, OSCE delegation members met with, among others, independent labor leader Hennady Bykov and former parliament chairman Semyon Shartesky, who asked the OSCE to urge Moscow to try to steer Lukashenka away from his authoritarian policies. Sharetsky is scheduled to stand trial today for refusing to comply with Lukashenka's demand that he resign from his post as parliament chairman.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 14, Part II, 18 April 1997

• BELARUSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ON RELATIONS WITH U.S. Ivan Antanovich has asked the U.S. to avoid drawing what he called "hasty conclusions" about his country. Antonovich told journalists in Mensk yesterday that Belarus is "very interested in eliminating misunderstandings" with the U.S., which he called the "great power of the modern world." Antonovich said U.S. Ambassador to Belarus Kenneth Yalowitz, who was recalled recently to Washington, will return shortly with a letter for the Belarusian president. Yalowitz left Belarus last month following the expulsion of Serge Alexandrov, first secretary at the U.S. Embassy in Mensk, who was detained by police during an anti-government march last month. Belarus accused Alexandrov of being a CIA agent who had helped organize the rally. The State Department, however, said he was observing the protest as part of his "routine duties."   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 14, Part II, 18 April 1997

• THIRTY-EIGHT DEATH SENTENCES IN BELARUS LAST YEAR. Vladimir Samusev, head of the Justice Ministry department dealing with applications for a stay of execution, says 38 people were sentenced to death in Belarus last year, Interfax reported yesterday. He said appeals were lodged in 32 cases and that President Lukashenka rejected all of them because of the "seriousness of the offenses" and because of the "increased danger" the perpetrators posed for society. He said that seven of those sentenced last year were aged between 21 and 25.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 15, Part II, 21 April 1997

• BELARUSIAN ROUNDUP. Belarusian authorities say some 4 million people took part in the 19 April subbotnik--a throwback to the Soviet-era when people were compelled to do "voluntary" work. The committee overseeing the event told the Belta news agency yesterday that even President Alyaksandr Lukashenka took part. Along with Prime Minister Sergei Ling and other government officials, Lukashenka did construction work on Mensk's subway system. Meanwhile, Mensk officials have sanctioned a march and rally in the capital on 26 April to mark the 11th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster. Some 30,000 people are expected to take part. Most of the nuclear fallout from the 1986 catastrophe settled on Belarusian territory.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 16, Part II, 22 April 1997

• BELARUS MAY RESTRICT TELEPHONE USE. The Ministry of Communications may outlaw private telephone lines used "contrary to state interests and public order," Belapan reported yesterday. Provisions for switching off such lines have been added to the ministry's set of regulations governing phone use. The ministry is currently reviewing the status of all phone lines in the country. Meanwhile, a conference on cooperation among law enforcement agencies of CIS members opened today in Mensk, ITAR-TASS reported. Among the participants are representatives of CIS Interior and Justice Ministries.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 18, Part II, 24 April 1997

• NEW PARTY HOLDS CONGRESS IN MINSK. A new liberal political party called Yabloko held its constituent congress in Mensk yesterday, RFE/RL's correspondent in the Belarusian capital reported. According to its program, Yabloko favors democracy and a social market economy as well as the defense of civil rights over any state or religious interests. Seventy delegates from around the country attended the congress. The group has no affiliation with the Russian party of the same name, although a Russian Yabloko delegation headed by Grigorii Yavlinskii were among the guests at the congress.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 20, Part II, 28 April 1997

• RUSSIAN-BELARUSIAN UNION TO GO INTO FORCE BY JUNE? Vladimir Grigoriev, the deputy head of a Russian- Belarusian commission overseeing the creation of the union between the two countries, says the union could go into force by June. Grigoriyev told journalists in Moscow yesterday that he expects the agreement to be ratified by the countries' parliaments in June. Russian President Boris Yeltsin and his Belarusian counterpart, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, signed a watered-down version of the union treaty on 2 April. The accompanying charter was submitted for public discussion until 15 May.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol. 1, No. 21, Part II, 29 April 1997

• U.S. AMBASSADOR BACK IN BELARUS. Kenneth Yalowitz returned to Mensk yesterday one month after the U.S. recalled him to Washington to protest human rights abuses in the country, RFE/RL's Washington correspondent reported. But State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns told reporters that Yalowitz's return does not mean that Washington believes that an improvement is imminent in either the human rights situation or in U.S.-Belarusian relations. Burns said the U.S. regards the human rights record of President Lukashenka as "abysmal." He said Yalowitz would be carrying a "strong message" that the U.S. continues to have serious reservations about human rights in Belarus. He added that Yalowitz's return does not signal " business as usual."   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol 1, No. 22, Part II, 30 April 1997

• BELARUSIAN ACADEMICS DEFEND POET ADAMOVICH. The Literature Institute of the Belarusian Academy of Sciences has urged a regional court to stop prosecution of poet Slavomir Adamovich, Belapan reported yesterday. Adamovich has been accused of inciting terrorist acts by publishing a poem entitled "Kill the President." The Viciebsk Regional court had asked the Institute to rule whether Adamovich's poem can be considered to apply to current President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. In a letter to the court, the institute said that a judgment could not be based on "literary analysis" and that "in civilized democratic countries," poets and poetry are not taken to court, regardless of the authorities' suspicions about them.   RFE/RL NEWSLINE   Vol 1, No. 22, Part II, 30 April 1997

• The Referendum of November, 1996   web page

• Summary of   Pre-Referendum Events   web page

• Summary of   Post-Referendum Events, through December, 1996   web page

• Summary of   Post-Referendum Events, January and February, 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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