Pre-Referendum Events

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• The Referendum of November, 1996   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, March and April, 1997   Web page

• Summary of   Post-Referendum Events, May, 1997, to Present   Web page

• In addition to specific events related to censorship, human rights violations, political intimidation, and so forth, as noted in the following, another sequence of events have and are taking place in Belarus that just as negatively affect the hope for a free press, human rights, democracy, and civil institutions: Funding for many such activities has been severely cut or has been dropped entirely; for example, both The Belarusian Historical Review and the Miensk Mass-Media Center (MMC) have had their funding cut off (by the Soros Foundation in March, 1996, for the latter). The frequency of such occurrences is having a chilling effect as well.

• Follow link to full text of the   Resolution   made by the International Scholarly Conference, "Belarus - problems of a peripheral region of Eastern Europe," Stuttgart, Germany, 10-14 April, 1996. The resolution was sent to the President of the Academy of Sciences of Belarus (ANB), Mr. Leonid Sushchena. A second copy was sent to the President of the Republic Belarus, Mr. A. Lukashenko.
  "We, historians and scholars working in the field of Belarusian history, wish to express our serious desquiet over the attempt to limit the freedom of scholarly research in Belarus. The halting of the printing of the Belarusian encyclopaedia, coupled with the personnel changes in the management of the encyclopedia which have taken place against the background of a campaign to suppress the independent media constitute an attack on human rights and the intimidation of opponents of the present regime."
  Posted to the Internet, 26 April, 1996

• According to Reuters and other news sources, Beloruskaya Delovaya Hazieta has been shut down by decree of the current Belarusian government (executive branch), as of early June, 1996 (Reuters, June 27, 1996, on the newsgroup, clari.world.europe.eastern). "[US] State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns expressed disappointment Thursday over the closing of an independent newspaper in Belarus."
  "We're very disappointed by that and disappointed by many of the actions of the Belarusian government." The other actions include the government's denial of access to printing facilities and distribution networks for the the Delovaya Hazieta and other independent publications, Burns said in an earlier statement. "Belarus is a party to international human rights agreements which recognize every individual's right to freedom of speech and assembly," Burns said. "We urge the government of Belarus to comply with these internationally recognized standards, which Belarus has undertaken freely to respect."

• Independent Radio Station Closed in Belarus. Station 101.2 was shut down because its operations were "interfering in government communications." Radio Rossii and PAP reported on 1 September. The station broadcast primarily music and some news. The head of the station, Zhanna Litvina, said the move was just another in a series aimed at curtailing media freedom. She also said it was part of the state's anti-Belarusian policy, since it was the only independent channel broadcasting in Belarusian and fostering national 'rebirth.' The station plans to appeal the decision.   OMRI Daily Digest, Sept. 4, 1996; Ustina Markus

• Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Valeryi Tsikhinya has said the court does not approve of several resolutions adopted by the All Belarusian Congress, ITAR-TASS reported on 22 October. Tsikhinya said the court continues to support the "zero option" solution, whereby both the president and the parliament refrain from holding referendums on their proposed constitutions. He noted that the president's draft constitution is based on a "philosophy contravening the principle of division of powers." He added that if that version is approved in the referendum "Belarus will become a totalitarian state." Tsikhinya also stressed that the court has ruled on 19 decrees issued by the president and found 17 to be in contravention of the constitution.   OMRI Daily Digest, Oct. 23, 1996; Ustina Markus

• The Foreign Ministry announced it was unhappy with the European Parliament's resolution on the situation in Belarus. The European Parliament found the country's regime to be authoritarian. Belarus's Foreign Ministry responded that the country had been a "pioneer" in nuclear disarmament, and the European parliament's resolution was "incorrect, out of place, and regrettable." The resolution will hinder ratification of an agreement on partnership and cooperation between Belarus and the Council of Europe and also implementation of a trade accord.   OMRI Daily Digest, Oct. 29, 1996; Ustina Markus

• Alyaksandr Lukashenka said he would dissolve parliament if the Constitutional Court ruled that his proposed referendum was illegal, Reuters and ITAR-TASS reported on 29 October. Last week the court announced it would review Lukashenka's and parliament's draft constitutions, and if it found they were actually new constitutions rather than just amendments to the existing basic law, any referendum on them would not be legal.   OMRI Daily Digest, Oct. 30, 1996; Ustina Markus

• The U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe held a hearing on the situation in Belarus, RFE/RL reported on 31 October. Jack Segal, the director of Ukranian, Belarusian, and Moldovan affairs at the U.S. State Department, said that if the referendum on constitutional change in Belarus is held without a less constricted press, it "would not be credible" and violates human rights. Segal also accused President Lukashenka of imposing "a virtual information blockade" through control of television and radio. Previously, on 30 October, Segal pointed out that the U.S. has no intention to isolate Belarus or interfere in its internal affairs and will try to develop relations with the country, especially in providing advice and aid, Itar-TASS reported on 30 October.   OMRI Daily Digest, Oct. 31, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov

• The Belarusian Constitutional Court began reviewing the legality of the referendum on 1 November, ITAR-TASS reported. Parliament requested the review as a way to derail the constitutional referendum scheduled for 24 November. If the court rules that the draft constitutions put forward by the president and parliament are only amended constitutions, then the referendum will take place. Should the court rule that the drafts are actually new constitutions, then the referendum would not be legal, and President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has said he would dissolve parliament. He won a popular mandate to do so in the May 1995 referendum. On that ballot, a non-binding question was inserted asking if the president should have the power to dissolve the legislature, to which 77.7 % of voters responded yes.   OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 1, 1996; Ustina Markus

• About 70 deputies, including the entire Yabloko faction, several independents, and members of the Our Home Is Russia faction walked out of the [Russian] Duma as Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka began to address the chamber on 12 November, ITAR-TASS reported. Deputies from the Communist faction and the LDPR stood to applaud him. Before Lukashenka's address, Yabloko leader Grigorii Yavlinskii made an unsuccessful last-minute attempt to postpone his appearance until after the 24 November constitutional referendum in Belarus, arguing that Lukashenka would use his Duma speech to "pressure Belarusian public opinion." Communist and LDPR deputies insisted that Lukashenka be allowed to speak, saying he leads "a brother republic, the only one which is really friendly toward Russia."   OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 13, 1996; Scott Parrish

• In his controversial speech to the [Russian] State Duma on 13 November (see OMRI Daily Digest, 13 November 1996), Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka claimed that Belarus is not an economic drain on Russia, that economic reforms are proceeding, and that his government respects human rights.   OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 14, 1996; Scott Parrish

• Alyaksandr Lukashenka on 14 November signed a decree firing the chairman of the Central Electoral Commission, Viktar Ganchar, and replacing him with Lidiya Yermoshina, Reuters reported. Ganchar had infuriated Lukashenka by describing the president's 24 November referendum as "a piece of legal idiocy" and threatening not to validate the results. The parliament, the Constitutional Court, and Ganchar's commission have all said the vote should be advisory and have no legal force. But Lukashenka has decreed that it will have legal force. The last straw in the conflict between the president and Ganchar was the latter's unsuccessful attempt to speak before the Russian Duma the same day as Lukashenka. Ganchar said that he will ignore the decree and continue carrying out his duties.   OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 15, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov

• Andrei Sannikau tendered his resignation on 14 November, Reuters reported. Sannikau said he disagrees with the president's policies. This is the first sign of open resistance to Lukashenka in the government since Viktar Ganchar quit as deputy prime minister last December.   OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 15, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov

• Letter of protest sent to President Lukashenka by members of Internet community: Letter at IDC web page, November 17, 1996. In part:
  "We are writing to express our concern about the current political situation in Belarus in the wake of the upcoming referendum on Constitution of Belarus. Please, be assured that we, nationals of many countries, representing different walks of life and having a vested interest in Belarus support development of democracy, furthering Human Rights, and protection of Constitutional institutions in your country. . . ."

  ". . . .We request, Mr. President, that you reconsider your most recent actions and political behaviors and allow the democratic process in Belarus to develop according to the Constitution of your country, which should be governed by the rule of law, not by the rule of one individual. The latest developments in Belarus suggest that the latter is taking place."

• Between 5,000 and 10,000 people took part in a "March of Silence" in Mensk on 17 November to protest President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's proposals to increase his powers, Reuters reported. Ten people were arrested and some 20 were slightly injured. The demonstrators, carrying red and white Belarusian flags, marched on the parliament building where deputies were scheduled to hold an emergency session on the political situation in the republic.   OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 18, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov

• Lukashenka dismissed Central Electoral Commission chairman Viktar Ganchar on 14 November, thereby violating the constitution by interfering in the powers of the parliament. Meanwhile, First Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Vasil Novikau said the Supreme Soviet has begun impeachment procedures against the president.   OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 18, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov

• President Alyaksandr Lukashenka on 18 November accepted the resignation of Mikhail Chyhir and appointed his deputy, Syarhei Linh, as acting premier, Reuters reported. Chyhir's resignation was in protest over Lukashenka's proposed referendum aimed at increasing the powers of the president. Labor Minister Alyaksandr Sasnou also resigned the same day, while the parliament collected 75 signatures--five more than necessary--to start impeachment procedures against the president. In order to oust Lukashenka, the Constitutional Court will have to approve his impeachment and 132 deputies will have to vote in favor of his dismissal.   OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 19, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov

• Lukashenka's top aide, Uladzimir Zametalin, has said the president could prevent his impeachment even if the Constitutional Court approved it. He did not rule out the possibility of dissolving the parliament and the Constitutional Court.   OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 19, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov

• President Lukashenka on 19 November issued a decree cutting off Russian Public TV and NTV's communication lines to Belarus, Russian media reported on 19 November. The restrictions, however, were lifted later that day. Lukashenka had claimed the move was justified because the Russian channels were unobjective and provocative in their reporting on Belarus. Under the decree, Russian reports on Belarus could be sent to Russia only after Belarusian media authorities had checked and approved them. Electronic mail links with Russia were also to have been cut. The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that it would react accordingly if Russian journalists were stripped of their accreditation in Belarus.   OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 20, 1996; Ustina Markus

• The French, German, Italian, and British ambassadors in Mensk have protested what they call "the illegal nature" of Lukashenka's proposed referendum, RFE/RL reported on 19 November. The Council of Europe also issued a statement saying that the president's efforts to boost his powers in a way that contradicts democratic norms is jeopardizing the country's bid to join the council. Polish President Aleksandr Kwasniewski said he and his Lithuanian and Ukranian counterparts intend to make a joint appeal expressing their growing concern about the situation in neighboring Belarus. Ukraine, for its part, has rejected Lukashenka's request to visit the Chornobyl nuclear power station. Russian President Boris Yeltsin called for compromise and common sense in Belarus.   OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 20, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov

• Following a night of negotiations, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and parliamentary speaker Syamyon Sharetsky have signed an accord, Reuters reported on 22 November. The negotiations were mediated by Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and the speakers of Russia's two houses of parliament. The agreement states that the 24 November referendum will not be legally binding and that the parliament will drop impeachment moves against Lukashenka. It also provides for a constitutional committee composed of 100 representatives, half of which are to be chosen by the parliament and the other half by the president. The committee is to be headed by the president and will be formed over 20 days following the referendum. Its aim will be to draw up a new constitution based on the results of the plebiscite.   OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 22, 1996; Sergei Solodovnikov

• The Moscow-brokered compromise between the Belarusian president and parliament collapsed one day after it was signed, international agencies reported on 23 November. Each side blamed the other for the failure. Under the compromise, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka would have repealed his decrees making the constitutional referendum binding, while the parliament would have withdrawn its request to the Constitutional Court to start impeachment proceedings against the president. Deputies voiced skepticism over the agreement, and a two-thirds majority vote could not be mustered for its ratification. In response, Lukashenka announced the results of the referendum would be legally binding. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court failed to reach a final decision on the launching of impeachment proceedings. It is not scheduled to reconvene until 26 November.   OMRI Daily Digest, Nov. 25, 1996; Ustina Markus

• The Referendum of November, 1996   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, March and April, 1997   Web page

• Summary of   Post-Referendum Events, May, 1997, to Present   Web page

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Original content and overall form ©1996-2004 by Peter Kasaty : All Rights Reserved. Last Updated:  1997/05/21
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