DATE:
20 January 2006
American diplomat urges Belarus to stop harassing Helsinki rights group
The United States has welcomed a decision by Belarus to invite international observers to monitor elections in March, but a U.S. official also urged Belarus to stop harassing human-rights workers in the country.
Belarus Foreign Minister Sergei Martinov formally has invited the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to observe elections March 19, the OSCE said. The international organization monitors democracy and human rights throughout Europe and Eurasia.
"This is a very welcome step," said Kyle Scott, charge d'affaires for the U.S. Mission to the OSCE, in a January 19 statement to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Austria.
However, Scott went on to express concern over the Belarus government's repeated prosecution of the Belarus Helsinki Committee (BHC), a nongovernmental organization that reports on human-rights violations and monitors elections. (See related story.)
He noted that the Belarus Supreme Economic Court recently reinstated "harsh and unwarranted penalties" against the BHC - including $75,000 in fines and back taxes -- on charges of tax evasion. "BHC has already successfully defended itself in court from these charges a number of times, including in the Supreme Economic Court," Scott said.
"The decision appears to be an attempt to silence one of the most outspoken advocates for human rights and freedom of speech and assembly in Belarus," he said, adding that the United States believes the prosecution of the BHC is "politically motivated."
In the time leading up to the country's elections, "it is critical that independent organizations such as the BHC are allowed to operate without undue restrictions," Scott said.
Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, who is also the chairman in office for the OSCE, also welcomed the Belarus invitation for election observers.
"I expect that the authorities of Belarus will ensure that all eligible candidates be permitted to register and that the election process be conducted in a free and fair manner, including unimpeded access to the media by all candidates," De Gucht said in a brief OSCE statement January 19.
Following is the full text of Scott's remarks:
(begin text)
United States Mission to the OSCE
[Vienna, Austria]
STATEMENT ON BELARUS
As delivered by Charge d'Affaires Kyle Scott to the Permanent Council, Vienna January 19, 2006
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Let me begin by thanking the Representative of Belarus for his very welcome announcement of the decision of the Government of Belarus to issue an invitation to the OSCE to observe the March 19 Parliamentary elections. This is a very welcome step and fully aligned with the commitments we have all undertaken to invite foreign observation as confirmed in the Copenhagen Document and subsequently reconfirmed in the Istanbul Charter for European Security.
I'd also like to say that my delegation can broadly associate ourselves with the remarks we just heard from the European Union as regards the overall situation in Belarus. I would like, in my intervention, to focus on one issue of particular concern.
Throughout the history of our organization, the courageous role played by Helsinki Committees within the OSCE region in disseminating information about the rights of citizens and the international obligations their countries have undertaken has played a critical role in the advance of freedom and democracy. Because of their efforts, members of the Helsinki Committees were frequently subject to arrest or other repressive measures aimed at stifling their voices. With the end of the Cold War, we had hoped that this era had come to an end.
We regret we must bring to the attention of the Permanent Council the recent decision of the Belarus Supreme Economic Court to reinstate harsh and unwarranted penalties against the Belarus Helsinki Committee (BHC) on charges of tax evasion. This decision appears to be an attempt to silence one of the most outspoken advocates for human rights and freedom of speech and assembly in Belarus, and casts doubt upon Belarus' sincerity vis-a-vis its human rights obligations, its commitments to the OSCE and other international organizations.
The Court's judgment mandates payment of approximately $75,000 in back taxes and fines and could result in criminal prosecution of BHC officials. The United States believes Belarus' prosecution of BHC is politically motivated. BHC has already successfully defended itself in court from these charges a number of times, including in the Supreme Economic Court. The Belarusian Government's repeated pursuit of the same charges to secure this judgment against BHC calls into question the independence of the courts and the existence of rule of law in Belarus.
At this time, the U.S. would like to reaffirm its support for the BHC and the role it currently plays in Belarusian society and urges the Supreme Economic Court to reconsider its decision and to avoid harassing an independent non-governmental organization.
Particularly in the run-up to an election, it is critical that independent organizations such as the BHC are allowed to operate without undue restrictions.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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