Belarus: Information on the treatment of ethnic Russians by the general population, government authorities and extremist nationalistic groups; availability of state protection
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 5 November 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BYS37878.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Belarus: Information on the treatment of ethnic Russians by the general population, government authorities and extremist nationalistic groups; availability of state protection, 5 November 2001, BYS37878.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be180.html [accessed 8 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Ethnic Russians are treated preferentially by the government in some aspects of Belarusan society (Central Europe Review 12 March 2001; International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights 2000, 75). As the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights explains: "The process of integration for Russia and Belarus continued with increasing discrimination against ethnic Belarusans and a growing Russian nationalism."(International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights 2001, 56). The Russian language, although officially the second language, is favoured in all spheres of life, including teaching, television and newspapers, and government communication (ibid. 2000, 75; ibid. 2001, 56). "In 2000, 70 percent of all school students were educated in Russian. Only 10.2 percent of all periodicals were in Belarusan. Less than half of all Belarusan TV airtime was in Belarusan." (ibid. 2001, 56).
Belarusan society generally accepts close ties to Russian culture and language (Simonsen n.d.). In fact, according to one source, "[b]eing close to Russia and the Russians does not bother most Belarusians; on the contrary, they regard their larger neighbour as a possible saviour from the torrents of post-Soviet developments." (ibid.).
The current administration is favourable to ethnic Russians: at least half of Belarus' military officers are Russian (ibid.), most of the high-ranking decision-making posts of the administration are held by Russians (RFE/RL 6 December 2001), including the head of the KGB, the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister (Central Europe Review 12 March 2001).
The nationalistic Belarusan Popular Front (Adradzennie), advocating the defence of an independent Belarusan culture and language (Belarusan Popular Front 29 December 2000), has had some members allegedly attacked by police and arrested (AI 2001); however, no information on the Belarusan Popular Front's treatment of ethnic Russians could be found among sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
One report of an incident of violence against a Russian nationalist was found among the sources consulted: the leader of the extremist Russian National Unity (RNE) was killed in Minsk in August 2000 (BBC 7 August 2000).
No information on the existence or need for state protection for ethnic Russians could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International USA. 2001. Annual Report: Eurasia: Belarus.
BBC Summary. 7 August 2000. "Russian Nationalist Leader Killed." (LEXIS/NEXIS)
Belarusan Popular Front Web site. 29 December 2000. Introduction.
Central Europe Review. 12 March 2001. Vol. 3, No. 10. Joe Price. "Belgrade All Over Again?"
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF-HR). Vienna Austria. 2000. "Report 2000: Human Rights in the OSCE Region."
_____. 2001. "Report 2001: Human Rights in the OSCE Region."
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newsline (RFE/RL) Newsline. 6 December 2001. "Lukashenka Conducts 'Ethnic Cleansing' Among Security Officials." Vol. 4 No.235.
Simonsen, Sven Gunnar. n.d. "Belarus" International Peace Research Institute, Oslo [Prio].
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
LEXIS/NEXIS
World News Connection (WNC)
Internet sites including:
Amnesty International
BBC News Online
BelaPan [Minsk]
Belarusian Helsinki Committee
Belarus Today
British Helsinki Human Rights Group
Development and Peace Foundation (SEF)
Freedom House
Hokkaido University Slavic Research Centre
The Human Rights Centre Viasna - Minsk
Human Rights Watch
Interfax [Moscow]
International League for Human Rights
ITAR-TASS [Moscow]
OneWorld.net
Political Resources on the Net: Belarus
Pravda [Moscow]
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Radio Racyja
Rosbalt News Agency
Russian Federation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Russia Today
