Belarus: The Belarusian National Front (BNF), its political platform, leaders, whether it has merged or affiliated with other parties, treatment of its members by security forces, and whether it issues membership cards

There are several variations of the name of the Belarusian National Front (BNF). Europa World Yearbook 1998 refers to a Party of Belarusian Popular Front (BPF) (Partya Belaruskaga Narodnaga Frontu) with a chairperson named Zyanon Paznyak (1998, 573). Europa World Yearbook 1997 refers to a Belarusian Popular Front - 'Revival' (BPF) (Belaruski Narodny Front - 'Adradzhenne') with a chairperson also named Zyanon Paznyak (1997, 551). Political Handbook of the World 1997 ascribes the name of Belarusan Popular Front-Revival (Narodni Front Belarusi Adradshennie - NFB-A) with a chairperson of the same name (1997, 74). Country Reports 1997  and Amnesty International identify "the opposition Belarusian Popular Front (BNF)" (1998, 980; 1997, 88). Amnesty International names this organization's secretary as Vyacheslav Sivchyk (ibid.), while Europa World Yearbook identifies Vyacheslau Siwchyk as the secretary for both the Party of Belarusian Popular Front (BPF) and the Belarusian Popular Front - 'Revival' (BPF) (1998, 573; 1997, 551). Additionally, a number of sources refer to a Belarusian National Front (BNF) with a leader of the same name, Zyanon Paznyak (Zycie 14 July 1998; Segodnya 15 May 1996; Reuters 23 Aug. 1996).

As illustrated above, the spelling of names of leaders and officials can vary according to the source and the type of transliteration. The Plain Dealer reported that Zyanon Paznyak and Syarhei Naumchyk, the press secretary of the BPF, had fled to Poland in April 1996 where they were granted asylum and continued to direct the BPF (22 July 1996). However, other sources indicated they were granted asylum by the United States (IHF 1997, 34; President of the Belarusian Institute of Arts and Science 28 Oct. 1998; Zvyadza 24 June 1997), while Country Reports 1996 indicated that two BPF leaders were granted political asylum "elsewhere" (1997, 851). Within Belarus, the leadership includes Vyacheslaw Siwchyk as Secretary (Belapan 6 Nov. 1996), acting chairman Lyavon Barshchewski (Belapan 14 July 1997; Zvyadza 24 June 1997) and deputy chairmen who include Yury Khadyka (Political Handbook of the World 1997 1997, 74; Zvyadza 24 June 1997), Vintsuk Vyachorka (Belapan 22 Sept. 1997; Zvyadza 24 June 1997) and Valentin Golubev (Political Handbook of the World 1997 1997, 74). The BPF's youth organization, is known as the Maladay (Youth) Front and is led by Pave Sevyarynets (Belapan 15 Apr. 1998; AI 9 Apr. 1998).

In 1997 Zvyadza reported that the BPF claimed to have "4,000 registered members with membership cards and tens of thousands of supporters" (24 June 1997). In a 28 October 1998 telephone interview the President of the Belarusian Institute of Arts and Sciences in Canada stated that membership cards are no longer issued because it is considered too dangerous to carry cards identifying the person as a supporter of the BPF. It is the President's understanding that, when needed, letters describing the BPF activities of the holder are issued.

The President also explained that the BPF was created as a movement for the independence of Belarus and this continues to be its focus (28 Oct. 1998). The Europa World Yearbook 1998 describes the BPF as an "anti-communist movement campaigning for democracy, genuine independence for Belarus and national and cultural survival" (1998, 573). In July 1996 Belapan reported on what Chairperson Zyanon Pazbyak saw as the BPF's proper focus:

Firstly it should demand that Parliament remove President Lukashenka in a constitutional way. The second stage is to make the Supreme Soviet adopt an election law on the basis of a mixed and majority-proportional system. Then transition to a parliamentary republic and new parliamentary elections in Belarus should be announced. Mr Paznyak stressed that the BPF should continue to organise mass protest actions and use leaflets and other small printed forms for informing people.

In April 1998, the party's governing council, the Seim, issued a statement describing the BPF's goals: "The legitimate Constitution of 1994 should be fully restored, the legal Supreme Soviet should resume its work and all the anti-democratic and anti-constitutional decrees of the Belarussian president should be banned." (Interfax 11 Apr. 1998)

Political Handbook of the World 1997 reports that the BPF is an affiliate of the Christian Democrat International (1997, 74). The President of the Belarusian Institute of Arts and Sciences in Canada said that Belarusian opposition parties are of two kinds: those that are pro-democracy and those that are both pro-democracy and pro-independence from Russia. The President said that the BPF is one of the latter and works with other groups in that category (28 Oct. 1998).

The President also provided information on the treatment of party members and/or activists by Belarusian security forces. The current situation in Belarus was described as a "police state" where opposition members are closely monitored by the security forces which are "very active and control everything" (28 Oct. 1998). Political Handbook of the World 1997 indicated that the BPF had been under greater pressure from the government since 1996 because of its activities in organizing anti-government demonstrations against the treaty of union with Russia (1997, 74). UPI quoted Deputy Parliament Speaker Gennady Karpenko as saying Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's "enemies include...the (opposition) Belarussian National Front" (19 Oct. 1996). Furthermore, the state-owned BTK Television Network on 11 January 1998 alleged that the "primary goal" of the BPF's Strategic Plan was: "overthrowing the existing state system in Belarus and removing the legitimate administration, including the President." BTK Television Network also alleged that this strategy of the BPF included fund-raising from the "frightened world community" in order to stage a "coup" "that will probably involve bloody pograms and terrorist attacks in the streets of Belarusian towns" (ibid.)

On 26 April 1996 about 50,000 people marched in Minsk to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Chernobyl and about 200 people were arrested, including leaders of the BPF (IHF 1997, 38; East European Constitutional Review Spring and Summer 1996, 3). The Europa World Yearbook 1998 states that "it was reported that the rallies were brutally dispersed by the police" (1998, 562), while the East European Constitutional Review indicates that "scores of participants were beaten or sprayed with tear gas" (Spring and Summer 1996, 3). Those BPF members arrested included Yury Khadyko and Vyacheslau Siwchyk who later engaged in hunger strikes in protest at their detention (IHF 1997, 39; AI 1997, 88). Amnesty International issued an Urgent Action on their continued detention for "instigating mass disorder", referring to them as "prisoners of conscience" with concerns for their health (23 May 1996). Reporting on Polish government pressure on the Belarus government for the release of political prisoners, the Gazeta Wyborcza indicated on 21 May 1996 that Belarus Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Antanovich had promised the release of Yury Khadyka on that day. Amnesty International stated that he was released pending trial in May 1996 (1997, 88).

Since that time sources have reported on a number of other incidents involving the security forces and BPF sympathizers. Belapan reported that Ales Byalyatski, secretary of the BPF Board, was detained, questioned, and then released on 28 August 1996, for organizing a small picket in the front of the Belarusian Prosecutor's Office (29 Aug. 1996). Amnesty International, in a 14 March 1997 Urgent Action, reported that BPF leaders had claimed 100 people were arrested on 10 March 1997 following a demonstration in Minsk involving several thousand people. There were reports of several injuries and acting chairman Lyavon Barshchewski said he was beaten and detained by police. Zvyazda reported that Barshchewski was again arrested on 23 March 1997, for participating in a rally of about 7,000 demonstrators celebrating the 79th anniversary of Belarus (24 June 1997; Interfax 23 Mar. 1997). Zvyazda also noted that Barshchewski was released for one day in order to attend the Congress of the BPF (ibid.). Amnesty International reported that between 20 and 50 people were arrested and detained in March 1998 for participating in a rally of about 10,000 people marking the 80th anniversary of Belarusian independence. By the next day seven people had been released after being "found guilty of shouting censored slogans and insulting the President" (23 Mar. 1998).

Amnesty International states that "Political unrest, in the form of protests and demonstrations, is on the increase in Belarus. Police have responded with the systematic and widespread use of force against peaceful opposition demonstrators." (9 Apr. 1998) In April 1998 the organization issued an Urgent Action relating to the arrest and detention of Pave Sevyarynets, Vyacheslaw Siwchyk, and others at a 2 April 1998 demonstration in Minsk (9 Apr. 1998). According to Belapan, Belarusian authorities alleged that Sevyarynets had disrupted a concert and was then charged with "malicious hooliganism" (15 Apr. 1998). Belapan also reported that another youth member of the BPF, Alyaksey Shydlowski, "is serving an 18 month prison term for alleged vandalism" (ibid.). Amnesty International stated that there were reports of police "severely beating" demonstrators at the 2 April 1998 demonstration and that those detained "could be at serious risk of torture and ill-treatment" (9 Apr. 1998).

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.

References

Amnesty International (AI). 9 April 1998. Urgent Action: Belarus: Prisoners of Conscience/Fear of Torutre or Ill-treatment/Police Brutality/Arbitrary Arrests/Fear for Safety/Health Concern (AI Index: EUR 49/04/98).

 _____. 23 March 1998. Urgent Action: Belarus: Peaceful Demonstrators Reportedly Beaten, At Least 20 Detained (AI Index: EUR 49/03/98).

_____.  1997. Amnesty International Report 1997. New York: Amnesty International USA.

_____. 14 March 1997. Urgent Action: Belarus: Peaceful Demonstrators Reportedly Beaten, 100 Detained (AI Index: EUR 49/02/97

_____. 23 May 1996. Urgent Action: Belarus: Health Concern/Prisoners of Conscience. (AI Index: EUR 49/02/96)

Belapan [Minsk, in English]. 15 April 1998. "Belarus: Popular Front Protests Against Arrest of Maladay Front Chief." (FBIS-SOV-98-105 15 Apr. 1998/WNC).

_____. 22 September 1997. "Belarus: Belarus Popular Front Hails Polish Poll Result." (FBIS-SOV-97-265 22 Sept. 1997/WNC).

_____. 14 July 1997. "Belarus: Popular Front Announces Reforms, Wants Lukashenka to Resign." (FBIS-SOV-97-195 14 July 1997/WNC).

_____. 6 November 1996. "Belarus: Popular Front Leader Comments on 2 Nov Demonstration." (FBIS-SOV-96-216  6 Nov. 1996/WNC).

_____. 29 August 1996. "Belarus: Popular Front Activists Picket Prosecutor's Office." (FBIS-SOV-96-169  29 Aug. 1996/WNC).

_____. 14 July 1996. "Belarus: Popular Front Holds Congress, Discusses Future Tactics." (FBIS-SOV-96-137 15 July 1996/WNC).

BTK Television Network [Minsk, in Belarusian]. 11 January 1998. "Belarus: TV Cites Opposition's 'Strategic Plan' to Overthrow Regime." (FBIS-SOV-98-013 13 Jan. 1998/WNC).

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997. 1998. United States Department of State. Washington, DC.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1996. 1997. United States Department of State. Washington, DC.

East European Constitutional Review [Chicago]. Spring and Summer 1996. Vol. 5, Nos. 2 and 3. "Constitution Watch: Belarus."

The Europa World Year Book 1998. 1998. 39th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications

The Europa World Year Book 1997. 1997. 38th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications

Gazeta Wyborcza. 21 May 1996. "Belarus: Kwasniewski Plans to Intervene." (Polish News Bulletin 21 May 1996/NEXIS)

Interfax [Moscow, in English]. 11 April 1998. "Belarus: Popular Front to Abstain From Parliamentary Elections." (FBIS-SOV-98-101 11 Apr. 1998/WNC).

_____. 23 March 1997. "Belarus: Popular Front Holds 'Illegal' Demonstration in Minsk." (FBIS-SOV-97-082 23 Mar. 1997/WNC).

International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF). 1997. Annual Report 1997. Vienna, Austria: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights.

The Plain Dealer [Cleveland]. 22 July 1996. Marjo G. Ortiz. "Belarus Leader Reports on Censorship." (NEXIS)

Political Handbook of the World 1997. 1997. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

President of the Belarusian Institute of Arts and Science in Canada, Hull. 28 October 1998. Telephone Interview.

Reuters. 23 August 1996. "The Reuter Daybook." (NEXIS)

Segodnya. 15 May 1996. Sergei Anisko. "Protest Actions Staged Before Offices of President Lukashenko." (Russian Press Digest 15 May 1996/NEXIS)

UPI. 19 October 1996. "BMN - Belarus President Postopones Referendum." The International Discussion Club - Moscow. [Internet] (Accessed 14 Oct. 1998)

Zvyazda [Minsk, in Belarusian]. 24 June 1997. "Belarus: Popular Front Congress, Chairman Elections Viewed." (FBIS-SOV-97-177 26 June 1997/WNC).

Zycie [Warsaw, in Polish]. 14 July 1998. "Paper Probes 'Leak' of Radio Free Belarus Report." (BBC Summary 17 July 1998/NEXIS)