SDPU(o) Leader Defends His Belarusian Colleague

The leader of the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united) Viktor Medvedchuk has issued a sharp statement in the wake of the arrest of Mykola Statkevich, the leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Narodnaya Hramada [People’s Assembly]. On March 8, when the Belarusians celebrated their Constitution Day, during a peaceful demonstration in the center of the capital Minsk, the police arrested the leader of the Belarusian Social Democrats who is also Secretary General of the East European Social-Democratic Forum. Statkevich had gathered around 200 people to the rally which proceeded without incident.

“It may seem unbelievable, but there are still countries in Europe where Social Democrats are politically persecuted,” SDPU(o) leader Viktor Medvedchuk said in his statement. “There is a legal term: “adequate punishment.” I am convinced that if people want to celebrate a state holiday in the center, not the outskirts of their capital city, they can’t be incarcerated for that, even for a minute,” he stressed. According to him, Ukrainian Social Democrats “resolutely protest against the detainment of our fellow in the Social-Democratic movement” and demand to immediately release Mykola Statkevich. Obviously, Medvedchuk’s statement was not prompted only by his care for his foreign comrade, but also his responsibility before the East European Social Democratic Forum which he heads. “We demand Your intervention”, — Medvedchuk appealed to Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka. “We hope that you, as the guarantor of constitutional rights and freedoms in your country, will do everything possible to free our comrade.”

Incidentally, a regular session of the Forum’s Council was planned for March 19 in Moscow. But due to the incident with the arrest of Forum Secretary General Mykola Statkevich, the session had to be canceled. As the Belarusian Internal Affairs Minister announced, Statkevich will be kept in custody until his case is heard in court. In June 2000, the Minsk City Court ruled Statkevich guilty of involvement in unauthorized protest actions and sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years. It is possible that this time also the Belarusian authorities will release Statkevich in order to avoid undesirable clamor.

The East European Social Democratic Forum headed by Viktor Medvedchuk unites thirteen full members and observers from nine countries.