Title

Belarus Opposition Leaders

Tuesday, June 16, 1998
10:00am
2255 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
United States
Official Transcript: 
PDF icon 1998.06.16 Belarus Opposition Leaders.pdf
Moderator(s): 
Name: 
E. Wayne Merry
Title Text: 
Senior Advisor
Body: 
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Witnesses: 
Name: 
Yury Khadyka
Title: 
Professor
Body: 
Belarusian National Front
Name: 
Stanislav Bogdankevich
Title: 
Professor

The Commission examined Belarus’ political situation under President Lukashenka, who, on the day of the briefing, had locked the diplomatic corps out of their residences. The briefing explored the development of what some call a dictatorship in Belarus after the fall of the Soviet Union that brought Soviet sentiment back into the political scene.

The witnesses - Professor Yury Khadyka and Professor Stanislav Bogdankevich - highlighted the struggle for human rights in Belarus after 1991, when anti-communist rhetoric became a popular national value and during which personal freedom did not was excluded. They also addressed the lack of economic progress under Lukashenko, which goes unnoticed by Western governments.


 

Relevant issues: 
Freedom of Speech and Expression
Good Governance and the Rule of Law
Relevant countries: 
Belarus
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