1999 press releases

Release of Opposition Leader Mikhail Chigir (December 2, 1999)

The United States welcomes the release of Mikhail Chigir from detention. Mr. Chigir, an important Belarusian opposition leader and former prime minister, was arrested on March 30 on politically based charges. Despite his release, politically motivated charges against him have not been dropped and the Belarusian authorities evidently plan to continue their case against him. We urge the Belarusian government to drop all charges leveled against Mr. Chigir; release other political detainees; account for disappeared opposition figures, including Victor Gonchar, Yury Zakharenko, and Anatoliy Krasovsky; end harassment of opposition parties; respect workers rights; and honor the principles of media freedom to which it has committed itself. These are among the steps that will create a climate in which the OSCE-sponsored dialogue on ending the country's constitutional and political crisis can succeed.