Chronology of the State repressions against Prof. Manaev, IISEPS and BTT
1. August 2016
Various Belarusian state-run TV Channels presented a “special report” blaming IISEPS in falsifying its public opinion polling, and appealing “to law enforcements” (http://www.belta.by/society/view/eksperty-o-nisepi-fabrika-podloga-203967-2016). This time Belarusian authorities attacked not just IISEPS leadership but the most important element of its research – network of interviewers. Its manager was detained and pressed to publicly “unmask” IISEPS polling. Dozens of people were put under threat of criminal charges, and by this way the network of interviewers was destroyed. Finally, the Institute had to stop almost the 25-years polling. Next month this “Special report” was awarded by a Special Diploma at the 2d Festival of CIS Documentaries in Minsk for “Investigation reaching the goal” (https://eurasia.film/2017/09/evraziya-doc-podvedeny-itogi-vtorogo-festivalya-v-minske).
2. March 2016
Belarusian state-run telegraph agency Belta (http://www.belta.by/society/view/belorusskie-sotsiologi-nazyvajut-nisepi-fantomom-sotrudnikov-kotorogo-na-praktike-nikto-ne-videl-187588-2016/) and leading state-run newspaper Sovetskaya Belorussia (https://www.sb.by/articles/belorusskie-sotsiologi-nazyvayut-nisepi-fantomom-.html) published articles by the state officials arguing that “IISEPS research is actually biased, unreliable, and its results can not be trusted” and blamed the Institute in gross violation of Law (in conducting polls and publishing the results without official approval). Besides, this text was not only re-printed in leading state-run media but simultaneously displayed at various official Web sites of local governments
3. April 2015
Web site of the Public Associations of Russian Compatriots in the Republic of Belarus Together with Russia published an article “Who needs to drive a wedge between Belarus and Russia?” blaming IISEPS in “step by step forming anti-Russian attitudes in Belarusian society” (http://ross-bel.ru/analitika-portala-vmeste-s-rossiey/news_post/yuriy-pavlovets-komu-neobkhodimo-vbit-klin-mezhdu-belorusami-i-russkimi)
4. January 2015
Belarusian state-run telegraph agency Belta and leading state-run newspaper Sovetskaya Belorussia (http://www.sb.by/obshchestvo/article/sotsiologiya-znaet-ne-vsye.html) published articles by the state officials arguing that “IISEPS research is actually biased, unreliable, and its results can not be trusted”. The essence of these publications was to discredit the Institute’s work in the eyes of the state and society, and thereby “underpin” for another round of repression against IISEPS
5. April 2014
Official newspaper of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus For the Glory of the Motherland published an article "For your money - any whim!" blaming IISEPS in “clowning independent sociology, and actively engaging in specific activities in the field of sociology, economics, political life of the country – gathering different information about our country, all that for American money. Collection of information, or to say simply, intelligence gathering was not the main task of this institution. The main mission is to actively promote the values of American-style democracy, to promote the formation of civil society in Belarus by influencing public opinion and public policy” (http://vsr.mil.by/2014/12/04/za-vashi-dengi-lyuboj-kapriz/)
6. June 2012
Belarusian State University rector Academician Sergey Ablameyko without any explanations canceled a contract with Prof. Manaev who had to leave the University after 40 years of service: “University leadership has made decision not to renew the contract with you. That’s all I can say” he said on May 30, 2012
7. February 2012
One more order from the State Tax Committee to Prof. Manaev “as a Chairman of the Belarusian Think Tanks to pay fine of almost $1000 for not submitting documents about activity of this Association” and notification “that in case of misconduct of this order you will be charged according to the conditions of Administrative Code of the Republic of Belarus”
8. October 2011
On the way to the Embassy of Poland in Belarus to participate in a quarterly briefing of independent experts for diplomatic corps Prof. Manaev was stopped by the Minsk Riot Police. After checking “for identification and holding drugs and weapons” he was detained for three hours at the Partisan Police Department, and then released without any explanations (http://www.ria.ru/world/20111006/450994044.html,
https://www.rt.com/news/belarus-sociologist-manaev-arrest-243/). Commenting this incident next day at the press-conference to Russian media President Lukashenko named Dr. Manaev “a fosterling of the West, who was paid and made everything the West needed”, and explained his detaining by “police operation on putting a stop for drugs circulation” (https://www.svaboda.org/a/24351864.html)
9. January 2011
State-run newspaper Republic published an article “Black Cash and the Sad Finale” grounded on the Wiki Leaks publications of the reports from the US Embassy in Minsk, and blamed IISEPS in “activities conducted under the auspices of the US State Department” (https://www.sb.by/articles/temnyy-nal-i-pechalnyy-final-svet-na-fakty-finansirovaniya-belorusskoy-oppozitsii-iz-za-rubezha-na-dnyakh-prolil-izvestnyy-sayt-wikileaks.html)
10. October 2010
Second order from the State Tax Committee to Prof. Manaev “as a Chairman of the Belarusian Think Tanks to submit documents about activity of this Association including bookkeeping and tax records” and notification “that in case of misconduct of this order you will be charged according to the conditions of Administrative Code of the Republic of Belarus”, despite BTT was shut down the Supreme Court on the suit of the Ministry of Justice in August 2006
11. June 2010
Leadership of the Belarusian State University (Rector Academician Sergey Ablameyko and Vice Rector Prof. Vladimir Klyunya) following order from KGB and Administration made pressure on Prof. Manaev “within 10 days to submit a self-resignation statement” despite of 40 years of his service (including student years) for this institutions, and 1.5 years before his retirement (http://www.polit.ru/news/2010/06/29/manaev_info/)
12. May 2010
The State Tax Committee ordered Prof. Manaev “to prove observance of Tax Law, and with this regard to submit all tax records since 2000”
13. October 2009
The State Tax Committee’s ordered Prof. Manaev “as a Chairman of the Belarusian Think Tanks to submit documents about activity of this Association including bookkeeping and tax records”, despite BTT was shut down the Supreme Court on the suit of the Ministry of Justice in August 2006
14. July 2008
The State Control Committee ordered Prof. Manaev "within 5 days to present information about all incomes and property" for the last two years, and notification “that in case of misconduct of this order you will be charged according to the conditions of laws of the Republic of Belarus”
15. December 2007
Inspection of IISEPS by the Ministry of Taxes and Duties
16. April 2007
Subpoena from the General Prosecutor's Office to Prof. Manaev on the occasion of organizing the National Conference "Belarus and "wider Europe", and followed publications in independent press
17. August 2006
Liquidation of the Belarusian Think Tanks Association by the Supreme Court on the suit of the Ministry of Justice on the article 57 of the Civil Code
18. June 2006
Second official warning of the General Prosecutor's Office "About inadmissibility of law violation" (with threat to use a new Article 369-1 of the Criminal Code “Discrediting of the Republic of Belarus” stipulated imprisonment up to two years) to Prof. Manaev on the occasion of independent public opinion polling and followed publications in independent press
19. January 2006
Temporary suspension of the Belarusian Think Tanks Association (BTT) activity by the Supreme Court on the suit of the Ministry of Justice on the article 25 of the Law "On Public Associations"
20. December 2005
Official warning of the General Prosecutor's Office "About inadmissibility of law violation" (with threat to use Article 167-3 of the Administrative Code “Violation of the legislation on elections and referendum”) to Prof. Manaev on the occasion of independent public opinion polling and followed publications in independent press
21. August 2005
Subpoena from the Department of Mass Actions of the Minsk City Interior Ministry to Prof. Manaev on the occasion of the IISEPS quarterly briefing at the Lithuanian Embassy
22. October 2003-July 2005
Letters from Ministry of Justice with various demands to IISEPS
23. February-April 2004
Subpoena from the Supreme Court to Prof. Manaev on the occasion of IISEPS case
24. April 2005
Liquidation of the IISEPS by the Supreme Court on the suit of the Ministry of Justice on the article 57 of the Civil Code
25. March 2005
Official warning from the Ministry of Justice to Belarusian Think Tanks Association on the occasion of discrepancy of legal address to actual one
26. February 2005
Decision of the Supreme Court on the refusal of the institute's complaint against the Ministry of Justice
27. December 2004
Determination of the Supreme Court on the refusal of the IISEPS complaint to the Ministry of Justice
28. December 2004
Night KGB search at the IISEPS Office
29. November 2004
Subpoena from the General Prosecutor’s Office to Prof. Manaev on the occasion of conducting exit polls during Constitutional referendum in October 2004
30. November 2004
Official warning from the Ministry of Justice "About inadmissibility of law violation" to IISEPS on the occasion of refusal to present filled copies of questionnaires of public opinion poll.
31. October 2004
Subpoena from the Minister of Justice to Prof. Manaev on the occasion of violating by the IISEPS the Law "On Public Associations"
32. September 2003
Official warning from the Ministry of Justice “About violation of "Law on Public Associations” to IISEPS on the occasion of discrepancy of legal address to actual one
33. March 2002
Letter from the President’s Administration with demand “to remove from the rented space” in the state-run building on Moskovskaya St. 18, where IISEPS rented apartment during seven years
34. Pro-governmental newspaper Pravda published an article blamed IISEPS in working for CIA “according to the method of a inveterate intelligence agent Allen Dulles, established, as is known, for subversive activities”
35. January 1998
Belarusian authorities used results of the IISEPS analytical paper about independent media for blaming the Institute and Prof. Manaev for "working out the opposition business-plan for coupe d’etat"
36. 1998 – 2016
Belarusian authorities began to refuse IISEPS and BTT in renting spaces for organizing regional seminars, national and international conferences Text file
37. July 1995
Pro-governmental newspaper Comrade published an article blamed IISEPS and Prof. Manaev in working for George Soros, "who under the cover of charity promoted hegemonic attitudes of the US government and openly conduct anti-state activity"
38. February 1993
Pro-governmental newspaper 7 days published an article inspired by the KGB and blamed IISEPS in “conducting sociological survey paid by the CIA, Intelligence Service, Mossad, BND and other Western Secret Services”.