When is a travel ban not a travel ban?

Interpol operates as its own international territory, similar to the Vatican, and as such is entitled to invite anyone it likes. However, in order to travel to Interpol’s headquarters in Lyon, Kuleshov had to obtain a French travel visa. Despite widespread condemnation of the French government for issuing the visa, Free Belarus Now, an umbrella group for Belarusian dissidents mainly in exile, saw an opportunity and petitioned the French Ministry of Justice to arrest Kuleshov over alleged breaches of the UN convention against Torture. The French authorities failed to respond to the request.

INTERPOL - A LAW UNTO ITSELF

The travel ban on Kuleshov and over 200 other prominent figures of President Lukashenko’s regime dates back to January 2011, following a brutal crackdown on civilians protesting allegedly rigged presidential elections. Belarus is commonly referred to as “Europe’s last dictatorship”. The three- term President, Alexander Lukashenko, has little patience for dissent, routinely imprisoning political opponents, human rights defenders and independent journalists on trumped up charges. Trials of political dissidents are held behind closed doors and the accused are usually denied legal counsel, according to Amnesty International. Many opponents of the regime are not charged at all; they are simply seized by the police and disappear into the prison system. Torture is said to be widespread.

IMPROVING THE CAPACITIES OF A POLICE STATE

Aside from the ethical uneasiness over Kuleshov’s visit, the practical repercussions are severe. Interpol Secretary General Ronald K. Noble stated “By sharing important crime related information with Interpol and by recognizing the Interpol passport, Belarus enhances the security not only of its country and citizens, but of all Interpol’s 190 member countries,”  Noble goes on to link this statement to the global terrorist threat; but how will the sharing of information with the Belarusian authorities enhance the security of Belarusian citizens? Belarus is essentially a police state. Now it may become a police state with increased capacity and resources. The argument that better training of police will provide for better political conditions is disingenuous in the extreme; the most likely outcome is the Belarusian authorities will be better trained and equipped to apprehend those opposed to it’s regime, through the improved technology and intelligence resources Interpol provides.

LENDING A VEIL OF LEGITIMACY

Last December, Ales Mikhalevich was arrested at Warsaw airport en route to London, at the request of Belarusian authorities who had used Interpol to issue an arrest warrant. Mikhalevich was one of a number of politicians who dared to stand against Lukashenko in the 2010 presidential elections, which international observers noted to be flawed. Following widespread political demonstrations over the disputed results, Mikhalevich and other candidates were arrested on charges of inciting mass riots. He claimed he was tortured and once released, immediately fled to the Czech Republic where he was granted political asylum. The Polish government is one of the most outspoken critics of Belarus’ government and arrested Mikhalevich only because the warrant was issued through Interpol channels; once they realised the reality of the situation, they immediately released Mikhalevich and allowed him to travel onto London, where he met with British government officials to discuss the political situation in Belarus.

What happened to Mikhalevich is an example of the veil of legitimacy Lukashenko and his cohorts can now apply to their extra-legal attempts to quell political opposition in their country, thanks to Interpol’s willingness to cooperate with their efforts. Following the recent controversy over Kuleshov’s blatant flaunting of the travel ban, the European Union’s foreign ministers announced they had agreed to widen the scope of the EU’s sanctions against Belarus; the gesture appears rather empty however as no new individuals or companies were added to the list of those already facing sanctions, merely a lacklustre promise that a “substantial” number would face repercussions for their actions within Belarus in the coming months. No details were given either as to what “widening the scope” of existing sanctions would actually entail. Given the diplomatic reception Kuleshov received, Belarus’ political opposition and jailed human rights defenders shouldn’t hold out much hope of the EU or Interpol furthering their cause.