Alaksandar Kazulin
Encyclopedia
Alaksandr Kazulin ' onMouseout='HidePop("29401")' href="/topics/Minsk">Minsk
), is the former leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party and one of the candidates who ran for the office of President of Belarus
on March 19, 2006.
He was a rector of the Belarusian State University
from 1996 to 2003 and a government minister serving under Belarus President
Alexander Lukashenko
but later fell out of favor. He holds a PhD in mathematics and pedagogy
. He is married and has two daughters.
Several weeks before the election, on March 2, 2006, Kazulin was beaten and detained by police after attempting to enter the All Belarusian People's Assembly
. He was charged with disorderly conduct and released after being held in custody for eight hours.
During the events following the March 19 presidential election
, on March 25, Kazulin was present in a confrontation between demonstrators and police. Reportedly he walked to the commanding officer with flowers in his hand, and police knocked him off his feet, beat him up, and then detained him. In a post-election interview, despite Lukashenko's win, Kazulin said, "We're not afraid of tanks and violence; we're afraid of prisons and having no freedom. We're tired of living in a spiritual prison."
On July 13, 2006, Kazulin was sentenced to jail for five and a half years at a court in Minsk. He was convicted for his role in the March protests, the official charge being of hooliganism
and incitement to mass disorder during the events of March 25. Amnesty International
recognized him as a prisoner of conscience
. On February 26, 2008 Kazulin was temporarily released from his jail in Vitsyebsk to attend his wife's funeral, after threatening to starve
himself if was not released. On August 16, 2008, he was released from prison.
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
), is the former leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party and one of the candidates who ran for the office of President of Belarus
President of Belarus
The office of President of Belarus is the head of state of Belarus. The office was created in 1994 with the passing of the Constitution of Belarus by the Supreme Soviet. This replaced the office of Chairman of the Supreme Soviet as the head of state...
on March 19, 2006.
He was a rector of the Belarusian State University
Belarusian State University
Belarusian State University , Minsk, Belarus, was founded on October 30, 1921. The BSU is a higher education establishment in the Republic of Belarus.-History:...
from 1996 to 2003 and a government minister serving under Belarus President
President of Belarus
The office of President of Belarus is the head of state of Belarus. The office was created in 1994 with the passing of the Constitution of Belarus by the Supreme Soviet. This replaced the office of Chairman of the Supreme Soviet as the head of state...
Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko has been serving as the President of Belarus since 20 July 1994. Before his career as a politician, Lukashenko worked as director of a state-owned agricultural farm. Under Lukashenko's rule, Belarus has come to be viewed as a state whose conduct is out of line...
but later fell out of favor. He holds a PhD in mathematics and pedagogy
Pedagogy
Pedagogy is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction....
. He is married and has two daughters.
Several weeks before the election, on March 2, 2006, Kazulin was beaten and detained by police after attempting to enter the All Belarusian People's Assembly
All Belarusian People's Assembly
The All Belarusian People's Assembly is a general meeting of the Belarusian Government with industry leaders and other top officials from every sector of the government. The citizens of Belarus are also permitted to take part of the discussion...
. He was charged with disorderly conduct and released after being held in custody for eight hours.
During the events following the March 19 presidential election
Belarusian presidential election, 2006
Presidential elections were held in Belarus on 19 March 2006. The result was a victory for incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko, who received 84.4% of the vote. However, western observers deemed the elections rigged...
, on March 25, Kazulin was present in a confrontation between demonstrators and police. Reportedly he walked to the commanding officer with flowers in his hand, and police knocked him off his feet, beat him up, and then detained him. In a post-election interview, despite Lukashenko's win, Kazulin said, "We're not afraid of tanks and violence; we're afraid of prisons and having no freedom. We're tired of living in a spiritual prison."
On July 13, 2006, Kazulin was sentenced to jail for five and a half years at a court in Minsk. He was convicted for his role in the March protests, the official charge being of hooliganism
Hooliganism
Hooliganism refers to unruly, destructive, aggressive and bullying behaviour. Such behaviour is commonly associated with sports fans. The term can also apply to general rowdy behaviour and vandalism, often under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs....
and incitement to mass disorder during the events of March 25. Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
recognized him as a prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience is a term defined in Peter Benenson's 1961 article "The Forgotten Prisoners" often used by the human rights group Amnesty International. It can refer to anyone imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views...
. On February 26, 2008 Kazulin was temporarily released from his jail in Vitsyebsk to attend his wife's funeral, after threatening to starve
Starvation
Starvation is a severe deficiency in caloric energy, nutrient and vitamin intake. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition. In humans, prolonged starvation can cause permanent organ damage and eventually, death...
himself if was not released. On August 16, 2008, he was released from prison.