BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

27/02/2007

International Campaign Launched To Free Belarusian Political Prisoner

Iryna Kazulina, the wife of former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin, and Syarhey Skrabets, Kazulin's former prison mate, have called on students and professors all over the world to join a campaign for the release of Kazulin, who was rector of Belarusian State University (BDU) between 1996 and 2003, Belapan reported on February 26. Kazulin was sentenced last year to five years in a correctional facility for his involvement in the 2006 presidential election campaign and the protests that followed. "BHU Rector Kazulin, who has been declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, has been held in inhuman prison conditions for more than 300 days," the appeal says. "We urge [Belarusian President Alyaksandr] Lukashenka to immediately release Alyaksandr Kazulin, a fighter for freedom and justice who staged 53 days' hunger strike in the regime's prison, protesting human rights violations in our country, abductions and murders of people, the suppression of newspapers, and beatings of women, journalists, and youths during peaceful demonstrations." JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/02/3-CEE/cee-270207.asp