BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

04/12/2006

U.S. ambassador to Belarus concerned by Kozulin's health

MINSK. Dec 4 (Interfax) - U.S. Ambassador to Belarus Karen Stuart has voiced concern over the health of former presidential candidate Alexander Kozulin, who is on hunger strike at the Vitba-3 penitentiary, an embassy source told Interfax on Monday.

It is tragic that Belarussians have to go to extremes to express their views, the source quoted the ambassador as telling Kozulin's wife Irina.

The United States once again urged the Belarussian authorities to release all citizens incarcerated on politically motivated charges, the source said.

Kozulin was convicted on July 13, 2006, on charges of malicious hooliganism and organizing disturbances. He is currently serving a five- and-a-half year prison sentence.

Kozulin started a hunger strike on October 20, 2006.

Source:

http://www.interfax.com/3/218935/news.aspx

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