Social Democrats apply for permission to demonstrate in Minsk on anniversary on Kazulin’s hunger strike

Social Democrats have filed applications with the Minsk government for permission to field a number of pickets on October 24 to demand the release of their jailed leader Alyaksandr Kazulin.

Members of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party “Hramada” (BSDP) and an unregistered group named "Young Social Democrats/Young Hramada" have timed the demonstration to coincide with the first anniversary of the beginning of Dr. Kazulin’s hunger strike, BSDP Deputy Chairman Ihar Rynkevich told BelaPAN.

Dr. Kazulin staged a 53-day hunger strike in a correctional facility in the fall of 2006 to protest what he called the illegal reelection of Alyaksandr Lukashenka for a third term and draw the UN Security Council's attention to the situation in Belarus. He reportedly lost more than 30 kilograms during the protest.

The Social Democrats plan to simultaneously set pickets at the three places designated by the Minsk government for “mass events,” namely, Peoples' Friendship Park near Bangalore Square, the nearby Arlowskaya Street, and 50th October Revolution Anniversary Park, Mr. Rynkevich said. More applications are expected to be filed later, according to him.

Despite the city authorities’ unlawful bans on mass events, we intend to fight for the observance of the constitution’s Article 35 in the capital city and demand the release of BSDP Chairman Alyaksandr Kazulin,” Mr. Rynkevich said.

Dr. Kazulin, 51, rector of Belarusian State University between 1996 and 2003 who was a candidate in Belarus' 2006 presidential election, was arrested during a police crackdown on a peaceful post-election opposition march on March 25, 2006. He was found guilty of hooliganism and the organization of group actions disturbing the public peace.

He has been held in the Vitsba 3 correctional facility near Vitsyebsk since September 21, 2006.

In March, Dr. Kazulin was reelected in absentia as chairman of the BSDP.