Thousands of people paid last respect to Iryna Kazulina (Photo, video) 17

A mourning ceremony for Iryna Kazulina, wife of former presidential candidate, took place in Minsk. About 2.000 people took part in the requiem mass in the Red Church. The whole country came to pay the last tribute to Iryna Kazulina: famous writers, artists, composers and directors, leaders of oppositional parties and public organisations, representatives of youth movements, diplomats of foreign states and common citizens.

Many flowers and wreaths in national white-red-white colours were laid to the coffin with Iryna Kazulina’s body. People didn’t hide their grieve, many of them were crying and saying word of condolence to relatives – daughters Volha and Yuliya and her spouse, political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin, who was released for three days to attend the funeral on request of the Belarusian public and world community.

The mourning ceremony was held in the Red Church from 8pm 26 February till 12pm 27 February. After that priest Uladzislau Zavalniuk read a requiem mass.

The coffin was carried out in arms put on a catafalque in some hundreds meters.

Iryna Kazulina is to be buried in the cemetery in Tarasava village near Minsk. The authorities didn’t find a gravesite for her in Maskouskiya or Kalvaryiskiya cemeteries, as the relatives asked.

Spouse of the deceased Alyaksandr Kazulin must return to the Vitsebsk colony tomorrow, though the whole world insists on his release.

The EU countries and the US won’t normalise relation with the official Minsk without release of former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin.