50 Days of Kazulin’s Hunger Strike. Opposition Leaders Addressed Prime Minister :: Charter'97 :: News

Leaders of the united opposition addressed an open letter to the Prime Minister of Belarus Syarhei Sidorski. Thus politicians have fulfilled the demand of the former presidential candidate of Belarus, a political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin, who continues his hunger strike in Vitsebsk colony for the 50th day. Opposition leaders write that Alyaksandr Kazulin, who carries out a political hunger strike in the colony, on September 20 called upon Syarhei Sidorski to take upon himself a temporary discharge of duty of the leader of the state, under the Constitution, and to schedule repeat election of the president of Belarus, as Alyaksandr Lukashenka occupies the position of a president illegally. However Syarhei Sidorski still hasn’t answered the appeal of A. Kazulin.

“Today is the 50th day of a political hunger strike of Alyaksandr Kazulin. The life of the political prisoner is at risk. The Belarusian authorities are entirely responsible for the life and health of the former candidate for presidency Alyaksandr Kazulin,” the authors of the letter wrote to S. Sidorski, and urge him to answer Alyaksandr Kazulin without delay.

The address has been signed by the Belarusian opposition leader Alyaksandr Milinkevich, and leaders of democratic parties Anatol Lyabedzka, Anatol Lyaukovich, Vintsuk Vyachorka, Syarhei Kalyakin, Alyaksei Karol, Alyaksandr Bukhvostau.

An Appeal of the United Democratic Forces to Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Syarhei Sidorski

On October 20, 2006 a former candidate in the presidential elections of the Republic of Belarus, Alyaksandr Kazulin, sentenced to 5.5 years of imprisonment for his political believes, went on an indefinite hunger strike of protest.

Since the presidential vote in Belarus in 2006 hasn’t been recognized by the international community, on September 20 Alyaksandr Kazulin called upon You, Mr. Sidorski to take upon yourself a temporary discharge of duty of the leader of the state, under the Constitution, and to call repeat election of the president of Belarus, as Alyaksandr Lukashenka occupies the position of a president illegally. The former chairman of the Council of Republic, had addressed You with the same proposal.

The courage and vigor that Alyaksandr Kazulin shows in his struggle for his rights is today a symbol of all Belarusians’ aspirations to live in a free and democratic state. The Belarusian people are lawfully entitled to the right to political freedoms.

Today the 49th day of a political hunger strike of Alyaksandr Kazulin is passing. The life of the politician is at risk. The Belarusian authorities are entirely responsible for the life and health of the former candidate for presidency Alyaksandr Kazulin.

We demand You to consider the appeal of Alyaksandr Kazulin without delay and answer it.

On the behalf of the United Democratic Forces:

Alyaksandr Milinkevich, the leader of the democratic forces

Anatol Lyabedzka, the chairman of the United Democratic party

Anatol Lyaukovich, an acting chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic party (Hramada)

Alayksei Karol, a deputy chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic party (Hramada)