Belarusians saying last farewell to Iryna Kazulina (photo, video)

A memorial service for Iryna Kazulina, wife of the former candidate for presidency in Belarus, started at 8.oopm on 26 February. More than a thousand of Minsk dwellers and people from other towns came to the Red Church on Independence Square to say last farewell to this courageous woman. Her spouse political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin, released for three days from the colony Vitba-3 for funeral, her daughters Volha and Yuliya, Kazulin’s friends and associates attended the mourning ceremony.

The Red Church wasn’t able to house all people come to pay the tribute to the memory of Iryna Kazulina. Most people came with white and red flowers, resembling the colours of Belarusian national flag. The people were mourning, and didn’t try to keep back their tears.

Priest Uladzislau Zavalniuk read a memorial prayer for Iryna Kazulina, after that the church choir started to sing in Belarusian and Latin, and the memorial ceremony began. People laid flowers and wreaths to the coffin.

Iryna Kazulina’s body will lie in state in the Red Church till noon 27 February. A requiem for Iryna Kazulina will be read at 12pm.

At the same time, it’s still unknown where Iryna Kazulina will be buried. The authorities haven’t yet permitted a request of Iryna’s relatives to give a gravesite on Maskousliya or Kalvaryisliya Cemetery in Minsk.

It should be reminded Iryna, wife of political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin, died from oncological disease on 49th year of life on evening of 23 February.

Photo by Yuliya Darashevich, "Nasha Niva"

Photo by Yuliya Darashevich, "Nasha Niva"