Association of Political Prisoners founded in Belarus

A number of well-known Belarusian social and public leaders withstand political repressions of the authorities.

It has been stated by the ex-candidate for presidency in Belarus, a former political prisoner Alyaksandr Kazulin, the web-source kozylin.com informs.

Kazulin announced foundation of the new association during a reception dedicated to the 55th anniversary of Radio Svaboda and presentation of the book “One day of political prisoner”, created by journalists of this radio station. Many well-known people of Belarus voted for creation of the association. In different time after Lukashenka’s coming to power, were imprisoned, and many like Alyaksandr Kazulin were recognized prisoners of conscience by international human rights organisations.

“Now the authorities are preparing a new law which would give law-enforcing agencies – the KGB, the Internal Affairs Ministry, the State Control Committee – new possibilities to detain our citizens without sanction of the prosecutor. And we understand perfectly well that political repressions are to continue, that is why creation of the Association of Political prisoners is a very important, as it is very important for the voice of political prisoners (including those who are behind the cars now, like Vaukavysk businessmen Mikalai Autukhovich and Yury Lyavonau, as well as the former officer Uladzimir Asipenka) to be heard worldwide,” Alyaksandr Kazulin said.

Among those who joined the Association of Political Prisoners, the former head of the Belarusian government Mikhail Chyhir, a former agriculture minister Vasil Lyavonau, a journalist and a former deputy of the parliament Mikola Markevich, young activists Andrei Kim and Artur Finkevich, politicians Vyachaslau Siuchyk, Yury Khadyka, Viktar Ivashkevich, human rights activists Valery Shchukin, Katsyaryna Sadouskaya, a former Minsk mayor and former Minister of Foreign Economic Ties, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador Mikhail Marynich and other well-known personalities.