First Head Of Independent Belarus Stanislau Shushkevich Died

The politician was 87 years old.

At night on May 4, Stanislau Shushkevich, the first head of independent Belarus, died in Minsk. This is reported by Euroradio with reference to his wife Irina.

He was 87 years old. At the end of April he was taken to intensive care after suffering from COVID-19. Two days later he was discharged from hospital, but the politician's health was undermined by the disease.

Stanislau Shushkevich is the son of a repressed Belarusian writer. Prominent Belarusian scientist-physicist and politician.

He was people's deputy of the USSR (since 1989), people's deputy of the BSSR (since 1990).

In 1991-1994, Stanislau Shushkevich was the head of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus of the 12th convocation. As the head of the country he signed the Belovezh Accords, which put an end to the USSR.

He participated in the first presidential election in 1994.

In 1995, Stanislau Shushkevich was again elected to the Supreme Soviet of Belarus and was a member of the Civic Action fraction.

In autumn 1996, he signed the appeal to the Constitutional Court on impeachment of Aliaksandr Lukashenka. He refused to become a member of the House of Representatives and participated in the activity of the Supreme Soviet, the powers of which expired in 2001.

For a long time headed Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada (since 2018 - honorary chairman).

Stanislau Shushkevich always remained faithful to the principles of struggle for independent and democratic Belarus, bravely criticized Lukashenka's criminal policy.

The editorial board of Charter97.org mourns and expresses its sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of Stanislau Shushkevich.