29 February 2008
Small business activists call for release of Kazulin

A group of small business activists has called for the immediate release of former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin.

"By releasing his political opponents under pressure from the Belarusian and international public, Lukashenka seeks to retain an image of a good-doer," the group said in a statement posted on the Web site ourbelarus.org on Friday. "Against his highly educated rival for the presidency, he uses methods that smirches the fair name of Alyaksandr Kazulin."

"We urge the people and governments of democratic countries to use all the strength of international solidarity and international law for the cause of the quick release of Ayaksandr Kazulin," the statement reads. "We demand the immediate release of prisoner of conscience Alyaksandr Kazulin without any conditions and personal guarantees for Mr. Lukashenka."

The statement bears signatures of small business activists Anatol Zmitrovich, Alyaksandr Makayew, Mikalay Awtukhovich, Ihar Lednik, as well as opposition politican Vyachaslaw Siwchyk.

Dr. Kazulin was sentenced to five and a half years in prison after post-election protests in 2006. Amnesty International has declared him a prisoner of conscience. //BelaPAN