Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Belarus

Belarusian Opposition Candidate Detained

Alyaksandr Kazulin pictured as he is being seized by undercover police officers (AFP)

March 2, 2006 -- Government security agents today detained a Belarusian opposition candidate who is running in the March 19 presidential election.

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March 02, 2006

Alyaksandr Kazulin was detained after he tried to enter a conference in Minsk chaired by Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Kazulin's spokeswoman, Nina Shydlouskaya, said he is now being held in a Minsk police station after suffering a severe beating.

In other developments, the leading opposition presidential candidate in Belarus has called a preelection rally later today in the capital, Minsk, without permission from authorities.

Alyaksandr Milinkevich said if police use force to break up today's rally, the opposition "reserve the right to take appropriate measures." He gave no explanation of what these measures might be.

The head of Belarus's Central Election Commission, Lidziya Yarmoshyna, has called the planned rally a "provocative act" and said security forces are entitled to use force.

(AP, Reuters)

Belarus Votes 2006

Click on the image to view a dedicated page with news, analysis, and background information about the Belarusian presidential ballot.

MEET THE CANDIDATES: Read brief biographies of the four candidates in the March 19 election.

Syarhey Haydukevich

Alyaksandr Kazulin

Alyaksandr Lukashenka

Alyaksandr Milinkevich

Click on the image to view RFE/RL's coverage of the election campaign in Belarusian and to listen to RFE/RL's Belarusian Service.

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