Case of Aleksandr Kozulin

Alexandr Kozulin is a former rector of the Belarusian State University, a former vise-minister, a professor and a leader of the opposition Belarusian Social-Democratic Party (Hramada). He was a candidate for presidency during the last presidential elections in March 2006.

Mr. Kozulin and his family were under the hard pressure from the authorities during the presidential elections campaign. In particular:

On February 17, 2006 Kozulin was not able to hold a planned press conference at the National press room. The Administration of the National press-room closed the press conference room; unknown people blocked the entry and provoked a conflict with Mr. Kozulin.

On March 2, 2006 Kozulin tried to register for the Belarusian Public Meeting as a candidate for presidency. However he was unlawfully detained. He was beaten by unknown people, and than taken to the police station, where he was hold for several hours. Mr. Kozulin was not allowed to contact his relatives till the arrival of his attorney. Kozulin broke the portrait of Aleksandr Lukashenko in the office 103 of October police station.

On March 25, 2006 , a week after the March 19 vote in which authorities say President Alexander Lukashenko won a landslide victory, Belarusian authorities arrested Kozulin.

On March 30, 2006 Alexandr Kozulin was charged with violation of the following article of the Belarus ian Criminal Code: Part 2 of Article 339, hooliganism, and Article 342, the organization of group actions, crudely breaking public order and disobedience to legal requirements of the authorities or causing a break out in functioning of the transport, any enterprise, institution or organization, or active participation in such actions.

On July 13, 2006 Kozulin was found guilty by the judge Rybakov and was sentenced to five and a half years of imprisonment. The trial on Kozulin was carried out in conditions of evident breaches of the Criminal code, the Constitution of the Republics Belarus , as well as code of ethics and moral. The numerous solicitations of the Defense including an appeal to let daughter Kozulin’s Olga to be a protector, 10 challenges to the judge and State Prosecutor, about joining the material evidence у such as photo-, video-materials, recognizing witnesses of the Defense, were declined by the court. Kozulin was kept without drinking water and food during most days of the trial.

On September 19, 2006, the Panel of Judges of Minsk City Court on criminal cases left the sentence without changes and the cassation of Aleksandr Kozulin appeals without satisfaction.

On October 20, 2006 Alexandr Kozulin went on a hunger-strike to protest against lawlessness in Belaerus caused by the illegitimate president.

At present the defense lodged a Supervisory complaint to the Presidium of the Minsk City Court. Alexandr Kozulin and his lawyers are going to apply to all national and international instances to defend the rights of the political prisoner, ex-candidate to presidency of the Republic of Belarus .

The League demands the immediate cessation of the criminal persecution and release of Aleksandr Kozulin.