Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK1301
2006-12-22 10:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:  

LETTER FROM KOZULIN'S WIFE TO USG, AMERICAN PEOPLE

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM BO 
pdf how-to read a cable
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R 221013Z DEC 06 ZDK
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5466
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RUCNOSC/ORGAFIZATION FOR SECURITY COOPERATION IN EUROPE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JACMOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS MINSK 001301 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BO
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM KOZULIN'S WIFE TO USG, AMERICAN PEOPLE
UNCLAS MINSK 001301

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BO
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM KOZULIN'S WIFE TO USG, AMERICAN PEOPLE

1. The following is an unofficial trAnslation of a letter from
Irina Kozulina, wife of Belarus' imprisonedformer opposition
presidential candidate AlekSandr Kozulin. Post will send the
original leTter, received December 21, via pouch to EUR/UMB.


2. Begin text:
Tothe United States GoverNment and the American peopleQ
Diqtinguished Ladies and Gentlemen! DearAmerican People!
I am the wife mf Aleksandr Kozulij, former candidate for presidency
in the Republic of Belarus. Dubing the electoral campaign my
husband da2ed to inform the Belarusian `eople of the Belarusian
authorities' crimes afd the illegitimacy of Aleksandr Lukashensko's
presidency. For t(at t`e authorities subjected Dr. Kozulin to
tremendous pressure. He &aced obstacles while campaigning, he was
repeatedly detained by speci!l services, and he was severely beaten
during the illegal detentions. This year in July Aleksandr Kozulin
was conv)cted on trumped-up charges and sentenced to five and a
half years of impriconmelt.
But even in jail my husband continues his struggle against the
illegitimate authorities and for t(e esTablishment of democracy in
Belarus. From October 20 to December 11, 2006, Aleksandr Kozulin
was on hungerstr)ke in jaid. One of the conditions he putfised at the UN@Security Council. Everyone said it
would be difficult to fulfill this condition, that he would have to
either concede or die. But Aleksandr does not know how to give up.
He refused food for 53 days and lost around 30 kiloerams of weighT.
Today he is extremely exhausted physically but his spirit is not
broken.
It was the United States that despite all diplomatic and
organizational formali4ies Succeeded in accomplishing what was next
to impossible.
I deeply appReciate the help of those in the Ulited Sta4es
government who contribuded to making the decision to raise the
issue of human rRghts violatiofs at the UN SecuriTy Council. You
saved the dife of my@husband and proved yet again thaT the life
of a human being is of enormous value. You providJd anotheR
shining example of your commitment to democratic W1UQM9
At this time w+9Qanti-American hysterZXJMQbeing fajned in ou.(HhzU9QQe1 the Unhted *WQQMQdemonstrated that all its actions ard
dZ.VQ*QQexclusively at s]A=IQ%9QQthe progressivY2=IQMQin the
societ^QQ"=UQ!Qsteps are just+Qdirected only at aggrY..KUQand
destructiveQQQ%5QMQthat are leadinQjQ9-%9QQto war and vio+9Qrj
A am crateful tQ
11Qof the Americ`ns wkQBQYQQsupported mr
husband. I thank the radi^ an$ TV ctatikns and thYrQ]MAQAQIMQthat
tell"!QQworld about AlJksandr K/zulin's having beenQQIMQUQQQQand
senten,QQJ11QQQ11e9 I aZ infZ+QQbeQgratefql to@the Unit%d States
Emb`ssy ZQQQ1QIUQfor understalding@and support.Q
Thepe waf a time when KosciuszkoX a BelarUsian, foueht for the
American freedom, and itis symbolic thBt today Americans qaved a
man Who is struggling for a free Belarus.
Irina Kozulija
December 21, 2006
Minsk, Belaru3
End text.


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