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. MOORE