KOZULIN RECOVERING, CALLS FOR ELECTION BOYCOTTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MINSK 000028 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/09/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO SUBJECT: KOZULIN RECOVERING, CALLS FOR ELECTION BOYCOTTS REF: A. 06 MINSK 1213 ¶B. 06 MINSK 1222 Classified By: Classified by Charge Jonathan Moore for reason 1.4 (d). ¶1. (C) On January 8, Irina Kozulina, wife of imprisoned opposition Belarusian Social Democratic Party "Gramada" (BSDP) Chair and former presidential candidate Aleksandr Kozulin, visited with Charge at his request to discuss the condition of her husband after ending his 53-day hunger strike on December 11 (refs A and B). According to prison authorities, Kozulin's weight is approximately 80 kilograms and his blood pressure has stabilized. Although Kozulin continues to experience some health complications stemming from his hunger strike and his pre-trial detention, he has refused treatment in the prison's medical unit because of the low standard of care and possible collaboration between the GOB and the prison's medical personnel. (Note: Observing that she and her family members usually abjure modern medicine, Kozulina also mentioned that she will travel to Sweden and possibly Poland for treatment in connection with her own ongoing struggle with cancer. End note.) ¶2. (C) Although physically weakened, Kozulin follows Belarus' political and economic situation very closely by listening to Radio Svoboda (RFE/RL in Belarusian) in his cell and passing messages to BSDP subordinates via his lawyer Igor Rynkevich. Kozulina confirmed public statements by Rynkevich that Kozulin has called upon any opposition candidates who win in the January 14 local elections to give up their seats to protest the unfree and unfair nature of the elections. ¶3. (C) Kozulin reiterated her sincerest gratitude and that of her husband for the USG's December 12 efforts to discuss her husband's imprisonment and the overall issue of the human rights situation in Belarus at the UNSC. She also thanked the Embassy for its continuing support for Kozulin and other Belarusians imprisoned for political reasons. Moore