Sakharov Network

Aliaksandr Milinkevich, born in 1947 in the city of Hrodna, is the leader of the democratic opposition in Belarus.

He was chosen to be the joint presidential candidate of the United Democratic Opposition in October 2005, collecting more than 100,000 supporting signatures, and he was able to keep the Belarusian opposition together to form a common front against Aliaksandr Lukashenka throughout the campaign for the presidential elections of 19March 2006. Aliaksandr Milinkevich called for a truly democratic future for Belarus and presented himself as a real alternative to the authoritarianism of Lukashenka.

His diplomatic approach to negotiation and cautious public appearances helped him to build firm international support for his struggle. The results of the elections were assessed by the European Union as neither free nor fair, and furthermore, subject to fraud. Mr Milinkevich officially received 6 % of the votes, but unofficial reports state that his popular support was much higher.

The human rights situation in Belarus has deteriorated since the elections of March 2006. The authorities have enacted a law criminalizing behaviour deemed critical to the state. The silencing and imprisonment of journalists, activists, and other critics found to be politically inconvenient by the current regime still continues.

In April 2006, Mr Milinkevich was himself imprisoned for 15 days, together with other opposition members, for taking part in an 'unsanctioned rally', a peaceful demonstration in Minsk, to mark the 20 the anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.

Despite the oppression, Mr Milinkevich is committed to continuing his fight for democratic future in his country, and for the return of fundamental rights to the Belarusian people, despite an increasingly difficult political climate.