Milinkevich Released From Jail In Belarus

Milinkevich (left) at the April 26 rally in Minsk (RFE/RL) May 12, 2006 -- Belarusian opposition leader Alyaksandr Milinkevich was released from prison today after serving a 15-day sentence.

Milinkevich had been sentenced to jail for taking part in an unauthorized antigovernment protest on April 26, the 20th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster.


Milinkevich ran against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka in elections in March condemned as fraudulent by the opposition and Western governments.


Lukashenka's reelection triggered unprecedented protests in Belarus. Hundreds of opposition supporters were jailed for taking part in the protests.


Two other opposition politicians, Alyaksandr Bukhvostau and Zmitser Dashkevich, were also released today. They had been jailed for taking part in the same protest rally two weeks ago.


(Belapan, AFP, AP)

Belarus Votes 2006

Belarus Votes 2006


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