Wife and Daughter of Alexander Kazulin Meet Him in Zhodzina Detention Center

03.04.2006.

Kazulin’s press service reports, on April 1 Iryna and Julia Kazulin, wife and daughter of the former presidential candidate, met him in Zhodzina detention center. The politician was detained on March 25. He is charged with malicious hooliganism and organization of street disorders.

Iryna Kazulin shared her first impressions with RFE/RL: “Firstly, I am very happy I have seen him. I saw his eyes which are still full of light. I saw that he did not change”.

The conversation of Kazulin and his family lasted 2 hours through iron bars. Iryna Kazulin told RFE/RL about the attitude of her husband to the criminal charges against him: “He refused to make any statements – he believes the charges are fabricated and politically motivated. He says the only thing he is looking forward to is a trial. Because only the trial will provide him an opportunity to show all Belarusians what is a provocation by the authorities and savage measures against political opponents”.

According to Iryna Kazulin her husband does not regret that he has headed the march to Akrestsina jail: “He says in other case the attack of the police would be even worse. He says he realizes what kind of fight there would be if he did not go with the people, did not urge them to walk only on sidewalks, if he failed to stop the crowd and turn it round. If he failed to do all that the consequences of the action would be even more brutal”.

Iryna Kazulin says her husband believes his case would be investigated for at least 2 months.
Alexander Kazulin is getting better after he has been beaten during the detention. However, he caught a cold in the cell and now is treated for bronchitis. The former rector of the Belarusian State University is allowed to read a philosophy book. He spends his free time reading the book.

Iryna Kazulin says her husbanded is informed about the events in the country, including Russia’s intention to raise gas prices by 5 times in 2007. “That was predictable”, -- Kazulin commented the news. The wife of the politician added she hasn’t heard any complaints from him about food or conditions in the cell: “He is alright, everything’s ok. We always hear these words from him. He never complains if there are at least minimum conditions for life. He even said that the prison guards are very polite to him”.