Alaksandar Milinkievič facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alaksandr Milinkievič
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| Аляксандр Мілінкевіч Александр Милинкевич |
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Milinkievič in 2009
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| Born | 25 July 1947 Grodno, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
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| Died | 11 August 2026 (aged 79) |
| Alma mater | University of Grodno |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Known for | Presidential candidate (2006) |
| Spouse(s) | Inna Kuley |
| Children | 2 |
Alaksandar Uładzimieravič Milinkievič (born July 25, 1947 – died August 11, 2026) was an important politician from Belarus. He was chosen by several leading opposition groups in Belarus to run for president in the 2006 presidential election. He ran against the country's long-time leader, Alexander Lukashenko.
Contents
A Life in Public Service
Early Life and Education
Milinkievič was born in Grodno, a city in Belarus, on July 25, 1947. After finishing his studies at the University of Grodno, he earned a special degree called a Ph.D. from the Institute of Physics. This institute is part of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
From 1980 to 1984, he helped set up the Physics Faculty at the University of Sétif in Algeria. He also taught at the University of Grodno from 1978 to 1980, and again from 1984 to 1990.
Stepping into Politics
During his time teaching, Milinkievič began working with local city officials. He became the head of one of the city's committees. Later, he rose to the position of deputy mayor for the city of Grodno.
In 2001, he served as the main organizer for Siamion Domash. Domash was another opposition leader who ran for president in the 2001 presidential elections in Belarus.
International Recognition
In October 2005, a group called the United Democratic Forces of Belarus selected Milinkievič. They chose him to be the single candidate for the opposition in the 2006 presidential elections.
On December 12, 2006, the European Parliament honored him with the Sakharov Prize. This award recognizes people who have made great efforts for human rights and freedom. He also received the seventh Hanno R. Ellenbogen Citizenship Award. This award is given each year by the Prague Society for International Cooperation.
The Presidential Campaign
Uniting Opposition Forces
In October 2005, about 900 representatives from different political and community groups met in Minsk. They gathered to choose one opposition candidate for the 2006 Presidential election. Milinkievič was selected over three other political leaders. The goal was to have a single strong candidate to run against President Lukashenko. Lukashenko had been leading Belarus for more than ten years.
Campaign Challenges and Support
Milinkievič saw his campaign as similar to the "Orange Revolution" in neighboring Ukraine. This was a movement where people supported a pro-Western candidate. He felt that the events in Ukraine inspired his supporters. He believed that Belarus could also see similar changes.
However, opposition leaders knew it would be a difficult journey. The economy in Belarus, which had some features of market socialism, had strong support in rural areas. Many people in Belarus still benefited from social programs that were similar to those from the Soviet era.
In the 2006 presidential election, official results showed Milinkievič received 6% of the votes. The current leader, Lukashenko, received 83%. The UN Human Rights Committee later found that taking away Milinkievič's campaign materials during the election went against his rights.
In January 2006, the French government invited Milinkievič to Paris. He met with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also gave many interviews to news outlets outside Belarus. Inside Belarus, he had very limited access to television. This was because the media there was controlled by the state. He did get to give one pre-election speech on Belarusian television in 2006.
He also met with important leaders from other countries. These included the Polish prime minister, Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, and the president of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus. In February 2006, he met with the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. He also met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Javier Solana, among other European politicians. His campaign received support from the Polish government and later from officials in the European Union.
Personal Details
Milinkievič was married to Inna Kuley. He had two sons from an earlier marriage. Besides his native Belarusian, he also spoke Polish, French, and Russian.
Facing Difficulties
Milinkievič faced various challenges because of his political activities. In April 2006, he faced legal consequences for participating in a gathering that did not have official permission.
In November 2006, authorities questioned Milinkievič multiple times while he was traveling. Later that month, he was questioned at a Minsk airport about his travel documents after returning from a meeting in Riga.
In December 2006, he was questioned again in Beloozyorsk. In January 2007, Milinkievič was stopped and questioned by authorities on different occasions, including about driving and traffic incidents. He was found to be sober in one instance. Later that month, he said he received a large fine related to his travels. He believed this fine was unfair and a form of punishment.
See also
In Spanish: Aleksandr Milinkevich para niños
- Knight of Freedom Award
