Alaksandr Milinkiewicz, Belarusian Democratic Opposition Leader, Dies at 77

Alaksandr Milinkiewicz, a prominent figure in Belarus’s democratic opposition, former presidential candidate, and Sakharov Prize laureate, has passed away at the age of 77 following health complications.

Independent Media Reports Passing

Independent Belarusian media outlets—including Zierkało, Nasza Niwa, and Biełsat—reported the death of Alaksandr Milinkiewicz. The politician’s family previously stated that Milinkiewicz was struggling with health issues, and Zierkało recalled that he underwent major surgery in November of last year.

Political Career and 2006 Election

Milinkiewicz was an important figure in the Belarusian democratic opposition. In 2006, he ran as the joint candidate of democratic forces in the presidential election in Belarus, facing Aliaksandr Lukashenka. Following the election, which the opposition deemed rigged, he participated in protests in Minsk that were brutally dispersed by security forces.

Democratization Efforts and Emigration

Between 2007 and 2016, he led the “For Freedom” opposition social movement, working toward the democratization of Belarus and the development of civil society. Following the wave of repressions after the 2020 presidential election, he left the country and continued his activities in the Belarusian opposition in emigration. He served as a social adviser to opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was an initiator of the Free Belarusian University in Poland, and held honorary membership in the Union of Poles in Belarus.

International Awards and Recognition

Milinkiewicz was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament and the Kazimierz Pułaski “Knight of Freedom” Award for promoting freedom, justice, and democracy. He also received the Sergio Vieira de Mello Award for peace-building efforts.

Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska on Milinkiewicz’s Legacy

Senate Marshal Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska wrote on the platform X expressing her sadness over the death of the independent 2006 presidential candidate and European Parliament Sakharov Prize laureate. She stated that a symbolic man who dedicated his entire life to democracy in Belarus, the construction of a better Europe, and friendly Polish-Belarusian relations had passed away, while also extending condolences to the deceased’s wife and children.

Aleś Zarembiuk: A True Ambassador of Polish-Belarusian Relations

Aleś Zarembiuk, president of the Belarusian House in Warsaw, stated that Mr. Alaksandr was a true and heartfelt ambassador of Polish-Belarusian affairs and relations, noting that he always cared for the Polish minority, including Polish schools in Grodno when he served as vice-president of that city, and maintained the best relations with the Union of Poles in Belarus. Zarembiuk recalled that Milinkiewicz considered pro-Belarusian, pro-European, and pro-Polish stances inseparable, and mentioned that he had to move to Poland in recent years after security apparatus contacts warned him of an impending arrest.