25/02/2008 Political Affairs and Democracy
"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Irina Kozulina, after a long and consuming illness against which she fought bravely," said Andrea Rigoni (Italy, ALDE), PACE Rapporteur on the Situation in Belarus, commenting the death of the wife of political prisoner Alexander Kozulin.
"My thoughts now go to her husband, Alexander Kozulin, and to their daughters, Olga and Yulia, to whom I express my most sincere condolences. Since Mr Kozulin’s unjust condemnation, the entire family has been through a terrible ordeal. This must come to an end. The authorities cannot bring Mrs Kozulina back to life but they can and must give Alexander Kozulin his unconditional freedom. His release should be ordered immediately, in time for him to attend his wife’s funeral."