Vadzim Sarančukoŭ (Belarusian: Вадзім Уладзіміравіч Саранчукоў) (born April 19, 1980) is Belarusian politician, social activist and dissident. Since April 2021 he is the chairman of the BPF Party.[1]
Vadzim Sarančukoŭ | |
|---|---|
| Вадзім Уладзіміравіч Саранчукоў | |
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| Chair of the BPF Party | |
| Assumed office 12 April 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Ryhor Kastusioŭ |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 April 1980 Grodno, Byelorussian SSR |
| Political party | Belarusian Popular Front |
| Alma mater | Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno |
| Occupation | Politician, writer, social activist |
Early life and education
editSarančukoŭ was born in Grodno on April 19, 1980. He studied from 1998 to 2001 at the Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno and graduated from the Faculty of Law specialising in civil law.[2]
Career
editAfter university he started public activities in the BPF. He was repeatedly arrested. Since 1998, he has been engaged in entrepreneurial activities as well as in political activity. In 2004 he was fined for using the white-red-white flag of the Belarusian opposition.[3]
Sarančukoŭ took part in public performances at the beginning of 2017. Popular demonstrations were caused by the tax on junk food. On March 14, 2017, Sarančukoŭ was brought to administrative responsibility for his activities.[4]
During the 2019 Belarusian parliamentary election he was summoned to the electoral commission after allegedly disturbing materials before sharing them with the commission.[5]
In 2020, Sarančukoŭ did not hold events dedicated to Freedom Day on March 25 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus. Sarančukoŭ refused to participate in the 2020 Belarusian presidential election.[6] During the protests the erupted during that period he, together with group of protesters submitted a letter to the Grodno Executive Committee (city hall) with steps that should be taken.[7]
In 2021, he left for Lithuania, due to possible punishment by the authorities, and then he left the country to Lithuania.[8] After the jailing of the chairman of the BPF Party, Ryhor Kastusioŭ, from April 12, 2021, he was replaced by Sarančukoŭ.[9][10][11] In an interview he gave to Belarusian radio station in Bialystok, Ratsia, he reaffirmed that the party is still active in Belarus.[8][12]
In August 2024, Sarančukoŭ was sentenced in absentia to four years of imprisonment and a fine for "facilitating extremist activities".[13]
References
edit- ^ "Партыя БНФ працягвае працаваць у Беларусі — Саранчукоў" (in Belarusian). European Radio for Belarus. Archived from the original on 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
- ^ "САРАНЧУКОЎ Вадзім Уладзіміравіч" (in Belarusian). Belarusian Election Committee. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
- ^ "2004 Country Report on Human Rights". United States Department of State – Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. 2005-02-28. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
- ^ "Вадзім Саранчукоў кіраўнік гарадской арганізацыі партыі БНФ у Гродне" (in Belarusian). Hrodna Life. 2017-03-27. Archived from the original on 2018-07-19.
- ^ "У избирательной комиссии возникли вопросы к Вадиму Саранчукову по агитационным листовкам" (in Russian). Viasna Human Rights Centre. 2019-10-29. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
- ^ "Праз каронавірус у Горадні адмовіліся ад правядзення масавай акцыі на Дзень Волі" (in Belarusian). Belsat TV.
- ^ "«Мы не строили воздушные замки»" Вадим Саранчуков рассказал, как в августе 2020 Гродно стал «свободным городом» и почему это так быстро закончилось" (in Russian). Hrodna Life. 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
- ^ a b "Партия БНФ продолжает работать в Беларуси — Саранчуков" (in Russian). European Radio for Belarus. 2022-11-10.
- ^ "Саранчуков избран и.о. главы Партии БНФ" (in Russian). Politring.com. 2021-05-17.
- ^ Старшыня i намесьнiкi старшыні Партыi БНФ Archived 19 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine(in Belarusian)
- ^ Вадзім Саранчукоў: Партыя БНФ працягвае працаваць(in Belarusian)
- ^ "Вадзім Саранчукоў: Партыя БНФ працягвае працаваць". Racyja.com. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
- ^ В.а. кіраўніка Партыі БНФ Саранчукоў завочна асуджаны на 4 гады пазбаўлення волі