Kazulin's Lawyer Ihar Rynkevich Decides to Resign from Bar

Ihar Rynkevich, lawyer for imprisoned former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin, has decided to quit the bar.

Mr. Rynkevich told BelaPAN on Friday that the Minsk Regional Bar Association would consider his application for resignation on April 18.

According to Mr. Rynkevich, he explained his decision at the Association's conference on March 28. "Defense lawyers have been turned into milking cows and I've become a whipping boy because of my work for Kazulin," he said. "Lawyers are subject to constant threats. The Ministry of Justice has lately started seven disciplinary cases against my co-workers at the legal advice office. I know that the ministry tries to make trouble for the leadership of the Minsk Regional Bar Association. They want my colleagues to suffer from my activities."

"I'm ready to quit the bar, as I've performed all the missions that Kazulin assigned to me," Mr. Rynkevich noted. "I won't wait until I'm dismissed by the hands of my colleagues."

According to him, Dr. Kazulin said that he understood the decision. "He thanked me for the year that we had had together and said that all my troubles were caused by my stance on his case," Mr. Rynkevich said.

"Although my status will change, I'll continue represent the interests of Kazulin in other efficient forms," he noted. "I think I'll remain engaged in human rights activities and, when there is democracy in the country, I may rejoin the bar."