US Welcomes Belarus' Temporary Release of Opposition Leader, Wants It Made Permanent

The United States is welcoming Belarus' release from prison of a political opposition leader to attend his wife's funeral and described as positive steps other recent releases of political opponents.

A statement by U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey demanded that Alexander Kozulin's release be made permanent, which he said could lead to a thaw in relations between the United States and the former Soviet republic.

"Should Mr. Kozulin's release be made permanent, all internationally recognized political prisoners would have been released, and we would be prepared to begin a dialogue with Belarus on further steps to improve bilateral relations," Casey said.

Other "political prisoners" recently released, he said, are former lawmaker Andrei Klimov; journalist Alexander Sdvizhkov; political party leader Zmitser Dashkevich and Artur Finkevich, leaders of the Young Front organization; and Nikolay Avtukhovich and Yuriy Leonov.

President George W. Bush's press secretary, Dana Perino, issued a strong statement Monday night condemning the failure of Belarusian authorities to release Kozulin to be with his wife, Irina Kozulina, during her last days. She died of breast cancer on Saturday.

Kozulin was given three days of freedom to attend her funeral.

Kozulin was arrested in after complaining that March 2006 elections in which he lost to hard-line President Alexander Lukashenko were rigged. He was sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison.