Belarusian opposition symbol Aleksander Milinkiewicz dies

Aleksander Milinkiewicz, a prominent figure in Belarus's democratic opposition and its presidential candidate in 2006, has died. His family confirmed his passing on August 11. Milinkiewicz had undergone a complex surgery in November 2025 and had been in critical condition for an extended period.

Milinkiewicz was a significant political figure in Belarus. In the 1990s, he served as the deputy chairman of the executive committee in Grodno. He also managed Semyon Domash's election campaign in the 2001 presidential race.

In 2005, democratic forces in Belarus selected Milinkiewicz as their unified candidate for the 2006 presidential elections. According to official results, he secured approximately 6% of the vote, placing second behind Alexander Lukashenko. Following the election, in 2006, Milinkiewicz assumed leadership of the "For Freedom" movement, heading it until 2016.