Mikhail Chigir

Chigir was born in Usovo (Belarusian: Vusava) on 24 May 1948.{{cite web|url=http://www.rulers.org/indexc2.html|title=Index Ch|publisher=Rulers.org|accessdate=10 July 2012}}

Chigir was appointed as Prime Minister in July 1994, on the day following the inauguration of Alexander Lukashenko as president.{{cite web|url=http://www.ilhr.org/belarus/chigirversion.htm|title=Mikhail Chigir: Background|publisher=International League for Human Rights|accessdate=8 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323074142/http://www.ilhr.org/belarus/chigirversion.htm|archive-date=23 March 2012|url-status=dead}} Prior to this, he served as head of Belagroprombank, a bank specializing in agricultural pursuits.

In 1996, Chigir resigned as prime minister in protest of Lukashenko's efforts to gain unlimited authority over the country. The following year he became a signatory of Charter 97.{{cite web|url=http://www.belarus-misc.org/who/ltr-chigir.htm|title=Mikhail Chyhir (Chigir) – Businessman and Former Prime Minister|publisher=Belarus Miscellany|accessdate=8 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234122/http://www.belarus-misc.org/who/ltr-chigir.htm|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}} In 1999, he announced he would run for President of Belarus in order to unseat Lukashenko.

On 30 March 1999, Chigir was arrested by the Belarusian government. It was alleged that he embezzled large sums of money involving loans while in charge of Belagroprombank. Chigir argued that the loans were not due to be repaid until after he was no longer with the bank, thus the money did not involve him. Prior to Chigir's arrest, several other officials who had been attempting to organize a campaign against Lukashenko were continuously repressed by the government, including Viktar Hanchar, who was arrested and later disappeared and eventually presumed murdered, allegedly under the order of someone close to the President. Chigir's arrest received negative reactions from governments around the world and his release was demanded by the US State Department, the European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Additionally, Amnesty International demanded his release and deemed him a prisoner of conscience.{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur49/006/1999/en/|title=Document – Belarus: Prisoner of Conscience: Mikhail Chigir|publisher=Amnesty International|date=15 April 1999|accessdate=10 July 2012}} The International League for Human Rights also protested his arrest. Chigir ultimately avoided jail time, receiving a three-year suspended sentence with a two-year probationary period.{{cite web|url=http://dlib.eastview.com/browse/doc/13530586|title=Mikhail Chigir Won't Go to Jail. Belarus Ex-Prime Minister Gets Three-Year Suspended Sentence|publisher=The Current Digest of the Russian Press|accessdate=10 July 2012|date=21 July 2000|author=Igor Grigoryev}} Following the trial, he stated his intention to run for election to the House of Representatives of Belarus.

• Politics of Belarus

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Category:1948 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Kapyl district

Category:Prime ministers of Belarus

Category:Amnesty International prisoners of conscience held by Belarus

Category:Belarusian prisoners and detainees

Category:Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation alumni

Category:Belarus State Economic University alumni