Sports authorities, state media ignore death of legendary freestyle coach Kazieka

August 12, Pozirk. Belarus’ National Olympic Committee, sports ministry and other governmental agencies, along with state media, are making no mention of the death of world-famous Belarusian freestyle coach Mikałaj Kazieka, who passed away on August 10 at the age of 76.

At the same time, state media extensively covered the death of Soviet-era actress and ballet dancer Natalia Trubnikova in Moscow on the same day.

Following the August 2020 presidential election, Kazieka expressed support for protests against ballot rigging and police violence and signed an open letter, along with hundreds of other athletes, calling for the official election results to be declared invalid. As a result, the authorities stripped him of his awards and removed him from the national team. Sports Minister Siarhiej Kavalčuk, Alaksandar Łukašenka’s former body guard, claimed that Kazieka had lost his job because of “alcoholism.”

Athletes trained by Kazieka have won eight medals at the Winter Olympics, including four golds. Belarusian freestylers failed to earn a single medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, breaking a 28-year string of podium finishes.

Kazieka held numerous state awards, including the title of best coach of Belarus.

On August 11, Belarusian opposition politician Alaksandar Milinkievič, who ran against Alaksandar Łukašenka in the 2006 presidential election, died in Poland at the age of 79. Belarusian state media also ignored the news, while one of the pro-Łukašenka Telegram channels published derogatory posts about Milinkievič.

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Prominent freestyle coach Kazieka dies aged 76

August 11, Pozirk. Prominent Belarusian freestyle coach Mikałaj Kazieka died at the age of 76, Vadzim Dzieviatoŭski, former head of the Belarusian Athletics Federation, has said on Instagram. Kazieka supported the 2020 postelection protests and signed an open letter, along …

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