Aliaksandr Milinkevich was born on July 25, 1947 in Hrodna, Belarus. He graduated with honours from the Department of Physics and Mathematics of the Hrodna Teacher Institute in 1969, also studying in 2000 at the European Centre for Security Problems Research in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. After finishing his post-graduate study at the Institute of Physics at the Academy of Sciences in 1972, Mr. Milinkevich worked as a junior research assistant. He has been recognized for his long and decorated academic career as a Professor of physics at the State University in Hrodna, writing numerous scientific papers and monographs on quantum electronics, laser engineering, history, culture, education, and Belarusian architecture. From 1990 to 1996, Mr. Milinkevich served as Deputy Mayor of his hometown, Hrodna. He was the United Democratic Forces presidential candidate during the 2006 presidential elections, committed to the advancement of democracy and human rights in Belarus. Shortly following the elections, Mr. Milinkevich called for non-violent resistance to the dictatorship and gathered with supporters, including a large number of students, in Minsk to protest. They were arrested and imprisoned, with many being expelled from their universities and academic institutions for their democratic beliefs. In 2006, Mr. Milinkevich received the Sakharov Price “For Freedom of Thought” from the European Parliament. The 2007 LI Prize for Freedom was awarded to Aliaksandr Milinkevich for his courageous struggle for human rights and his leadership of the democratic movement in Belarus. Founder and Chairman of the Movement for Freedom created after 2006 election with objectives of defending democratic freedoms, strengthening the independence and promoting the European way of development for Belarus.