Stanislau S. Shushkevich became chairperson of the Belarusian Supreme Soviet in 1991, the country’s top political position. He was dismissed by parliament in 1994 as a result of his liberal political and economic policies.
Stanislau Stanislavavich Shushkevich, born in 1934, Belarusian professor and politician, who served as chairperson of the Belarusian Supreme Soviet from 1991 to 1994. Born in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, Shushkevich attended Belarus State University, where he graduated with a degree in physics in 1956. In 1969 he was appointed to the university’s faculty. In 1986 he was appointed pro-rector (vice-chancellor) of the university, a post he held until 1990. He became involved in politics in 1986 as a critic of government negligence in reporting and controlling the nuclear accident near Chernobyl’ in neighboring Ukraine. With the backing of the political organization Belarusian Popular Front, Shushkevich became a member of the Belarusian Supreme Soviet in 1990. In 1991 he became its chairperson, the republic’s top political post, and replaced Mikalay Dementey (1990-1991), who was dismissed for his failure to condemn the Communist hard-liner attempt to end the liberalizing reforms of USSR president Mikhail Gorbachev (1988-1991).
As the top Belarusian political leader, Shushkevich followed a centrist course regarding the country’s relationship with other former Soviet republics. He was one of the three original founders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a loose alliance of former Soviet republics, and he hosted the first CIS summit. Shushkevich tried to limit the degree of integration between Belarus and the other CIS members. His stance evoked political opposition from several prominent Belarusian officials, including Prime Minister Vyacheslau Kebich (1990-1994). In April 1993 the Belarusian parliament overrode Shushkevich’s objections and voted to join the CIS collective security agreement. Shushkevich had advocated complete neutrality in military matters, and he claimed that supporters of the CIS agreement were trading independence for Russian oil. Shushkevich was ousted from his post on trumped-up charges by a Communist-dominated parliament in January 1994, largely because of his liberal political and economic views.
Stanislau Stanislavavich Shushkevich, born in 1934, Belarusian professor and politician, who served as chairperson of the Belarusian Supreme Soviet from 1991 to 1994. Born in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, Shushkevich attended Belarus State University, where he graduated with a degree in physics in 1956. In 1969 he was appointed to the university’s faculty. In 1986 he was appointed pro-rector (vice-chancellor) of the university, a post he held until 1990. He became involved in politics in 1986 as a critic of government negligence in reporting and controlling the nuclear accident near Chernobyl’ in neighboring Ukraine. With the backing of the political organization Belarusian Popular Front, Shushkevich became a member of the Belarusian Supreme Soviet in 1990. In 1991 he became its chairperson, the republic’s top political post, and replaced Mikalay Dementey (1990-1991), who was dismissed for his failure to condemn the Communist hard-liner attempt to end the liberalizing reforms of USSR president Mikhail Gorbachev (1988-1991).
As the top Belarusian political leader, Shushkevich followed a centrist course regarding the country’s relationship with other former Soviet republics. He was one of the three original founders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a loose alliance of former Soviet republics, and he hosted the first CIS summit. Shushkevich tried to limit the degree of integration between Belarus and the other CIS members. His stance evoked political opposition from several prominent Belarusian officials, including Prime Minister Vyacheslau Kebich (1990-1994). In April 1993 the Belarusian parliament overrode Shushkevich’s objections and voted to join the CIS collective security agreement. Shushkevich had advocated complete neutrality in military matters, and he claimed that supporters of the CIS agreement were trading independence for Russian oil. Shushkevich was ousted from his post on trumped-up charges by a Communist-dominated parliament in January 1994, largely because of his liberal political and economic views.
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