Valentin Sukalo
Valentin Sukalo | |
|---|---|
Валянцін Сукала | |
Sukalo in 2020 | |
| Chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus | |
| Assumed office 4 January 1997 | |
| President | Alexander Lukashenko |
| Preceded by | Vladimir Karavay |
| Minister of Justice of Belarus | |
| In office 27 October 1994 – 4 January 1997 | |
| President | Alexander Lukashenko |
| Preceded by | Leonid Dashuk |
| Succeeded by | Gennady Vorontsov |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 August 1942 |
| Alma mater | Belarusian State University |
| Awards | Order of the Fatherland |
Valentin Olegovich Sukalo (Russian: Валентин Олегович Сукало; born 16 August 1942) is a lawyer who served as the Minister of Justice of Belarus from 1994 to 1997 and as the chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus since 1997.[1][2]
Early life and education
Valentin Sukalo was born to a working-class family in Minsk on 16 August 1942. Initially, he studied at Minsk Technical School, and later served in the military, where his commanders advised him to pursue higher education. Sukalo followed their advice and graduated from the law faculty of Belarusian State University in 1968.[1][3]
Career
Valentin Sukalo started his professional career as a lathe operator at the Minsk Tractor Plant. After graduating from the university in 1968, he was appointed as the only judge in the Myadzyel district court.[3][4] Four years later, he was transferred to the Minsk regional court and was appointed its chairman in 1977.[5]
In 1984, he started to work as Deputy of the Minister of Justice of the Byelorussian SSR. In 1987, Sukalo was appointed as a head of the ministry's department that oversaw the work of the general courts, and he was promoted to minister in 1988.[5] From 1989 to 1992, Sukalo worked as the First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of the USSR.[4] Upon the collapse of the Soviet Union, he returned to Belarus to his previous position as Deputy Minister.[5]
After Alexander Lukashenko was elected President in 1994, Sukalo was appointed as Minister of Justice of Belarus.[6] According to Sukalo, in his new position, he was occupied with three tasks: drafting a new Constitution for Belarus, introducing a democratic electoral system, and protecting human rights.[7]
In January 1997, following the successful 1996 referendum that consolidated his power, Alexander Lukashenko appointed Sukalo as chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus.[8]
Personal life
Sukalo is married.[9]
Awards
- Honorary lawyer (Belarus, 2000)[5]
- Honorary Diploma of the National Assembly (Belarus, 2002)[5]
- Honorary Diploma of the Council of Ministers (Belarus, 2022)[5]
- Third class of the Order of the Fatherland (Belarus, 2022)[5]
References
- ^ a b "Кто есть кто в Республике Беларусь. Сукало Валентин Олегович" [Who is who in Belarus. Sukalo Valentin Olegovich] (in Russian). Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta. Archived from the original on 17 September 2014.
- ^ "Об освобождении В.О.Сукало от должности Министра юстиции Республики Беларусь" [Regarding the dismissal of V.O. Sukalo from the post of Minister of Justice of the Republic of Belarus]. normativka.by (in Russian). President of Belarus. 4 July 1997. Archived from the original on 28 August 2025.
- ^ a b Gladkaya, Lyudmila (11 June 2020). "Валентин Сукало – о новой системе правосудия" [Valentin Sukalo – on the new justice system]. pravo.by (in Russian). Belarus Today. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020.
- ^ a b "Министры" [Ministers] (in Russian). Ministry of Justice of Belarus. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Знаменитые выпускники. Сукало Валентин Олегович" [Famous graduates. Sukalo Valentin Olegovich] (in Russian). Belarusian State University. Archived from the original on 20 August 2025.
- ^ Oleg, Kuznetsov (13 June 2021). "Топ-6 чиновников, которые с Лукашенко дольше всех" [Top 6 officials who have been with Lukashenka the longest]. United Democratic Forces of Belarus (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 August 2021.
- ^ Coyle, Andrew (2021). Prisons of the World A Better Way. Policy Press. p. 61. ISBN 978-14-4736-248-7.
- ^ "Председатель Верховного суда Беларуси в реанимации" [The Chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus is in intensive care] (in Russian). Charter97. 2 December 2022.
- ^ "Знаменитые люди Гомельщины. Сукало Валентин Олегович" [Famous people of the Gomel region. Sukalo Valentin Olegovich.]. person.goub.by (in Russian).