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Valeriy TsepkaloBelarusian statesman, diplomat, manager and entrepreneur
Date of Birth: 22.02.1965
Country:  Belarus |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Diplomatic and Political Career
- Business and Technological Leadership
- Political Activism and 2020 Presidential Election
- Criminal Charges and Exile
- Family
Early Life and Education
Valery Tsepkalo was born on February 22, 1965, in Grodno, Belarus. The only child of chemical engineers William and Nina Tsepkalo, he excelled in school, graduating with honors and only one blemish on his record: a B in Russian. In 1982, he enrolled at the Belarusian Technological Institute in Minsk. After two years, he was drafted into the elite Strategic Rocket Forces, where he served two years.
Diplomatic and Political Career
After completing his military service, Tsepkalo entered the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1986. He graduated with distinction and pursued a successful academic career, including teaching at MGIMO and obtaining a doctorate in law.
In 1991, Tsepkalo joined the Soviet Embassy in Finland. Upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he returned to Minsk and became a second secretary in the Belarusian Foreign Ministry in 1992. He later became an advisor on foreign policy to the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Belarus, Stanislav Shushkevich.
In 1994, Tsepkalo joined the electoral campaign of Alexander Lukashenko, eventually becoming the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus on August 8, 1994. From 1997 to 2002, he served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States and Mexico.
Business and Technological Leadership
After leaving diplomatic service, Tsepkalo became an assistant to the President of Belarus for science and technology. In 2005, he established the Belarus High Technologies Park and served as its director from 2005 to 2017. He also held various roles in the United Nations, including as the Secretary General's Expert on Information and Communication Technologies and Information Security.
Political Activism and 2020 Presidential Election
In 2021, Tsepkalo announced the formation of the Belarusian Democratic Forum, aiming to unite opposition forces. He announced his candidacy for president in May 2020, but was denied registration on the grounds of insufficient signatures.
Criminal Charges and Exile
Following the fraudulent 2020 presidential election and the ensuing protests, Tsepkalo faced criminal charges and fled the country on July 24, 2020. He has remained in exile, accusing the Lukashenko regime of human rights violations and political repression.
