Valentin Sukalo


Valentin Olegovich Sukalo 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.

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.

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. Four years later, he was transferred to the Minsk regional court and was appointed its chairman in 1977.
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. From 1989 to 1992, Sukalo worked as the First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of the USSR. Upon the collapse of the Soviet Union, he returned to Belarus to his previous position as Deputy Minister.
After Alexander Lukashenko was elected President in 1994, Sukalo was appointed as Minister of Justice of Belarus. 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.
In January 1997, following the successful 1996 referendum that consolidated his power, Alexander Lukashenko appointed Sukalo as chairman of the Supreme Court of Belarus.

Personal life

Sukalo is married.

Awards