Hienadz Karpienka

Who was Hienadz Karpienka?

Dr. Hienadź Karpienka was a Belarusian scientist and an important politician in opposition to president Alexander Lukashenko.

Hienadz Karpienka was born in Minsk.

In 1987 he was director of the Maladzyechna metallurgy plant.

In 1990 Karpienka defended his doctorate dissertation "Technology of Materials".

Karpienka was author of 50 inventions, which were implemented in 15 countries. In 1994 he was elected corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

Karpienka was the deputy of two Belarusian parliaments, he was the lead for the commission on science and technology. He was also a member and one of the leaders of the United Civic Party.

In 1992 he became Head of Maladzyechna Executive Committee. Within two years of becoming mayor, Hienadz Karpienka introduced several local economic reforms, established musical and theatrical festivals, founded a local football club and performed a radical de-sovietization of the city's street names.

In 1996 Karpienka was leading the initiative to impeach President Lukashenka, although this initiative lacked significant support.