René Abeliuk

René Abeliuk Manasevich (14 February 1931 – 19 November 2014) was a Chilean lawyer, academic and politician. One of the key opposition leaders against the Pinochet dictatorship, Abeliuk served as Minister of State and executive vice-president of CORFO during the first democratic administration of President Patricio Aylwin.

Early life René Abeliuk Manasevich was born on 14 February 1931 in Santiago, Chile, to Jewish immigrants from Odesa who moved to Chile in the beginning of the 20th century.

Abeliuk attended the Instituto Nacional General José Miguel Carrera in Santiago and studied law at Universidad de Chile. Upon becoming a lawyer, he worked with famed Chilean jurist and specialized in civil law.

Political career Abeliuk entered politics in 1948, joining the Radical Party of Chile.

On 3 August 1971 Abeliuk, with several of his colleagues, left the Radical Party and founded the Party of the Radical Left (PIR).

Later life After his time in government, Abeliuk returned to practicing law. Between 2003 and 2006, Abeliuk served as an appellate attorney for the Supreme Court of Chile. He wrote several legal articles and books, as well as columns for El Mercurio and Las Últimas Noticias.

Personal life Abeliuk was married to María Olga Rojas Besoaín, an educator at the University of Chile and later a judge of the Eighth Criminal Court of Santiago. Together Abeliuk and Rojas had two children.

Abeliuk died of cancer on 19 November 2014 in Santiago.