One of the BPF leaders withdrew from “election”

• 23.09.2008, 8:38

Deputy head of the Belarusian Popular Front Alyaksei Yanukevich withdrew his candidature from the election. The politician was registered in the Autazavadskaya constituency of Minsk.

Yanukevich explained his decision: “In actual fact, I worry about unreasonable heel of the western countries to the Belarusian regime that is seen lately. It is obviously today that the election can’t be open and democratic. The opposition has been seduced from control of the election. The situation, when the new composition of the parliament may be recognised by the European countries, is very dangerous in long-term prospects. Withdrawal from the election campaign is the least I can do to prevent this.”

As the Chatrter’97 press center has already informed, the BPF council reformulated its previous decision on withdrawal party MP candidatures from the “parliamentary election”.

On August 30, the council decided that BPF candidates for members of the “parliament” must withdraw from the “election campaign” not later than September 23. This point was changed at the session on September 20. According to this decision, MP candidates may withdraw from “election”.

However, a decision was also reached at the council that every party candidate who is going to run in the “election” to the end, must sign a statement saying he or she considers this “election” to be unfree and unfair, and will never recognise the “house of representatives” a legitimate body. In this statement every candidate must give arguments explaining his or her position. The main argument is non- banned access to polling station election commissions for opposition parties members. A candidate should also name the violations of the election legislation, he or she has faced during the work in the constituency.