Belarusian Popular Front Party ready to hold convention on October Square

The Belarusian Popular Front party plans to hold its convention on October (Kastrychnitskaya) Square in Minsk, said the deputy chairman of the party Viktar Ivashkevich. As said by him, the convention is planned for December 8-9 this year.

“It is to take place this year; otherwise in accordance with the law on political parties a point about the BPF liquidation would be raised for violation of its statute. The leadership of the party has lodged an application for provision of premises in the Minsk Automobile Plant House of Culture and in the Palace of Culture,” Viktar Ivashkevich said. However, as the politician said, on October 29 the administration of the Palace o f Culture denied its premises, and the administration of the Minsk Automobile Plant House of Culture answered in the negative on November 6.

“Thus on November 9 me as the deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front Party and the Secretary of the Belarusian Popular Front central office submit an application to Minsk city executive committee. As long as Minsk city executive committee cannot find a place for of the Belarusian Popular Front party’s meeting held to hear reports and elect new officials, under the law on mass events of the Republic of Belarus I ask to permit holding the convention on October Square in Minsk,” V. Ivashkevich said.

The time of the convention is indicated in the application: December 8, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., December 9, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The planned number of participants is up to 1,000. “Do not offer Bangalore Square. October Square could be substituted with the Palace of Republic only,” the application reads.

“The regime wouldn’t be able to shove us out of Belarus. We won’t go to Vilnius as in 1989, or to Chernihiv like the Union of the Left parties last year. We shall hold our congress in Minsk. And in case the authorities apply force against us, I think we’ll have pre-term elections as in Georgia,” V. Ivashkevich stated.