Andrei Sannikov: I am still a candidate for presidency of Belarus and I demand a second round

A Belarusian presidential candidate managed to address the people of Belarus from prison.

This is the full text of Andrei Sannikov’s appeal:

Today, Belarus undergoes the most serious crisis for 20 years of the country’s independence. The difficult situation in economy as well as in monetary, social and political sphere, is a direct consequence of lawless acts committed by the authorities during the 2010 presidential election. The authorities did not just undermine the vote of confidence given them by people of Belarus, our neighbours, the whole world community ahead of the election – the regime used it to robe the people of Belarus brassily and cynically, steal votes from voters, deprive them of the right to elect.

Unfortunately, the worst scenarios for developments in Belarus after the election are coming true. Retention of power by Lukashenka will lead our country to catastrophe. Inability of the current regime to rule Belarus has long become evident and shows its most terrific consequences today. No reshuffling of the regime’s devoted servants in the government in the framework of the existing political system will bring any positive results. Belarus will not stand further flourishing of “stability”.

Results of the Belarusian presidential election were not recognized by the world community. It has not been for the first time, but now it is clear as never before that no one, neither Europe, nor Russia and the US, regards Lukashenka as an international partner any more. None propaganda spells about mythic percents Lukashenka is said to have received at the election can delude anyone. Even KGB officers, as I had a chance to find out, do not believe in the announced election results and know about the fraud. Belarusian and international observers recorded numerous violations and falsifications of the election results.

As a presidential candidate at the 2010 election, I do no recognize its results and consider them falsified. I consider further preserving power of the current Belarusian authorities and the today’s political system menacing disastrous consequences for the country, first of all for the well-being of people of Belarus.

At the same time, I am convinced that there’s still a way out of the crisis. I am even ready to admit that there was voting at the Belarusian presidential election on December 19, 2010. Results of the voting, according to domestic and international observers, showed no one won election in the first round. Lukashenka has to admit that on December 19, 2010, he did not win 50 percent of the votes necessary for victory.

In spite of Lukashenka’s public assurances that another person was leading among the alternative candidates, the Central Election Commission had to admit I was the runner-up.

If Lukashenka is able to take the reality adequately and really thinks he has support among people, the presidential election should be completed. This will return law in Belarus and stop the impending catastrophe.

I do not renounce my title of a candidate for presidency of the Republic of Belarus and demand to hold a second round of the presidential election under international control. I appeal to people of Belarus to support my demand. Today, the fate of the country depends on each of us.

Coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign Andrei Sannikov, who was Lukashenka’s main rival at the election, was sentenced to 5 years in a medium security penal colony. He is in the detention facility of Minsk’s Main Police Department waiting for a transfer to a colony. Heads of the world’s leading countries and international organizations demand to release the politician.