No ways for Statkevich to get from prison to “house of representatives”

Mikalai Lazavik sees no grounds to register initiative groups of Statkevich and Mikhalevich.

Mikalai Lazavik, the secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC), sees no legal grounds to register initiative groups to nominate opposition politicians Mikalai Statkevich and Ales Mikhalevich as parliamentary candidates, he told BelaPAN.

According to Lazavik, the current election campaign has a peculiarity: “Certain people apply for registration of their initiative groups to carry out a publicity campaign rather than to be registered”.

The CEC secretary is confident Statkevich, Mikhalevich and their representatives understand the two politicians cannot be registered as parliamentary candidates.

Lazavik explained the legislation sets requirements for candidates: being a Belarusian citizen, being at least 21 years old, residing in Belarus and having no criminal convictions. “Statkevich cannot be registered because of his conviction, Mikhalivich does not fit because of his place of residence,” he said.

Lazavik says the politicians have the right tactics. “People should talk about politicians. Any information about them is useful. We think it's okay. I don't even think it is a provocation. It's just a publicity action that is supposed to raise their popularity,” he noted.

We remind participants of the civil initiative “Freedom to Mikalai Statkevich and other political prisoners!” submitted documents to election commissions to register initiative groups for Statkeivch and Mikhalevich.

Statkevich's wife Maryna Adamovich says the documents for registration of Statkevich's initiative groups were filed to most constituency election commissions across Belarus, including commissions in all regional centres and Minsk. Lists of members of initiative groups for Mikhalevich were submitted to commissions in all constituencies of Minsk.

Adamovich says she has no hopes initiative groups for Statkevich and Mikhalevich will be registered. “Even now members of election commissions tear registration documents nervously. I hope our groups will be registered in several commissions and we will use an opportunity to tell people about political prisoners,” she said.