Yury Khashchavatski: Authorities in panic over boycott

It's clear that the government understood the idea of boycotting begins to take effect, a film director thinks.

Famous Belarusian film director Yury Khashchavatski comments for charter97.org on a ban for parliamentary candidates to mention boycott in their speeches in media.

“The recent events show that the authorities worry about the boycott. It's clear that they received information the idea of boycotting begins to take effect. They are in slight panic,” the film director says.

“It's evident that the authorities are in panic. The politicians supporting the idea of boycotting should be more active. It shouldn't be laying on a sofa and  ignoring the 'election' – that's what ordinary people should do. Politicians must promote the idea of boycotting. I think the actions by the UCP are right. That's why I am involved in this story,” Yury Khashchavatski says.

“I called on people to boycott in my speech, but I did not pronounce the word 'boycott'. One can always get around a ban. If you cannot say 'boycott', you may say 'I will not vote and I advise you not to vote,” the film director recommends.

We remind that on August 27, secretary of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Mikalai Lazavik  said the CEC wouldn't allow TV and radio to air the candidates calling to boycott the “parliamentary election”.

“There are certain citizens who want use state's money to promote an anti-state campaign, to wreck the election campaign. It stands in conflict with the electoral legislation, which supposes the pre-election campaigning should be aimed at encouraging voters to take part in the elections, but to distract them from voting,” the CEC secretary said.