Opposition Leaders: Special Operation, Not Elections

We do not recognize their results.

Elections are fraud, turnout is overestimated by tens of per cent, Belarusian democrats stated.

In the evening, October 11, leaders of the Belarusian opposition held a press-conference in Minsk. Mikalai Statkevich, former political prisoner, presidential candidate in 2010, Anatol Liabedzka, the head of the United Civil Party and poet and ex-candidate for the presidency Uladzimir Nyaklyayew took part in it, the charter97.org correspondent reports.

"It is a special operation, not the elections. Sure, we will not recognize the results. There are no signs of easing of the situation, only deterioration.

It is clear that the election turnout is overstated, at least, twofold, as well as early voting. Lukashenka used all administrative resources to force people into elections. But he had to overstate the turnout by tens of per cent. Official figures are miserable.

We announce a campaign "Power to People". Lukashenka stole the elections and power from people. And they must take it back. We will not abandon an outdoor activity. The first action within the campaign will be held in the end of November — the anniversary of the illegal referendum of 1996, the starting point of the coup d'etat in Belarus, when Lukashenka took all power. Anyway, it will be held.

Belarus is now at crossroads. If within the near future Mr. Lukashenka does not begin to return what he's stolen, or start to change legislation, society will not have another way, but to regain power by force. And let Lukashenka decide what option suits him", Mikalai Statkevich stated.

"Within Power to People campaign we allocate three main directions: first - state sovereignty of Belarus, second - free and fair elections, third - positive economic alternative. They all make broad coalition creation possible.

We urge both international community and the Belarusians not to recognize the results of the "election" campaign".

It is the election farce, we expected it. Neglect strategy is one thing that would be right.

My experience after the visit to a polling station was as follows: I feel sorry for all the people who came today. No matter how they voted, their voices had no sense. Everything was decided before. And your voice is not a voice anymore. That's why I feel sorry for people, they were used. It should be stopped", Anatol Liabedzka said.

"The political campaign - Presidential Elections in Belarus - is over," Uladzimir Nyaklyayew stated. - We do not consider this performance by the regime the elections and do not recognize them."

There are a lot of reasons, he stressed. "It is sure that it was an election fraud, the politician said. - It is the first time when people are so severely forced into polling station commissions. Based on the experience, we know it's a 100% election fraud".

According to Nyaklyayew, this election campaign is "anything but the elections". "It's the humiliation of the Belarusian people. We call the international community to recognize these elections by no means," the politician stated.