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Andrei Sannikov: “Freedom for Mikalai Statkevich" and "Boycott of fake elections"

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Andrei Sannikov: “Freedom for Mikalai Statkevich" and "Boycott of fake elections"

The Belarusians will not go to polling stations amid the economic crisis.

Andrei Sannikov, the leader of European Belarusian civil campaign and a candidate in the 2010 presidential elections, said it in an interview with charter97.org.

– Head of the Belarusian Central Election Commission (CEC) Lidziya Yarmoshyna said the so called presidential elections in Belarus could be held on October 11. What position does European Belarus civil campaign have on the participation in the “elections”?

– European Belarus civil campaign has not changed its position. We have stood and will stand for the non-recognition of the Lukashenka regime. We refuse to participate in any actions that facilitate the recognition.

We supported the idea of boycotting the “elections” from the very beginning, because we regard it as an immoral act to participate in the “elections” while our friends, first of all presidential candidate Mikalai Statevich, remain in jail. Most 2010 candidates are deprived of the opportunity to run in the “elections” due to convictions and the absence of rehabilitation, on which we and the international community insist.

The regime organises today's “elections” with particular cynicism, proposing its candidates and toughening repression against activists. European Belarus activists are in jail now for their solidarity with political prisoners.

– You earlier said that European Belarus was ready to support political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich as a candidate.

– We said that we were ready to support Mikalai Statkevich as a single democratic candidate. We said: “Either Statkevich is a single candidate, or a boycott.” Today, when almost ten candidates (among them representatives of opposition political parties) have announced they will run in the campaign, we consider the boycott of the “elections” to be the only way out. Respecting Mikalai Statkevich and his courage, we cannot allow placing him in line with fake candidates.

Of course, we continue the campaign to release Mikalai Statkevich and other political prisoners. That is why our current slogans are “Freedom for Mikalai Statkevich" and "Boycott of fake elections".

– Do you think the Belarusians will support your decision?

– After 2010, when people were deprived of hope for changes in the country, they will not vote if Lukashenka runs in the “elections” and Yarmoshyna remains the CEC head. Most Belarusians ignored the “parliamentary elections” in 2012 and the following “local elections”.

You can see today that the authorities are afraid of the boycott because it is the only effective tool that disrupts the authorities' plans to legitimise their power.

The Belarusians understand it well. So, they will not go to polling stations. It is especially so amid the suspension of work at plants, mass unemployment and a decrease in wages in pensions.

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