WORLD CUP QUALIFIER TO TURN INTO LUKASHENKO’S REELECTION SHOW :: Charter'97 :: News

Minsk mayor Mikhail Pavlov ruled to cease the free sale of tickets for the World Cup-2002 qualifier between the national squads of Belarus and Ukraine, to take place September 1 at “Dynamo” stadium. Officially the authorities explain their decision by numerous requests from groups of workers, who are dying to watch the Slav derby. That is why, they say, the tickets will be distributed between state enterprises. However, in reality this has the political aspect to it.

The city authorities plant to turn the event into Lukashenko’s pre-election show. Lukashenko, by the way, will also attend the match. BPSM youth members were ordered to greet not only the soccer players but more so the incumbent. In order to have a nice picture on TV, they would pass around them red-green caps, T-shirts, flags and banners.

These plans could have been spoiled by fans, who dislike the political route of the current leadership, which was the reason why the authorities determined to stop the free sale of entry tickets.