Alexander Dobrovolsky: Elections Aren’t Democratic :: Charter'97 :: News

“The authorities ignored all OSCE conditions. They never embarked on the democratization of electoral law, nor ceased persecution of political opponents and free press, but rather intensified their crackdown. Instead of creating the atmosphere of confidence in the country, they make people tremble from fear. And so the elections cannot be regarded as just and free,” – Charter’97 press-center was told by deputy chairman of the United Civil Party Alexander Dobrovolsky.

- You are coordinating UCP local election campaign. What troubles do your candidates face?

- The main one is the exertion of pressure on people in provinces, who are forced to retreat and withdraw their candidacies. A few hundred of our members gave up their efforts from fear of losing job in small towns and villages where they live. If they get fired they won’t be able to find employment anymore. Moreover, the authorities have a so-called “winners’ list” and target anyone, not listed there.

- How does UCP people agitate?
- They carry out meetings with voters, stage pickets and visit apartments. Their general impression is that our people are longing for changes but hardly believe that they can happen. Our nominees encounter resistance and hindrances for they aren’t there on the “winners’ list”. For instance, when they hold special parents’ meetings in classes, they often invite their candidates from the state and deny access to the independent ones. But I’m pretty much convinced that they will fail to disrupt our work with the voters anyway, and so they have only one technique of getting their “candidates” through – by means of falsification of the elections’ results.

- So can these elections be considered free?
- Of course, not. Regretfully, The authorities ignored all OSCE conditions. They never embarked on the democratization of electoral law, nor ceased persecution of political opponents and free press, but rather intensified their crackdown. Instead of creating the atmosphere of confidence in the country, they make people tremble from fear. And so the elections cannot be regarded as just and free. However, our main goal is to meet with people, deliver the truth to them and win their approval.

- Some party leaders say that the People’s March “For Better Life!”, scheduled for March 12 in Minsk, may disrupt their campaigning. Your party supported the People’s March and most actively engages in it. Do you think the election campaign and the March are compatible?

- I guess, the problems, raised during candidates’ meetings with the people and mentioned in their electoral programs, are the same, which are outlined by the People’s March organizers. So I see absolutely no contradictions between the March and the election campaign. Vice versa, both these events can strengthen one another and make their contribution to the country’s transformation.