Evgeny Lobanovich: I’ll Show Up At People’s March in Company of My Family, Voters, Team :: Charter'97 :: News

“When I received phone calls from voters, who were indignant over my removal from the race, I recommended them to engage in the People’s March “For Better Life!” on March 12 and by so doing express their protest to something that happened to me. I will personally engage in the March and so will my family and election crew,” – said in an interview to Charter’s press-center one of the leaders of the United Civil Party Evgeny Lobanovich. The politician enjoyed great advantage over his contenders in the race, but was unlawfully denied the right to continue competition.

- How do you evaluate the results of the electoral campaign?

- I view this campaign both positively and negatively. The very fact that opposition engaged in it, directly working with the voters, is a positive aspect of it. In those Minsk constituencies where opposition candidates were nominated, some 7-8 thousand people willed to cast votes for them. Opposition showed that they know how to do their job well. However, as concerns the final outcomes, they were pretty much falsified, for ever since 1996 voting has no logical ties with the final figures.

The main conclusion, which I personally drew from my experience of balloting, is that the situation is drastically changing. I myself walked around 5 thousand flats and ran into only one (1) adherent of Lukashenko. And the fact that they expel us from the race means that they fear us.

- What should opposition be doing now in your opinion?

- First and foremost, opposition must fight for the change of electoral law. Until at least 30% of electoral commissions represent the political parties, the situation will remain the same. Final outcomes of the ballot have nothing to do with the real citizens’ choice. And so there’ll be no more point in taking part in elections. Opposition must use any means to get the electoral law amended through legislative tools at hand, international pressure and street rallies.

When I received phone calls from voters, who were indignant over my removal from the race, I recommended to them to engage in the People’s March “For Better Life!” and by so doing express their protest to something that happened to me. I will personally engage in the March and so will my family and election team.