Steering Committee of Democratic Forces Does Not Have Guarantees From Authorities :: Charter'97 :: News

The Steering Committee of the Congress of Democratic Forces has not received a written confirmation and guarantees that the Congress can be held in Belarus. As we have informed, oppositional organizations of Belarus planned to elect a single candidate for the next-year presidential elections.

While visiting a hypermarket “Hypo” in Minsik, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that he ordered to render support in holding the congress. Several days have passed; however, a corresponding document has not been received. As the Steering Committee says, they still have only a ban of Minsk authorities for holding a congress.

While Minks Mayor Paulau enumerated five variants of premises, including houses of culture, belonging to the Tractor Plant, Automobile Plant; Palaces of Culture of the Railway Company and of state enterprises “Sukno” and “Kamvol”, A.Lukashenka named the only variant, “Sukno” Palace of Culture.

In a certain sense these actions have a provocative character, as we visited “Sukno”, and it is closed during repairs now. Besides, this building has a different owner now. It is not owned by “Sukno” enterprise, but by “Djem Bank”. The renovation is to be finished in January, and we want to hold the congress in the end of September. Three of the proposed premises suit us: Palaces of Culture of the Railway Company, of the Tractor Plant and the Automobile Plant. If we wouldn’t be given one of them, all the words are deceitful: it was Lukashenka’s game for public and cheating of people again,” said the chairman of the Steering Committee of Democratic Forces Alyaksandr Bukhvostau to Radio Svaboda.

The chairman of the Steering Committee underlines that a month ago written requests for renting premises were sent to the palaces named by Paulau. The administration of the “Kamvol” refused to let a conference hall, while the others have not answered at all.