Three opposition candidates withdraw from local elections in Gomel region :: Charter'97 :: News

Three opposition candidates have withdrawn from the coming elections for local soviets in the Gomel region, citing pressure from the authorities as the reason. As human rights defender Telman Maslyukov told BelaPAN, Viktor Romanishko, a Svetlogorsk-based activist, and Valery Putitsky, a resident of Rechitsa, have pulled out from the race for the Gomel Regional Soviet, and Anatoly Poplavny has dropped his bid for a seat on the Gomel City Soviet. Mr. Putitsky also planned to run for the Rechitsa District Soviet.

According to Mr. Maslyukov, the candidates have complained about unfair campaigning conditions, constant pressure from the authorities and the likelihood of vote fraud. Apart from this, the authorities` efforts to prevent opposition leader Aleksandr Milinkevich from campaigning for the activists became the last straw.

The former presidential candidate had hoped to attend the candidates` meetings with voters on January 6, but a vehicle in which he was riding to the region from Minsk was pulled over and detained by policemen for hours three times within a day. He missed the meetings as a result.