Lyabedzka Withdrawn from “Election” :: Charter'97 :: News

The leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka stated that he withdraws his nomination from the election to Minsk city council of deputies. The politician stated that "Alyaksandr Lukashenka`s statement that presidential election results have been falsified closes out any possibility of holding fair and honest elections of any level in Belarus under the current regime".

In the declaration of withdrawal the UCP leader has also stated that only 60 out of 202 members of the United Civil Party who intended to take part in the political campaign in "local elections", had managed to overcome the barrier of registration. Out of 537 activists of the UCP nominated to district election commissions in Minsk, none has been included into election commissions by the authorities.

Lyabedzka states that on instruction of Belarusian secret services Minsk printing offices of different forms of ownership refused to publish informational materials of candidates belonging to the UCP. City authorities didn`t satisfied requests for staging meetings and pickets in the spots of the city convenient for discussions with voters. Only one indoor place at the territory of Masherauski district and two spots outdoors were provided for meetings with voters. The same situation was in all districts of Minsk. Intimidation and pressure took place against three candidates for deputies who are students of the Belarusian State University. A candidate for deputy of Minsk city council Aleh Korban spent 15 days of election campaign in prison for taking part in the action of solidarity with political prisoners. Speeches of some UCP candidates on the radio were censored. Some of candidates haven`t been given an opportunity to record their speeches at a time which suited them

"Me and my agents were detained by policemen while handing out informational leaflets and when we tried to go to voters… I state that the recent campaign contradicts international standards completely. It is aimed at appointing, not electing deputies," the UCP leader said.