UCP withdraws candidates from “election”

Anatol Lyabedzka, the chair of the United Civil Party (UCP), said at a press conference on March 20 the party planned to propose its candidates for the election to the “house of representatives”.

He specified the party would propose not candidates, but “speakers – the people who will convey the message of the UCP”. “The message is simple: no free election in Belarus and as a result no visas, no economic preferences, no money in your pockets,” Lyabedzka said, BelaPAN news agency reports.

The aim of the speaker-candidate is to inform as much people as possible. Candidates will use the opportunity to appear on the state radio and TV, but will not use the money allocated by state for printing leaflets. “No state funds will be used,” he said.

UCP candidates will use the right to create voluntary funds of support, Lyabedzka adds.

As for the state-run media, the politician noticed: “We have five minutes on TV and radio, we have the right to be printed in state newspapers and we shouldn't lose this opportunity.”

As said by Lyabedzka, speakers-candidates will withdraw from the election five day before the voting day.

Leu Marholin, the deputy head of the UCP, invited all people sharing the UCP values to join the initiative. “If someone has something to say, he or she may join the UCP, carry out the election camapigm and then leave the UCP. It is not forbidden,” Marholin said.