Valiantsina Alinevich: “Elections” in Belarus are Absolutely Futile Activity

In the country where any person could be imprisoned in a frame-up, there could be no “elections.”

In this way the “electoral” campaign in Belarus was evaluated in the interview to charter97.org website by Valiantsina Alinevich, mother of the former political prisoner Ihar Alinevich.

- The “voting day” is not far off. What opinion do you have about the presidential “elections” campaign in Belarus in 2015?

- How can I view the “elections,” when the result is known in advance? How can I take these “elections”, when our family has not completely got over the shock after the previous elections still? How could these “elections” be viewed, when every elections in our country is a zero hour? They are held according to the principle: “everyone who can, hide away in potatoes.”

Any person could be arrested, imprisoned, and any criminal charges at all could be trumped up just for one reason – for having different way of thinking, the one which is not welcomed by the authorities. And also happened to my son in the run-up to the elections in 201, when he left the country – he was found, taken back, convicted of crimes he had not even committed.

Either you go to the polls or not – the result is going to be the same, as it had been happening for 20 years in our country already. That is why I have a rather sober and considered estimate. And it is a negative one.

- Are there people among your acquaintances, who take interest in these “elections”?

- There is no interest to the “elections” at all. Some people think how to avoid participation in the “elections”, as there is a very serious administrative leverage: people who are in the civil service, and students, are forced to take part in early voting. Some people are ready to compromise with their conscience, but most my friends believe that these “elections” in Belarus are an absolutely useless activity.”