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Barys Khamaida: Regime fears boycott of “elections” most of all

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Barys Khamaida: Regime fears boycott of “elections” most of all
Barys Khamaida
Photo: freeregion.info

A large number of people who decided not to vote are the first step to the real nonviolent resistance and street protests.

Famous opposition activist from Vitsebsk Barys Khamaida said it in an interview with charter97.org.

– The Central Election Commission (CEC) refused to register the initiative group of Mikalai Statkevich on July 20. How would you comment on it?

– I think supporters of Mikalai Statkevich made a mistake by submitting documents to the CEC, because it is an illegitimate body. Mikalai Statkevich tried to play by the rules established by the regime and found himself in prison.

We must struggle for Mikalai Statkevich regardless of the so called elections. It's not serious to count on the CEC. Moreover, it [nomination of Statkevich as a candidate) could have confused ordinary people. There's a risk that people won't understand what is happening. They may think the “elections” are something serious. But the “elections” are only a show.

The people in Mikalai Statkevich's initiative group should call for a boycott. They need to call not to surrender to the illegitimate regime and not to play by its rules. The fact that Mikalai Statkevich is held in prison is an important argument for such a call.

I think only the call for the boycott is the strongest move. If we cannot do it directly, taking into account legislative restrictions, we can use different means. For example, we can call on people to vote for the candidate who does not exist. People will understand that they should boycott the “elections”.

– Seven initiative groups besides the permanent “candidate” have been registered. What can you say in this regard?

– I think all those registered work for the illegitimate regime voluntary and involuntary. Some do it deliberately. Some do not understand it. If you don't understand obvious things, why do you try to get this post?

We don't have real candidates. They are fake. We need the boycott. The regime fear the boycott. It will be a catastrophe for the regime if polling stations are empty on the voting day. They will understand that the fact that people decided not to vote is the first step to real nonviolent resistance.

People will then take to streets. The boycott is the first step. It is like a child's first steps – little in the beginning and more confident later. People should raise their head and move forward. The boycott of the “elections” is the first and most significant step.

– How can we understand that the boycott was successful?

– Logically, if the elections are illegal, they shouldn't be controlled officially. But we need activists to establish the fact of the boycott, but they shouldn't contact the illegitimate authorities.

How does it look in practice? In 2008, I organised such a monitoring mission during the parliamentary “elections”. I wasn't registered in the election commission. I was just sitting near the entrance to a polling station and counting voters. This is the most efficient method.

Activists mustn't contact the so called election commissions, because it would mean recognition of their legitimacy. We need to find such people – pensioners and those who are not afraid – and organise a monitoring mission.

Police officers talked to me, but I didn't violate anything. I was outside the polling station. They couldn't do anything.

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