Viktar Ivashkecvich: “UDF and BPF should set up boycott”

On August 30 an extended session of the Belarusian Popular Front is to take place. It is to define further actions of this organisation during the “parliamentary elections”.

Members of the Sojm, candidates for deputies of the BPF party, leaders of regional branches of the party are to take part in the session, the deputy chairman of the BPF Viktar Ivashkevich said.

“My personal position is: we are to announce that the elections are unfair, and which is the most important thing, that there is no control over the vote count. It means that there would be no vote counting, but figures prepared beforehand will be announced. In this connection I think the United Democratic Forces and the BPF must declare boycott, and order their candidates to withdraw. Why not at once? In order to have a possibility to appear in state media,” Viktar Ivashkevich said.

“I know there is the other position: to participate in the “elections” until the end under any conditions. I consider that a mistake, as everything is predetermined. We should adopt responsible political decisions, and not to hope for the regime to have pity to us and stop repressions; that one or two members of the BPF would be allowed to the “chamber” to show the Europeans that we have “democratic elections”, he noted in an interview to Radio Svaboda.