Andrei Sannikov’s team ready to struggle for new elections

Members of the team of presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov have released a new statement.

We offer the full version of the text:

Six months have passed since a peaceful demonstration on 19 December 2010 against the rigged election results was suppressed.

Lukashenka continues to preserve the power enjoying the right to fulfill his election promises, determine the country’s domestic and foreign policy.

Belarus has faced an unprecedented crisis after the elections: price boom and deficit of goods.

Belarusians lost an opportunity to buy foreign cash to prevent their savings from depreciation after the ruble was devalued by 56% officially, but in fact by 100%. Bank deposits in the national currency sank to nothing in one day.

Many businessmen had to stop their activity. Big industrial enterprises are ready for mass layoffs. Hundreds of thousands of people have already lost their jobs and permanent source of subsistence.

The current foreign policy doctrine has turned Belarus into a pariah state in Europe. According to a Freedom House report, Belarus is one of the worst countries. Only Libya, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and China’s territory Tibet are in a worse state.

This is the result of the policy of clinging to power at any cost. The dictatorial regime impedes flourishing and development of Belarus towards the European civilization and poses a constant threat to the national security.

Instead of admitting their bankruptcy and resigning, the authorities accuse people of all problems. The government invented nothing better than reverting to Adropov-style raids, keeping “disciplinary books” at enterprises, looking for new “enemies of the people” both in Belarus and around the world.

In late May, the government adopted a plan of tackling the crisis providing for a new increase in consumer goods prices, agricultural products, electricity and heating energy, all oil products, urban and suburban transport rates, communication, all public utilities.

The government plan provides for using in foreign currency at filling station and hotels, to pay for motorway and tourist services, services in education and selling and purchasing real estate and cars, and even to pay taxes and duties. However, the plan does not offer selling foreign cash in exchange offices.

It is planned to give unpaid holidays to workers at enterprises offering them the “right” to look for new sources of income for their families. At the same time, the plan grants wage indexation for officials and law-enforcement agencies.

Instead of giving freedom to business and cutting bureaucratic apparatus, the government is going to strip enterprises of foreign currencies and give them to a small circle of businessmen close to the authorities.

It is usual in normal countries to lay responsibility for failures on the government, who immediately resigns in such cases giving the path to the alternative programme of political opponents. But in our country, the authorities lay the blame for all troubles on everyone – journalists, car owners, “the fifth column”, people – but not on themselves.

Trials are being held over hundreds of honest Belarusians, who found courage to speak against fraudulent elections and lies. Dozens of them have been given prison sentences from two to six years.

Belarusian presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov, Lukashenka’s main rival, has been in prison for six months already. He is illegally sentenced to five years in a medium security penal colony.

Other presidential candidates, their election agents, ordinary demonstrators, who took part in December 19 protests, are in prisons, too. The European Union and the Untied States, later supported by other states, imposed sanctions on the country.

Realizing his responsibility for everyone who supported him at the elections, presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov addressed Belarusians from prison. He said, in particular:

“Unfortunately, the worst scenarios for developments in Belarus after the election are coming true. Retention of power by Lukashenka will lead our country to catastrophe. Inability of the current regime to rule Belarus has long become evident and shows its most terrific consequences today. No reshuffling of the regime’s devoted servants in the government in the framework of the existing political system will bring any positive results. Belarus will not stand further flourishing of “stability”…

I do not renounce my title of a candidate for presidency of the Republic of Belarus and demand to hold a second round of the presidential election under international control. I appeal to people of Belarus to support my demand. Today, the fate of the country depends on each of us.”

We, members of the team of Belarusian presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov, say:

- there is an effective alternative, which proved its efficiency in other country, to a course of self-isolation and self-destruction conducted by the government;

- implementation of Andrei Sannikov’s election programme STRONG BELARUS FOR FREE PEOPLE will lead Belarus to economic growth and prosperity;

- free and transparent presidential elections under international control, a new president, whom people trust, will allow society to break from the systemic crisis. Law and democracy will be restored in the country;

- only new authorities will be able to carry out the anti-crisis measures in economy, normalize relations with the neighbouring countries. The country will be granted necessary loans and other help from the EU, IMF and other international institutions. There will be a stable exchange rate of the national currency, prices will stop growing;

- the new policy will bring foreign investments and brand-new technologies to Belarus. New jobs will appear, everyone will get an opportunity to build own business, economy will be modernized on the base of new industrialization and attracting world’s brands;

The country needs urgent changes to fulfill Sannikov’s programme.

We call on everyone who put his signature for democratic candidates, voted for them and took part in the December 19 demonstration, who had doubts about his choice or was deceived having believed in the authorities’ promises:

Andrei Sannikov remains a Belarusian presidential candidate and the regime’s main opponent. We call on you to support him, join demands to free all political prisoners and carry out new elections under international control.

Every of you can say: “I BELONG TO SANNIKOV’S TEAM!”

Stanislau Shushkevich, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Belarus in 1991-1994, Chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada, Sannikov’s election agent;

Mechyslau Hryb, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Belarus in 1994-1996, Sannikov’s election agent;

Pavel Kazlouski, Lieutenant General, first Minister of Defence of independent Belarus, Sannikov’s election agent;

Mikhail Marynich, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus, mayor of Minsk (1990-1991), member of the Supreme Council of the 12th convocation, minister of foreign economic ties (1994-1998), member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Leanid Zlotnikau, candidate of economic sciences, associate professor, Sannikov’s election agent;

Valery Fralou, Major General, member of the parliament and member of Republic parliamentary group in 2000-2004, Sannikov election agent;

Yury Khadyka, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor, representative of Sannikov in the Central Election Committee of Belarus;

Viktar Ivashkevich, Sannikov’s election agent, journalist;

Henadz Fyadynich, Head of the Belarusian Trade Union of Workers of Radio-Electronic Industry, Sannikov’s election agent;

Uladzimir Kobets, Sannikov’s election agent and campaign manager;

Mikalai Khalezin, art director of the Belarus Free Theatre, member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Natallia Kaliada, director of the Belarus Free Theatre, member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Zinaida Bandarenka, people’s artist of Belarus, member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Uladzimir Khalip, scriptwriter, playwright, writer and political writes, candidate of art criticism, member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Yury Khashchavatski, film director, member of the Union of Filmakers of Belarus, member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Alyaksei Marachkin, artist, founder of Pahonya artistic association, member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Ales Shaternik, sculptor, member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Svyatlana Hubeika, Sannikov’s election agent;

Pavel Marynich, coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign, member of presidential candidate Sannikov’s campaign headquarters;

Iryna Krasouskaya, founder of We Remember foundation, member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Svyatlana Zavadskaya, Head of Zmitser Zavadski Foundation, member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Zmitser Barodka, coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign, economist, Sannikov’s election agent;

Yauhen Afnahel, coordinator of European Belarus civil campaign, Sannikov’s election agent, head of Minsk city campaign headquarters;

Halina Yuryna, sociologist, Sannikov’s election agent;

Viktar Myazyak, businessman (from Baranavichy), Sannikov’s election agent;

Syarhei Mudrechenka, economist, member of presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov campaign headquarters;

Syarhei Bakhun, magister of political sciences, co-chairman of Young Front (2005-2008), member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Aleh Sidorchyk, actor of the Belarus Free Theatre, member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Larysa Karalenka, Sannikov’s election agent;

Katsyaryna Lyudvih, Sannikov’s election agent;

Maksim Vinyarski, Sannikov’s election agent;

Maria Kasyan, Sannikov’s election agent;

Uladzimir Lemesh, Sannikov’s election agent;

Viktar Kalesnik, Sannikov’s election agent;

Uladzimir Krutsikau, electrical engineer (from Lida), member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Arkadz Kuris, pensioner (from Ivatsevichy), member of Sannikov’s initiative group;

Zmitser Vinahradau, veteran from the Internal Ministry from Myadzl), member of Sannikov’s initiative group.