Dzianis Sadouski: It’s not right to participate in “election” before political prisoners released

Statements and declarations, signed by the democratic forces in 2011-2012, should not be forgotten.

Such an opinion has been expressed by the executive secretary of the organizing committee for creation of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party Dzianis Sadouski, who commented to charter97.org website the initiative for nomination of Mikalai Statkevich as a presidential candidate.

“First of all, undoubtedly it is an absolutely right move to prioritize the situation with political prisoners. One should not forget the statements and declarations signed by the democratic forces in 2011-2012 and which claimed that it would be impossible to participate in elections before political prisoners are released. At the moment the situation has not changed. There are less political prisoners, but it’s not because “the mercy” of the government, but because their prison terms are over. Some people have served their time in jail, but there are still political prisoners. And indisputably it would not be right to carry out a full-scale campaign before their release. So I believe the initiative of nominating Mikalai Statkevich as a candidate is right. It is a question for which extent it is possible for him to be a single candidate. Part of the opposition is unlikely to agree to that for different reasons, which are anybody’s guess. The nomination is a right thing to do, but I greatly doubt that Statkevich is to become a single candidate and all agree to that without reservations or backup persons. I think that in any case part of the opposition is going to nominate its candidates,” the politician comments.

The politician also believes that a mobilization campaign should be carried out.

“An active mobilization campaign should be held evidently. It’s a question of tactics how it should be carried out more effectively. The main thing to decide is what goal is set by us: a maximum mobilization of people to show dissent and to defend the real results of the election, or simply a self-promotion and preparation for the future parliamentary “election”, or something else. I certainly think that a maximum mobilization of people with the aim of dissent and defending the real results of the election should be set. And in this respect, nomination of Mikalai Statkevich as a candidate could become a part of one strategy,” he added.