Yury Rubtsou: Boycott is lever to press on authorities

Boycotting the “elections” can make the authorities start talks with the opposition.

Former political prisoner Yury Rubtsou, who was released some days ago, said it to Radio Racyja.

“Boycott is a lever suitable for pressing on the authorities and making them hold negotiations. We need the authorities to fulfil three mandatory requirements: giving an opportunity for opposition forces to appear on central TV channels; cancelling the practice of employment agreements, which are a useful instrument for the authorities to make elections commission members add necessary votes for Lukashenka; amendments to the electoral legislation,” the activist said.

Yury Rubtsou was convicted allegedly for insulting a judge, but he says the real reason was his T-shirt reading “Lukashenka, go away” at last year's Chernobyl Way rally. He and five other political prisoners were released last Saturday in accordance with Lukashenka's pardon decree.