Mikalai Statkevich Explains Reasons For His Running For President

The election of the President of Belarus must be held no later than August 2020.

Former political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich has been chosen as a presidential candidate from the Belarusian National Congress.

In a brief commentary for Radio Liberty, he explained why he is going to take part in the election campaign, if earlier he had repeatedly criticized the lack of democratic elections in Belarus.

“We decided to use legal opportunities of the electoral campaign and the politicization of the society to fight for real elections, for the rights of people and against the threat to our independence,” Mikalai Statkevich commented on his participation in the company.

On January 17, the Belarusian National Congress nominated Mikalai Statkevich as a presidential candidate.

The Rada of the Belarusian National Congress includes representatives of the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada, the organizing committee of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Hramada), the independent trade union REP, the European Belarus civil campaign, the Razam movement, the organizing committee of the party “Belaruski Rukh”, Uladzimir Niakliaeu’s movement “Statehood and Independence”, as well as the leaders of 14 regional democratic coalitions.

According to the law, the presidential election must be held no later than August 30, 2020.