Number of contenders for Belarus presidency growing

The number of contenders for the Belarus presidency is growing. On July 13 two more men - 65-year-old economist Viktar Tsyareshchanka and 39-year-old Yury Radzkou, director of Tsar-miod, made public their presidential ambitions, BelaPAN reports.

Viktar Tsyareshchanka is going to run for president for the fourth time. He took part in presidential campaigns in 1994, 2001 and 2010. But only once - in 2010 - Mr Tsyareshchanka was registered as a candidate. According to the CEC, he received 1.19% of the votes. Viktar Tsyareshchanka is going to update his program for only 30%. Earlier, he said he was not going to run, but he changed his mind a few days ago, supposedly, "because of the current state of the Belarusian economy."

Yury Radzkou said that the decision to apply for the presidency took him a long time to take. He is concerned about the state of the Belarusian nation. "More than a million people suffer from alcohol addiction, it is a very serious problem," said Mr Radzkou. In the near future, he promises to hold a press conference in Minsk.

Earlier, the intention to run was expressed by activist of the civil campaign Tell the Truth Tatstsiana Karatkevich who plans to get nominated by the coalition People's Referendum, leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Syarhei Haydukevich, chairman of the Belarusian Party of the Left Fair World Syarhei Kalyakin and unemployed Yury Shulhan. In addition, representatives of several opposition organizations created a joint organizing committee for the presidential nomination of political prisoner Mikalai Statkevich.

Presidential elections in Belarus are scheduled for October 11.

Photo: Euroradio