Opposition says it won't boycott elections

Members of the Belarusian opposition on a visit to Warsaw said on Thursday that they would not boycott the forthcoming parliamentary elections and would participate as a united force. The United Pro-Democracy Forces (UDF) has nominated 110 candidates, including only 10 women, for the seats in parliament. The common position was stressed in a joint statement by the following leaders of the opposition parties: Lyavon Barscheuski (Belarusian Popular Front), Siarhei Kalyakin (Party of Communists), Viktar Karniyenka (adviser to Alexander Milinkevich), Anatol Lyaukevich (acting chairman of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party) and Anatol Lyabedzka (United Civic Party).

A. Lyabedzka: “The decision has been made. We have said "no" to the boycott. We decided to take a limited but active part in the elections. We have reserved the right to withdraw candidates if we get no access to the vote count. The boycott will not give many pluses to the UDF in the Bealrusian conditions. We have passed a document which is signed by 8 political structures. In accordance with this document, we have agreed on the common list: 110 constituencies, 110 potential candidates that represent 11 political and public associations”.

Sviatlana Adzinets, European Radio for Belarus