Yarmoshyna: Sannikau is trying to turn a criminal case into a political one
The ex-presidential candidate Andrej Sannikau has passed an appeal to Belarusians from prison. He demands the second round of election.
However, the CEC Chairperson Lidzia Yarmoshyna claims there are no legal grounds for conducting the second round. She thinks that Sannikau's appeal is only an attempt to turn attention to his situation.
Yarmoshyna: “Appeals
to consider the election non-legitimate should be filed within 3 days since the
main voting day. If we suppose that Mr. Sannikau was in "well-known
places" then and could not file such an appeal, it was done by another
candidate - Mr. Kastusyou. The appeal was considered at the CEC session during
summarizing the election's results. It was considered ill-grounded and was
declined. Mr. Sannikau provides no additional facts, and he cannot provide any.
Thus, all his appeals are just an attempt to turn the attention of the
international community to his situation and to make a criminal case a
political one”.
The second round of the election cannot be appointed even if people support
Sannikau's appeal and go to the Independence square with protest actions,
demanding to continue the presidential election. According to her,
extraordinary presidential election can be appointed only if the position of a
President suddenly becomes vacant.
As for the possibility to take part in the next presidential election for
Sannikau, Yarmoshyna has said it is absolutely possible. However,
his record of convictions should be cleared.
