Statement of Candidate to Presidency Aliaksandr Milinkevich in Connection with Beatings of Candidate Aliaksandr Kazulin, Members of His Initiative Group and Journalists

Today the authorities have demonstrated their loutish attitude and disrespect to the law, human rights and human dignity.

During the registration of delegates to the so-called All-Belarusian people’s assembly at the capital’s Palace of Culture of Railwaymen workers of the law machinery violently beat the candidate to president’s position of the Republic of Belarus Aliaksandr Kazulin, his proxies and journalists.

I consider these actions as a gross violation of the Constitution, the Electoral Code and the laws of the Republic of Belarus. According to article 74 of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Belarus ‘since their registration candidates to the presidential position of the Republic of Belarus have equal rights to speak at pre-electoral and other assemblies, councils and sittings’.

In connection with these events I state the following:

The election became a farce, a decoration. Understanding that the attempt of A.Lukashenka to get election to the third term is illegal, the authorities started applying all possible means of struggle against opposition-minded persons.

The actions of the law machinery grossly violate the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Belarus. The organizers and the executors of this beating must be criminally punished and I am sure it will happen sooner or later.

The authorities have a panic fear of democratic elections. They understand their inability to win the election in open competition and therefore violate the laws and repress their opponents.

I express my solidarity with the candidate to presidency Aliaksandr Kazulin and other persons who fell victims of the lawless actions of the law machinery. Law and truth are on our side and we will defend our right to live in free and democratic Belarus.

For additional information contact
Siarhei Vazniak, chair of the press-group: +375 (8 0295) 62 04 22
Pavel Mazheika, press-secretary: + (8 0296) 60 72 99
E-mail: press@milinkevich.org