Opposition candidates vow to fight to the end during local polls
323 candidates from the major opposition parties and movements have continued their election race for the seats at the local council. They also vow not to withdraw. On the first day of early voting, Volha Karach, an activist with the United Civic Pary was not running for a seat at the Vitsebsk City Council, was removed from the race. She linked this decision of the local electoral commission with her radio address that was taped on April 19.У першы ж дзень датэрміновага галасавання з удзелу ў выбарах была знятая кандыдатка ў дэпутаты Віцебскага абласнога і гарадскога саветаў дэпутатаў, актывістка АГП Вольга Карач. Ужо былая кандыдатка звязвае такое рашэнне выбарчай камісіі са сваім выступам па радыё, запісаным 19 красавіка. She said: "In my radio address that was scheduled to go live yesterday at 1830, I was talking about Kyrgyzstan and that the authorities here should consider the experience of the events in Kyrgyzstan, because it was not a plot or the actions of the opposition. It was a reaction of desperate people who were brought to the edge by the government and utility problems. I think someone listened to this address and was scared".
Euroradio has found out how many representative of pro-democracy forces have continued their race and whether they are going to take personal decisions to withdraw at the very last moment, for instance on April 24.
UCP chairman Anatol Lyabedzka notes that apart from Volha Karach none of the candidates was removed. "We still has nearly 30 candidates who were nominated through the collection of signatures",, he said.
He does not expect any losses in the number of his party's candidates. Lyabedzka says they will fight to the end and will not pull out if only secret services do not prepare any surprises for them.
Although Dzianis Sadouski from the Belarusian Christian Democracy, was issued a warning, all the candidates from BCD are still in the race. According to Vital Rymasheuski, part of their candidates are confident in victory. He said: "We have 83 people in the race. According our forecasts, over 20 candidates will gain the absolute majority of votes". Therefore, none of them is going to pull out on their own decision just like the candidates from the Movement for Freedom who has 65 candidates in the race.
The same situation is at the Belarusian Popular Front with 51 candidates who are not going to withdraw.
Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) has lined up 29 candidates and none of them are going to withdraw.
Euroradio has found out how many representative of pro-democracy forces have continued their race and whether they are going to take personal decisions to withdraw at the very last moment, for instance on April 24.
UCP chairman Anatol Lyabedzka notes that apart from Volha Karach none of the candidates was removed. "We still has nearly 30 candidates who were nominated through the collection of signatures",, he said.
He does not expect any losses in the number of his party's candidates. Lyabedzka says they will fight to the end and will not pull out if only secret services do not prepare any surprises for them.
Although Dzianis Sadouski from the Belarusian Christian Democracy, was issued a warning, all the candidates from BCD are still in the race. According to Vital Rymasheuski, part of their candidates are confident in victory. He said: "We have 83 people in the race. According our forecasts, over 20 candidates will gain the absolute majority of votes". Therefore, none of them is going to pull out on their own decision just like the candidates from the Movement for Freedom who has 65 candidates in the race.
The same situation is at the Belarusian Popular Front with 51 candidates who are not going to withdraw.
Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) has lined up 29 candidates and none of them are going to withdraw.
