There is no legal ground for nominating opposition politicians Mikalai Statkevich and Ales Mikhalevich for the oncoming parliamentary elections, Mikalai Lazavik, secretary of the Belarusian Central Election Commission, told reporters.
The top official called their attempt to come forward as candidates “PR actions”. “I do not even hold it provocative, it is a PR action aimed at them gaining prominence,” he stressed.
Under existing law and regulations, a parliamentary candidate shall be a citizen of the Republic of Belarus and a permanent resident in its territory. Potential candidate must be aged 21 and older and have a clean record. “Thus, Statkevich misses qualifying due to his suffering conviction and Mikhalevich does not match the criterion of permanent residency,” Lazavik summed up.
Members of civic initiative “Freedom for Mikalai Statkevich and other political prisoners” are founding citizen’s action groups to put forward candidatures of Mikalai Statkevich and Ales Mikhalevich. Necessary registration documents have been filed to most election commissions of Belarus, Statkevich’s wife Maryna Adamovich said. Lists of Ales Mikhalevich’s initiative groups have also been delivered over to all election districts of Minsk.
Belsat
