The presidential campaign is in its full swing, but five political prisoners, including former presidential candidate Mikalai Statkevich, are still behind the bars. His wife Marina Adamovich established the politician’s nominating group, but it was denied registration.
Civil society activists are using the pre-election period for drawing public attention to the problem of political prisoners in Belarus. Well-known Belarusian politicians and cultural figures have already expressed their solidarity with the regime’s opponents.
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Anatol Lyabedzka, leader of the United Civil Party and a presidential wannabe, held a picket of solidarity with political prisoners and relatives of once abducted politicians and journalist Zmitser Zavadski in the center of Minsk.
Imprisoned politician Mikalai Statkevich addressed to Belarusians who decided to not to boycott the 2015 presidential elections. He called on voters to mark ballots showing rejection of the current regime’s policy.
Members of Statkevich’s nominating group consider the refusal of the Central Election Commission to register it another violation of human rights. Despite the denial, it keeps on working. They promise to continue their activities until the last political prisoner in Belarus is released. It also announced the intention to appeal the CEC decision in the Supreme Court.
The presidential election will take place on October, 11 2015. Human rights centre Viasna (Spring) states that there are six political prisoners – people who are unlawfully deprived of liberty because of their political views – in Belarus, and demands their immediate release.
Nastassia Khralovich/MS
