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Uladzimir Nyaklyayew announces presidential bid

Uladzimir Nyaklyayew, leader of the embattled "Tell the Truth!" campaign, has announced his plans to run for president in the coming elections, as quoted by BelaPAN.

The 64-year-old poet made the announcement during his appearance in a talk show aired by Russia's Ekho Moskvy radio station on September 2.

When reached by BelaPAN on Friday, Mr. Nyaklyayew confirmed his presidential aspirations but said that he would make a final decision after the elections' date was set.

He stressed that the "Tell the Truth!" team were "fully ready" for his presidential campaign.

Mr. Nyaklyayew, who hails from the Hrodna region, led the Union of Belarusian Writers between 1998 and 2001 and headed the Belarusian PEN between 2005 and 2009.

He has published 13 books of verse and was awarded the Yanka Kupala State Prize in 1998.

The "Tell the Truth!" campaign was launched in February 2010 but came under strong pressure from the government months later.

Mr. Nyaklyayew spent three days in jail after the police raided the campaign's office this past May. On the same day, dozens of other homes and offices linked to the campaign were searched by police officers in what was described by some as the beginning of a massive crackdown on the campaign.

At least seven more opposition politicians, including former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich, Andrey Sannikaw, Yaraslaw Ramanchuk and Mikalay Statkevich, have announced their plans to run for president in the elections.