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Four pro-democratic groups set up coalition to coordinate activities during presidential campaign

The leaders of four pro-democratic groups on September 17 signed an agreement on the establishment of a coalition to coordinate their activities during the country’s presidential campaign, BelaPAN reports.

Alyaksandr Milinkevich of the Movement for Freedom, Alyaksey Yanukevich of the Belarusian Popular Front, Aleh Novikaw of the Belarusian Party of the Greens and Ales Mikhalevich of the Union for Modernization put their signatures to the agreement.

Members of the Belarusian Choice coalition share aspirations for “Belarus’ independence, democracy and European choice," Mr. Yanukevich told reporters in Minsk.

“We all understand that there is an urgent need in Belarus to change the political regime and economic policies, and modernize the country,” he said. “So, we have decided to coordinate our activities at the beginning of the political campaign.”

The coalition advocates a “pro-Belarusian scenario of changes,” the politician said.

"Luksahenka’s regime is a dead-end and disaster,” Mr. Yanukevich said. “Implementing here a pro-Russian scenario that will bring Belarus under Russia’s influence is the same thing. There is another scenario, and we have agreed to cooperate to make it work and effect changes benefiting the Belarusian people.”

The signatories will cooperate during the presidential campaign and coordinate the nomination of their representatives for membership in local election commissions.

Alyaksandr Milinkevich will act as the coalition’s representative in the country and abroad.