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Lukashenka vows to do everything for election to “pass off calmly”

Alyaksandr Lukashenka vowed on Saturday that he would do everything so that the forthcoming presidential election would “pass off calmly,” and that “the fate of the country will be decided by the people.”

“The key to the election is in your pocket,” the Belarusian leader said, speaking to reporters in Lida, Hrodna region, during Dazhynki 2010, a national end-of-harvest festival, as quoted by BelaPAN.

Mr. Lukashenka stressed that the election would be “open and transparent.”

It is not important whether or not the results of the election will be recognized, he noted. “For me, it is important that the people really support me,” he said. “I’m the most interested person in the election being conducted honestly. We’ll allow no external interference, and there won’t be any.”

According to Mr. Lukashenka, the Kremlin will exert no influence on the election. “And if it does, this influence will only be advantageous to us. All this mudslinging has been for the benefit of us, not them. Hopefully, they will continue to be so brainless in their dirty campaign. This plays into our hands.”

Speaking about pro-Russian statements by some opposition presidential hopefuls, Mr. Lukashenka said, “Those who yesterday played the Western violin play the balalaika today in Moscow. They go there not only to show themselves but also to receive good money. And we know who pays them.”