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Nyaklyayew, Rymashewski set to continue political activities

Former presidential candidates Uladzimir Nyaklyayew and Vital Rymashewski told reporters Friday following their sentencing to suspended prison terms that they were determined to continue their political activities.

Mr. Nyaklyayew said that the Belarusian people won a moral victory over the regime on December 19, 2010.

"We didn't lose," he said. "The authorities couldn't have defeated us just because we were beaten up by riot police. We simply didn't fight them."

Opposition forces are ready to abandon, at least for some time, their demand to hold an early presidential election if the government starts negotiations with them and stops politically motivated persecution, Mr. Nyaklyayew said.

The government "should realize that it should talk to the part of the population it wanted to scare on December 19," Mr. Nyaklyayew said. "If it decides against negotiations, the situation in the country will get even worse."

Mr. Rymashewski pointed out that the ordeal of the previous six months had increased his self-confidence. "I’ll continue to participate in political processes," he said. "I didn't become president this time, but I hope to succeed in the future." //BelaPAN