English

Nyaklyayew invites authorities to dialogue

Former presidential candidate Uladzimir Nyaklyayew said on Monday that his team were inviting the Belarusian authorities to a dialogue "despite what happened on the election day.", BelaPAN said.

Speaking to reporters, the 64-year-old poet predicted that "social turmoil" would begin in Belarus in six months' time. "A program of social stabilization must be developed. One has much to think about here, in particular decide what should be done with humanitarian aid. I think we will need it," Mr. Nyaklyayew said.

The ex-candidate suggested that the authorities would have to make concessions to their opponents, including abroad. "For 16 years the authorities had enough money, which made it possible to defend their conditions of activity. Today there is a situation where the Belarusian economy earns only a third of what the country needs for normal life," he said.

Mr. Nyaklyayew said that he would continue his political activity and noted that the "Tell the Truth!" campaign, which he leads, may evolve into a political party.

He noted that it would be wrong to speak about his team's participation in next year's parliamentary elections until the release of all political prisoners.

"Participation in the parliamentary elections is a political decision and I would like it to be well-considered," he said, adding that either all opposition forces or none must take part in the elections.

Mr. Nyaklyayew, who was given a two-year suspended prison sentence last week over the December 19, 2010 post-election protest, said that anything might happen to him, and that his non-custodial sentence might be replaced with a prison term. "I'm preparing myself to any scenario," he said.