English

Leader of Belarusian Christian Democracy calls on opposition forces to pull out of elections

Vital Rymashewski, a co-chairman of Belarusian Christian Democracy (BCD), on Friday called on three opposition organizations to make good on their earlier promise to pull out of this month's elections for the House of Representatives.

In his appeal, the former presidential candidate refers to a declaration signed this past February by the "Tell the Truth!" movement, the Movement for Freedom, the Hramada Belarusian Social Democratic Party (BSDP) and the Belarusian Popular Front (BPF).

The declaration said that pro-democratic candidates should withdraw from the elections one week before the beginning of the early voting stage if the political prisoners were not released.

With just three days left before the start of early voting, candidates put forward by the "Tell the Truth!," the Movement for Freedom and the BSDP remain on the ballot and only the BPF said that it could deliver on its promise, Mr. Rymashewski says in the appeal.

He stresses that Belarus still has political prisoners and prominent opposition activist Zmitser Dashkevich has recently had his prison term extended.

It is still not too late to honor the promise and appeal to the public over the matter, Mr. Rymashewski says, adding that such a step would be crucial to unity within the opposition camp. //BelaPAN