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Belarus bans two opposition candidates from running in elections Belarus bans two opposition candidates from running in elections
(32 minutes later)
Critics say disbarring Viktor Babariko and Valery Tsepkalo is effort to ensure fifth term for incumbentCritics say disbarring Viktor Babariko and Valery Tsepkalo is effort to ensure fifth term for incumbent
Belarus has barred two popular opposition candidates from running in the country’s presidential elections next month in what their supporters said was a blatant effort to ensure a fifth term for autocrat Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled the country for a quarter of a century. Belarus has barred two popular opposition candidates from running in the presidential elections next month in what their supporters said was a blatant effort to ensure a fifth term for the autocrat Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled for a quarter of a century.
Belarus’s elections commissions disbarred Viktor Babariko, an outspoken ex-banker, and Valery Tsepkalo, an entrepreneur and former diplomat, from the elections despite both having collected more than 100,000 signatures in a boisterous pre-election campaign. The country’s election commission disbarred Viktor Babariko, an outspoken former banker, and Valery Tsepkalo, an entrepreneur and former diplomat, from the poll, despite both having collected more than 100,000 signatures in a boisterous pre-election campaign.
“The government is so weak that they did not even allow Babariko [to run in the elections] from behind bars,” said Maria Kalesnikava, a representative for Babariko’s campaign, after the elections commission announced its decision on Tuesday. “The government is so weak that they did not even allow Babariko [to run in the elections] from behind bars,” said Maria Kalesnikava, a representative for Babariko’s campaign, after the election commission announced its decision on Tuesday.
Frustrations with the government have reached boiling point due to a lagging economy, the slow response to the coronavirus outbreak, and exhaustion with Lukashenko’s record after 25 years in power. Frustrations with the government have reached boiling point owing to a lagging economy, slow response to the coronavirus outbreak, and exhaustion with Lukashenko’s record after 25 years in power.
Elections in the country are usually a carefully managed affair where Lukashenko beats several hand-picked opponents with about four-fifths of the vote, a scenario that the new opposition candidates threatened to upset. Elections in the country are usually a carefully managed affair, where Lukashenko beats several handpicked opponents with about four-fifths of the vote, a scenario that the new opposition candidates threatened to upset.
While most public polling is banned in Belarus, leaked surveys indicated that Babariko could mount a serious challenge. He was arrested in June and charged with money laundering, tax evasion and bribery in a case widely viewed as politically motivated. His son has also been arrested. Amnesty International has named both prisoners of conscience.While most public polling is banned in Belarus, leaked surveys indicated that Babariko could mount a serious challenge. He was arrested in June and charged with money laundering, tax evasion and bribery in a case widely viewed as politically motivated. His son has also been arrested. Amnesty International has named both prisoners of conscience.
Babariko was disbarred from the elections due to the pending legal case. Tsepkalo was blocked after thousands of signatures endorsing his candidacy were thrown out. Babariko was disbarred from the elections because of the pending legal case. Tsepkalo was blocked after thousands of signatures endorsing his candidacy were thrown out.
A third opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, was registered for the elections. Her husband Sergei was also jailed after leading boisterous protests where Lukashenko was ridiculed as a “cockroach” and said to have just 3% support across the country. She is a reluctant candidate who nonetheless may emerge as a consensus choice for opponents of Lukashenko. A third opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, was registered for the election. Her husband, Sergei, was also jailed after leading protests where Lukashenko was ridiculed as a “cockroach” and said to have just 3% support across the country. She is a reluctant candidate who nonetheless may emerge as a consensus choice for opponents of Lukashenko.
“Seryozha, I love you very much, I am doing this for you and for those who believe in you,” Tikhanovskaya told Tut.by, a Belarusian news site on Tuesday. She had previously complained of threats against her children because of her participation in the elections.“Seryozha, I love you very much, I am doing this for you and for those who believe in you,” Tikhanovskaya told Tut.by, a Belarusian news site on Tuesday. She had previously complained of threats against her children because of her participation in the elections.
Lukashenko has claimed that the crackdown thwarted a revolution backed by “foreign puppet masters” that he claimed was fomented both by Russia and the west. In total, five candidates were registered for the elections, including Lukashenko, Tikhanovskaya, and three others seen as palatable to the government. Lukashenko has claimed the crackdown thwarted a revolution backed by “foreign puppet masters” that he claimed was fomented by Russia and the west. In total, five candidates were registered for the elections, including Lukashenko, Tikhanovskaya, and three others seen as palatable to the government.