Paval Sevyarynets: “Voting today is deceit of Belarusian people”

• 19.09.2008, 14:30

One of the leaders of the Belarusian Christian Democratic movement Paval Sevyarynets talks on Radio Svaboda about whether the Belarusians should vote or not.

– I gathered signatures during this election campaign, visited houses of people in eight constituencies. All over Belarus. I had thousands meetings and talks. People don’t believe in democracy in Belarus. In election as a process itself. This election is very difficult. This is difficult political process, very difficult political choice for the national movement.

To boycott this election or to run in it? To withdraw or to run to the end? Everyone in the democratic movement has his or her own answer to this question.

The situation is difficult, it is rather hard to say categorically what is better boycott or running in the election. Nevertheless, in my view, the most optimal formula for the Christian democrats is the following.

We should run in the campaign almost to the end, and use it to promote our leaders, to suggest an alternative to these authorities. But we shouldn’t participate in voting. Because it is a deceit of the Belarusian people. It is an attempt of legitimisation of the current authorities. And a possible deligitimisation of the Belarusian independence.

In my view, running in the election and refusal to vote may be an optimal position, an optimal strategy, which would be effectively by the united democratic forces,” Sevyarynets says.