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Lukashenka bashes opposition parties for withdrawing their parliamentary candidates

By withdrawing their candidates from the House of Representatives elections, opposition parties have "showed that they are nothing," Alyaksandr Lukashenka told reporters in Horki, Mahilyow region, on Friday.

"They are losing altogether even the dozen people who listened to them," Mr. Lukashenka said, according to the government's news agency BelTA.

"On the other hand, they did the right thing," he said. "After all, what kind of candidates do they have? You know what kind of parties they are. Their candidates are like them."

Instead of persecuting their opponents, Belarusian authorities "take them by the collar, drag them to people and saying, 'Stand next to the so-called pro-government candidate and campaign,'" Mr. Lukashenka said. "But they are afraid of going to people."

Oppositionists do not want to win elections because they are reluctant to assume responsibility and are content with the handouts they get from the West, he stressed. "They built estates and bought cars earlier, when they promised a lot," he said. "Now the West no longer gives [them money] because they have not delivered the result the West wanted."

Mr. Lukashenka said that his opponents would not be able to "divide the country" even if they came to power. "You wouldn't allow this because you have seen the results of this," he explained.

On September 15, the United Civic Party and the Belarusian Popular Front formally decided to withdraw their parliamentary candidates, explaining that the election process was not transparent and democratic, and that authorities were ignoring their demands to release the political prisoners.

Registration as parliamentary candidates was granted to 364 individuals, including 38 representatives of the United Civic Party and 31 representatives of the Belarusian Popular Front. //BelaPAN