Popular Front to expell more members: Hubarevich

More people could follow the case of Ales Mikhalevich, a deputy chairman of the Party of the Belarusian Popular Front, who was expelled on Saturday from the ranks of the party, Yuras Hubarevich, a deputy chairman of the party, said in an interview with the European Radio for Belarus. In spring, Mikhalevich was running for the post of the party chairman during the congress.  "Obviously, the problem is not only about the personality of Ales Mikhalevich. The problem lies in the difference of positions and approaches regarding the operation of the party. Mikhalevich's stance is backed by a huge number of party activists. It is totally possible that repressions will not stop and we could expect more expulsions", Hubarevich said.

Mikhalevich was expelled "for not implementing the decisions of the party's council" and "for undermining the party's prestige". The Popular Front's leadership was indignant at Mikhalevich's public criticism that he poured on the party's leaders in the press.

Yuras Hubarevich says that Mikhalevich's expulsion "is illegitimate". Viktar Ivashkevich, another deputy chairman of the Party of the Belarusian Popular Front, does not share this point of view. He says that Mikhalevich is free to return to the party and that no repressions against his supporters should be waited for. He stressed the party was not breaking up.