Democratic presidential contenders have gathered and conducted a joint
mega picket in the centre of Minsk today. Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu was the
first to arrive followed by Vital Rymasheuski, Ryhor Kastusyou and
Mikalai Statkevich. Andrei Sannikau was the last to arrive. The first
leader of independent Belarus Stanislau Shushkevich also came to
support the contenders. ERB wondered what the aim of the joint picket
was.
Nyaklyayeu: We wanted to demonstrate that there are no people who would
not like to finish the elections with the best result. The best variant
is a single candidate. It does not mean that the opposition has united,
but it is a prerequisite for taking necessary decisions at the necessary
time.
Sannikau: There will be consolidation and we will discuss it with
the real candidates, with those who have collected signatures and are
working to make something happen here. I am working to win. The changes
are increasing now. Do you see the support? It testifies to the fact
that people support new Belarus rather than Lukashenka and dictatorship.
Kastusyou: I am an adherent of the idea of selection of a single
candidate. We have agreed to meet and discuss joint actions. We will
meet after we present collected signatures and I think we will reach
some positive agreement. There is aspiration for unity. I do not want to
predict what will happen as a result of it.
Statkevich: Unfortunately, the cooperation had to be established
earlier. Now Lukashenka is going to select his rivals out of the
numerous contenders and it is a shame. When he chooses and registers
them – unfortunately, I think the integration of the campaign and
selection of a single candidate will be unlikely to happen.
Shushkevіch: I’d like to avoid unnecessary
quarrels among democratic candidates. I respect Sannikau, Nyaklyayeu, a
lot of good things can be said about the other candidates too. You
should not say anything bad, you need to say what is good. And there are
a lot of good things about these people.
Rymasheuskі: Presidential contenders should not get involved in
the performance Lukashenka is playing for them. The performance is
called “Playing democratic elections”. They have to be realistic, united
and to get ready to go to the square on November 24 and December 19.
Nyaklyayeu: You
all saw what happened at pickets – where the tables of Sannikau and
Nyaklyayeu and other candidates were installed and where Lukashenka’s
tables were. Nobody approached them. That’s the real picture. The things
he did for the whole state when he worked together with Sheiman mean
you have to save yourself. His gesture informed that everything was not
as good as our dear Alyaksandr Ryhoravich tried to depict it.
Summing it up, Uladzimir Nyaklyayeu noted that the consolidation could
already be seen because everyone they had agreed with came to the
picket.
Nyaklyayeu: All those we agreed with are present
at our today’s picket. Only Ramanchuk has not arrived, he has just
phoned and said he needs to leave now.
Latest information about votes for Nyaklyayeu in Minsk
People giving signatures in support of candidates till the last moment.
Sannikau and Rymasheuski’s pickets close to each other
Signatures for Rymasheuski being collected
Signature collectors arrive to joint picket from Mahileu. They collected 20 thousand signatures for Nyaklyayeu there.
