UCP speaker receives threats

• 13.08.2012, 15:29

A parliamentary candidate of the United Civil Party (UCP) received threats of reprisals in case he does not withdraw his registration application.

Both the activist and his family have faced pressure.

On August 12, the father of UCP activist Syarhei Lis (speaker of constituency No. 52 in Hrodna) had a phone call from am anonymous man who said they should meet near the district executive committee.

Syarhei's father arrived at the appointed place and saw a man in a suit with a suitcase. He did say his name, but began to threaten. He said it would be better for Syarhei to withdraw his candidate application, otherwise he would be jailed, deprived of the right to leave the country and his business will be ruined.

“I have the truth behind me. I am ready to defend it,” Syarhei Lis told ucpb.org. “But the authorities don't like such people. It is a stab in the back, an unexpected and very painful one. But such methods of struggling against dissidents we have in the country.”