Yury Rubtsou: Boycott is lever to press on authorities

• 27.08.2015, 8:59

Boycotting the “elections” can make the authorities start talks with the opposition.

Former political prisoner Yury Rubtsou, who was released some days ago, said it to Radio Racyja.

“Boycott is a lever suitable for pressing on the authorities and making them hold negotiations. We need the authorities to fulfil three mandatory requirements: giving an opportunity for opposition forces to appear on central TV channels; cancelling the practice of employment agreements, which are a useful instrument for the authorities to make elections commission members add necessary votes for Lukashenka; amendments to the electoral legislation,” the activist said.

Yury Rubtsou was convicted allegedly for insulting a judge, but he says the real reason was his T-shirt reading “Lukashenka, go away” at last year's Chernobyl Way rally. He and five other political prisoners were released last Saturday in accordance with Lukashenka's pardon decree.