Former Greens leader “to run in the elections”

November 21, Pozirk. Dźmitryj Kučuk, former chairman of the Belarusian Greens Party that was dissolved by the government, has announced his intention to run in next year’s elections.

“Although there are no free and fair elections in the country and nobody counts our votes, neighboring countries are at war, 11 out of 15 political parties have been dissolved, and you can end up in jail for political activities, I have decided to run in the elections,” the politician said in a video address.

He did not clarify whether he intends to run for parliament or in local elections, but said he had “no illusions.”

He said it was important for him to “become the voice” of Belarusians who are ready to “support independent candidates.”

According to Kučuk, his team has prepared an amnesty bill to be implemented after the election campaign and a reform project.

Kučuk filmed the 42-second video in downtown Minsk, near Victory Square. So far, there has been no reaction from the authorities, who persecute citizens for any dissident political activity. The leader declined Pozirk‘s request for comment.

The Supreme Court dissolved The Greens and 10 other parties in summer and fall at the request of the justice ministry, in a major clean-up of the political system.

Belarusians should elect their representatives to the National Assembly’s lower house and the local councils on February 25, Alaksandar Łukašenka ruled yesterday. He also scheduled an election for the upper house for April 4.

The Biełaja Ruś party of Łukašenka’s supporters and three other cherry-picked alliances, the Communist Party of Belarus, the Liberal Democrat­ic Par­ty and the Repub­li­can Par­ty of Labor and Jus­tice, are expected to put forward their candidates.