BPF Party chairman, Alexei Yanukevich, believes that in the forthcoming election campaign in Belarus, the Kremlin "for sure, will not support Lukashenko", and that among the opposition there will appear "a clearly Moscow-backed candidate". "That's why we are to fight on two fronts", the politician said. "I do not accept that in the fight against Lukashenko we will support Moscow's candidate. For us, this option is unacceptable".
According to the BPF Party leader, it would be «a political trap, political destruction» for the party. «So, we have to fight on two fronts, and God forbid (there are all chances) that at least in national-democratic forces we’ll have a single candidate. Of course it will be great if a single candidate appears in the ranks of democratic opposition, but I think it will be more difficult here», Belarus partisan quotes Alexei Yanukevich.
Speaking about the pro-Moscow candidate, the BPF Party chairman said: «I believe that at the date there is a possibility that Russia could make a bet on a representative of the current Belarusian top bureaucracy, for example, Sikorski, as well as on someone from the ranks of traditional classical opposition .
«I do not think that today it can be taken seriously an information that Sannikov is such Moscow’s protégé», Yanukevich noted. «This information can be anything, including the truth, but it can easily be the false information, in order to divert attention from the real pro-Russian candidate».
According to the leader of BPF Party, the election are rapidly approaching, and taking it in mind, in the next few months «it’s to clarify boldly who will be such a candidate». «Therefore, we will carefully monitor the situation», BPF Party chairman said.
Lukashenko will seek to enter the next New Year’s round of gas wars as re-elected president, Yanukevich
Speaking of when to expect the presidential election, Alexei Yanukevich expressed confidence that the elections will be held this year. «I think, it is most likely that the elections will be scheduled for late November or December. Taking into account that Lukashenko, to put it mildly, has difficulties in relations with the Kremlin, I am convinced that he will seek to enter the next New Year’s round of gas wars as re-elected president, to prevent gas blackmail or manipulation of that party», the leader of BPF Party underlined.
Alexei Yanukevich also informed that agitation campaign is extremely important for BPF Party in the presidential election. «But we must understand a small probability of that these elections will be fair, but the real changes in the country can come only as a result of peaceful mass street protests. The Sojm had unanimity that we should be aware and prepared, I emphasize it, to a peaceful, lawful, but the street protests», the politician said.
According to BPF Party chairman, at the upcoming party congress on May 29, one of the agenda’s points will be the format of BPF Party participation in presidential elections. «I think we must firstly confirm our participation in these elections», Yanukevich said. «And secondly, we must either comply with the decision of previous congresses and nominate the party’s candidate for presidency, name him or make changes into the decisions of previous congresses, decide that he will be a non-party candidate and order BPF Party Sojm to negotiate within the framework of a procedure to define a single candidate».
The politician said that he personally believes that currently BPF Party should expect to win. «I believe that there is such a chance. However, unfortunately, no force, even the BPF Party, can win alone, therefore, we must seek an understanding with the political actors who recognize the values close to us», Alexei Yanukevich stressed, adding that the most worthy candidate for the election from BPF Party is the current Deputy Chairman of the Party, Grigory Kostusev.
