- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

July 16, 2006 likely date for Belarusian presidential election

Subscribe

MINSK, August 30 (RIA Novosti) - July 16, 2006 is the most likely date for presidential elections in Belarus, the Central Election Commission chairperson said in an interview Tuesday.

Lidiya Yermoshina told the Zvyazda newspaper that the final date would be fixed in a parliamentary decree.

The commission expects 35 billion Belarusian rubles (less than $17 million) from the budget to be allocated for election campaigns.

Under Belarusian legislation, presidential candidates can spend only state allocated funds on their campaigns. Using money from a foreign source is a very serious offense.

"Funding election campaigns from a foreign source is illegal in all countries," Yermoshina said. "The West cannot offer anything openly. If the West violates Belarusian laws, the republic's law enforcement bodies will take appropriate measures, including with respect to diplomats if they interfere in Belarus' internal affairs."

President Alexander Lukashenko initiated a referendum in the republic in 2004, which lifted a constitutional restriction on terms of office, then limited to two consecutive terms. Western countries did not recognize the referendum results.

Commenting on the possibility that the West would not regard Belarus' election results as legitimate, Yermoshina said, "This is the West's problem, not Belarus'. The legitimacy of elections is to be determined by the people of Belarus."

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала