MINSK, 14 November (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on Olga Chemotherapy's and Sergei Bobrikov’s decisions to withdraw from the presidential race as he spoke to the media on 14 November, BelTA has learned.
“I was in favor of political parties, public associations nominating their candidates. Olga Chemodanova and Sergei Bobrikov were among such nominees. Well, they are good people. They are known supporters of the incumbent president. They got nominated with the idea of spoiling in favor of the incumbent: ‘We know that the president will win and we want to be there for him.’ No need for that. They announced the decision to run for presidency and later saw that it [their nomination] caused some confusion in their organizations. And they decided to drop out. I learned about their decisions only yesterday. We will fight together for the course we determined long time ago,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
“I am ok running against any candidates. We will never let anyone tear the country apart, destroy it or bring it down to its knees. This will never happen, no matter how much someone would like it to happen,” the president added.
The collection of signatures to nominate the presidential candidates began on 7 November and will end on 6 December 2024. Signatures can be collected only by members of the initiative groups as part of campaigning events (in the locations designated by local administrations) and in locations where voters live or work (serve).
The Central Election Commission registered seven initiative groups in support of the nomination of presidential candidates. On 12 November two candidates decided to suspend their participation in the election campaign. Such decisions were announced by Chairperson of Minsk city organization of the Belarusian Women’s Union, head of the main department of ideology and youth affairs of Minsk City Hall Olga Chemodanova and Chairperson of the national council of the public association Belarusian Union of Officers Sergei Bobrikov.
Thus, initiative groups continue to collect signatures in support of the nomination of five presidential candidates.
Belarus' presidential election is scheduled for 26 January 2025.
“I was in favor of political parties, public associations nominating their candidates. Olga Chemodanova and Sergei Bobrikov were among such nominees. Well, they are good people. They are known supporters of the incumbent president. They got nominated with the idea of spoiling in favor of the incumbent: ‘We know that the president will win and we want to be there for him.’ No need for that. They announced the decision to run for presidency and later saw that it [their nomination] caused some confusion in their organizations. And they decided to drop out. I learned about their decisions only yesterday. We will fight together for the course we determined long time ago,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
“I am ok running against any candidates. We will never let anyone tear the country apart, destroy it or bring it down to its knees. This will never happen, no matter how much someone would like it to happen,” the president added.
The collection of signatures to nominate the presidential candidates began on 7 November and will end on 6 December 2024. Signatures can be collected only by members of the initiative groups as part of campaigning events (in the locations designated by local administrations) and in locations where voters live or work (serve).
The Central Election Commission registered seven initiative groups in support of the nomination of presidential candidates. On 12 November two candidates decided to suspend their participation in the election campaign. Such decisions were announced by Chairperson of Minsk city organization of the Belarusian Women’s Union, head of the main department of ideology and youth affairs of Minsk City Hall Olga Chemodanova and Chairperson of the national council of the public association Belarusian Union of Officers Sergei Bobrikov.
Thus, initiative groups continue to collect signatures in support of the nomination of five presidential candidates.
Belarus' presidential election is scheduled for 26 January 2025.