Haydukevich expresses hope that West will recognize election results

Presidential candidate Syarhey Haydukevich, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), expressed hope that the West would recognize the official results of this year’s presidential election in Belarus.

“I hope that the election will be recognized by the international community, as I wish the very best to my country,” Mr. Haydukevich said.

The recognition of the election’s results would be a “strong step” that would enable Belarus and Europe to devise a step-by-step strategy for developing relations with the country, he said.

Mr. Haydukevich predicted that some forces would not welcome such a turn of events. “They don’t want this to happen, they would lose their jobs, grants,” he said. “A very large number of people live by bashing and trying to humiliate our country.”

Mr. Haydukevich insisted that the European Union’s sanctions were negatively affecting common Belarusians. “I think that many people would be happy if the country got more opportunities to come into contact with many European things, if relations with the EU were developing,” he said.