Updated at 17:53,27-03-2024

Presidential hopeful Nyaklyayew questions state media's reports of voter support for Lukashenka

BelaPAN

Presidential hopeful Uladzimir Nyaklyayew has questioned state media outlets' reports that Alyaksandr Lukashenka enjoys support from 80 percent of Belarus' voters.

In an interview with BelaPAN, the leader of the "Tell the Truth!" campaign said that he had a "sober" view of electoral support. "But not sober enough to believe official propagandists' claims that 80 percent of the population support Lukashenka and that the opposition cannot count on support from more than 20 percent," the prominent poet stressed.

Referring to independent polls, Mr. Nyaklyayew suggested that Mr. Lukashenka enjoyed support from 33 percent of the voters. "If we gather together all people who would vote for an independent candidate if the opposition united, the vote will be divided fifty-fifty. If we speak about a theoretical possibility of the election being held in accordance with normal standards, Lukashenka cannot win in the first round. That's why he rejects all calls for holding such an election," he said.

The task of the "Tell the Truth!" campaign and other opposition forces is to sway voters who support neither Mr. Lukashenka nor the opposition, according to Mr. Nyaklyayew. "We all understand that it is the vote results needed by Lukashenka that will be announced. But we will do everything to have a true picture of the election. We will make decisions on our actions on the voting day and beyond based on this picture," he said.