BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

29/05/2007

Belarusian Opposition Coalition Demotes Former Presidential Candidate

Some 600 delegates to the opposition congress held in Minsk on May 26-27 decided to replace former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich, who led the Political Council of United Pro-democratic Forces, with four co-leaders, RFE/RL's Belarus Service and Belapan reported. Now the council is chaired by United Civic Party leader Anatol Lyabedzka, Belarusian Popular Front leader Vintsuk Vyachorka, Belarusian Communist Party leader Syarhey Kalyakin, and Social Democratic Party (Hramada) acting head Anatol Lyaukovich. Milinkevich, too, was offered a position of co-chairman but he declined it, saying he will concentrate on developing his For Freedom movement. The congress also adopted a "strategy of action" envisaging a "constructive dialogue with the authorities." An alternative strategy proposed by advocates of street demonstrations and civil-disobedience actions was not put to a vote. "The fight for power in the country has been replaced by a fight for power among the opposition," Milinkevich commented on the course of action adopted by the congress. "The simulation of activity will not be met with support from the public," he added. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/05/3-cee/cee-290507.asp