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"I can predict with absolute certainty a stable and rational parliament, because we already have the example of the previous House of Representatives. I am also convinced that only constructive cooperation among the branches of government can enable each branch of government - the Representatives, me as the head of state - to work productively in the interests of our people… The new parliament will have its differences: the Constitution requires the deputies to work on a full-time basis. Using deputy status for organizing business or any other economic activity is out of the question… This is the standard in civilized countries, it took us long to get to it, and we will apply that standard for the first time in this House of Representatives."

Aleksandr LUKASHENKO, president of Belarus, October 25, 2000

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"Today, when the official results of the first election round were published for Minsk's 102nd Western Voting District after a week's delay, I consider it necessary to say that the voting results have been grossly falsified. I have in my possession copies of the final protocols from every one of the district's 33 precinct commissions. They suggest that voting in that district could not be valid, because only 47 percent of the registered voters took part in it. In violation of Part 8 of Article 55 of the Electoral Code of Belarus, which bans voter lists from being amended after the votes have been counted, the authorities spent several days making their 'adjustments.' As a result, the number of voters in the 102nd District 'decreased' by nearly 6,000, and the vote was declared valid."

Mikhail CHIGIR, candidate, prime minister of Belarus in 1994-1996, October 24, 2000

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"The Belarusian people has once again demonstrated its will, reaffirming that this nation will never tolerate any pressure… The West can see that Belarus is an absolute democracy… I am confident that after this election, Belarus' prospects for cooperation with the whole world are very high."

Aleksandr LUKASHENKO, president of Belarus, October 18, 2000

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"The regime has got itself a more obedient legislature, while the opposition has yet to fight its way into Parliament."

Nikolai STATKEVICH, candidate, leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Narodnaya Hramada, October 16, 2000

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"What is happening is exactly what the united democratic opposition warned about in the run-up to the elections: an increase in administrative pressure, mass falsifications. It was no accident that the regime resisted the inclusion of observers from different political forces in the election commissions. We would never have had a farce like this if we had normal election commissions, like all over the world, where they are formed of representatives of different political forces from top to bottom."

Vyacheslav SIVCHIK, deputy chairman of the Belarusian Popular Front, October 15, 2000

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"Preliminary analysis of the election campaign for the House of Representatives suggests that the elections were neither democratic nor fair, and their outcome does not reflect the will of the citizens of the Republic of Belarus."

Mecheslav GRIB, chairman of the non-governmental Central Consultative Council for Election Observation, October 14, 2000

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"Do not vote on October 15, because your vote would be regarded as support for your enemy, the occupation regime. Make that day a turning point in our nation's history, the beginning of a new era for a free, independent and prosperous Belarusian state."

Ivonka SURVILLA, president of the US-based Belarusian National Republic, October 10, 2000

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"The government will deny support to the candidates and political parties that do not care about the welfare of the people, oppose the policy approved by the people and act in violation of the Constitution and laws."

Aleksandr LUKASHENKO, president of Belarus, September 29, 2000