Jailed Belarussian ex-minister may run for parliament

2004-07-12

Mikhail Marinich, a former foreign economic relations minister and a former ambassador to Latvia and current head of the Association, is charged with illegal possession of firearms and theft of state documents.

He will be nominated if enough signatures are collected for his candidacy, Association spokesmen told Interfax.

His son Igor told Interfax his father "has not yet made up his mind definitively as to whether he will take part in the election" and that "it's difficult to pursue an election campaign if you're in prison."

The Minsk lawyers' association told Interfax the law prohibits a person who is in custody from taking part in any elections "either as a candidate or as a voter." Marinich would only be able to run if he were released even if he remained under prosecution.