Kazulin Joins Milinkevich in Call for Street Democracy

2006-03-16

By Pavel Kirylaw

While speaking about the issue of vote count in his recent press conferences and meetings with voter, Kazulin always warns members of election commissions about accountability for electoral fraud. He also asks people not to vote early. The early voting takes place from March 14 to 18, and the opposition believes that vote manipulation is most likely within that period.

Incidentally, 17.39 percent voters came to polling stations in early voting days in the parliamentary elections and referendum of 2004, according to official data. Independent observers say that the number of such voters was 25.21 percent. They point out that multiple violations of national electoral regulations and international standards occurred during early voting at that time. Compulsion to vote early in state companies and schools, pressure on voters to make them vote for a particular candidate, removal of registered observers from polling stations, presence of people who are not allowed by law to be in polling stations (such as local government officials and policemen) and illegal campaigning were found to be the most serious violations at that time. Observers also registered situations in which one person voted for several voters. In addition, they saw that early polling stations were not sealed for the night and that seals on some ballot boxes were broken.

Just two weeks before the election Kazulin started to echo Milinkevich in the latter's call on voters to take to the street in their cities or come to Minsk.

"We should calmly go for vote on March 19 and at 8 p.m. the same day come to the [central] square to say in strong voice: 'We voted against Lukashenka!' Those who can should come to Minsk to join others in the Kastrychnitskaya Square. But don't use your own road vehicles. There is an order [of the government] to block all access roads to Minsk. Don't yield to provocations organized by the authorities. Don't go for confrontation. No blood should be spilled. Come with kind hearts, give smiles and flowers to policemen," says Kazulin in his address to voters.

So, both opposition candidates have the same strategy to deploy after the election?

It may seem that Kazulin's call for street democracy was born in the course of last days. He did not mention protests in his earlier television and radio addresses to voters. Those addressees were a good chance to talk to the general public and extend the call over a wide audience. Still, he did not use it but limited himself to just saying that "the 19th of March is the day that should show that the people are the power in the country."

Perhaps his team got inspired when they saw that about 3,000 people came to the center of Minsk to meet Milinkevich on March 2? Or Kazulin's optimism for street democracy emerged during his own recent meetings with voters? It is also possible that it is his personal reaction to the brutality that he had to go through when he tried to register himself for a recent large pro-Lukashenka forum?

However, Kazulin's team said already in the beginning of the campaign that it was in favor of two opposition candidates but one line of action. But which line of action you can choose other than street protests if you want to achieve a victory rather than mere participation?

If he continues with his call for street democracy, he will be side by side with Milinkevich on March 19. But this is an optimistic side for proponents of democracy. Pessimists may say that the competition between the two opposition candidates can become acute on the voting day. Can Kazulin trust exit poll findings according to which it is Milinkevich, and not Kazulin, makes it to the second round together with Lukashenka? What people in the square are going to shout: "Mi-lin-ke-vich!" or "Ka-zu-lin!"? Pro-democracy voters can split.

While commenting on the possibility of joining efforts with Milinkevich, Kazulin said at a press conference in Kyiv that there is "a myth about the single candidate."

"I am a man of victory, a man of results, I cannot join the opposition that is simulated rather than real, which moves from defeat to defeat," he added. "I am not against pooling efforts together, but not for the sake of simulation but for achieving certain results."

Then Kazulin made as many as three offers to Milinkevich. First, several days before the voting day they should "take a joint statement to announce that they both withdraw from the race because the early [in March rather than in July] election is illegal and because government agencies violate electoral legislation on a large scale." In particular, Kazulin's team says, the declared equality of candidates in conducting their campaigning activities is actually non-existent. He suggests that both candidates should demand a presidential election on July 16, that is, just before the current term of the incumbent expires.

The second proposal is "to consider the issue of selecting one candidate in accordance with the existing domestic and external situation, taking into account that this single candidate should not cause resentment on the part of Russia, EU and US." Kazulin obviously hints that he is a better choice for such a candidate.

The third proposed script is "to take a declaration of joint action in which it should be stated that it is not essential who will be elected as the president, Kazulin or Milinkevich. The most important thing for the country's future is that Lukashenka should not remain the president. Going for the election in two columns, it is necessary to coordinate and organize joint campaigns aimed at providing independent information to the general public, preventing electoral fraud and observing the election."

In other words, Kazulin suggests that the two candidates should discuss all possible lines of action. On the other hand, such a wide agenda for talks with Milinkevich shows that he is ready to look for a compromise. But on the other hands, it causes a natural question: does Kazulin have a clear strategy of his own for this election? Or it does not matter to him which course pro-democracy forces will take?

While speaking in an interview, Kazulin's deputy in the Belarusian Social Democratic Party "Hramada," Uladzimir Nistsyuk says that they would prefer the second option. He says it should be read as a suggestion that Milinkevich withdraws in favor of Kazulin.

"Kazulin has a wider electoral field. Hesitating people can follow him. Milinkevich is too soft and intellectual. Kazulin has proven that he is a tough fighter who can go to the end," says Nistsyuk.

However, Milinkevich has responded to Kazulin that he will also go to the end. His team says that they are ready to negotiate the first and third proposals.