Exiled opposition politician announces presidential bid

October 28, Pozirk. Opposition politician Juryj Hubarevič has announced on Facebook that he has submitted paperwork to the central election commission.
The exiled chairman of the outlawed Movement for Freedom wants to run president, but the commission is likely to use his residence abroad as a pretext to reject his application.
The Belarusian Constitution has a 20-year continuous residence requirement for presidential hopefuls, forbidding them to live abroad or have any other country’s IDs.
“I do not have any formal restrictions,” Hubarevič argued. “[Authorities] filed criminal charges against me, but none of them resulted in court rulings,” he noted.
“I think it’s quite possible to collect 100,000 ballot-access signatures among some 500,000 Belarusians who fled their country fearing politically-motivated persecution.”
Hubarevič is known as an associate of Pavieł Łatuška of the transition cabinet and coordinator of an education project training public officials for a democratic Belarus. Belarusian authorities branded the initiative an extremist group earlier this year and filed criminal charges against Hubarevič.
Belarus will hold its seventh presidential election from January 21 to 26, with the whole election cycle limited to just three months. The previous 2020 presidential race was marred by police brutality against peaceful protesters.
Alaksandar Łukašenka and Aleh Hajdukievič, a pro-government politician vocally campaigning for the incumbent, have already announced their participation.
The Belarusian pro-democracy forces called on supporters to protest the election “by voting against all those who steal our right to vote.” By voting “against all” the Belarusian public will demonstrate that it continues to oppose Łukašenka and demands free and fair elections, the opposition said in a statement.
The country has not held a single free and fair election since 1996 by the standards of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Leader of pro-government party to run for president

- Security, SocietyOfficials deny reports of nighttime explosions in MahiloŭThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics
- Politics
- Politics, SocietyŁukašenka says Belarus has “enough people” to staff health systemThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsKGB adds five Kalinoŭski regiment fighters, six others to list of terroristsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security, SocietyBelarusian among five to stand trial in Poland over arson, alleged Russia intelligence tiesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus’ gold and foreign exchange reserves drop for first time since late 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus simplifies driving licence procedures for foreignersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsSeats on opposition Coordination Council up for grabsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus’ foreign minister meets with officials in OmanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus bans content of defunct VoA Russian service for distributionThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInformation ministry suspends Belarusian-language publisher's distribution licenseThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁatuška meets with Council of Europe officials to share evidence of alleged Łukasenka crimesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityDefense minister: NATO continues preparing for warThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLatvian intelligence estimates Belarus’ army strength at 50,000The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLithuania reports surge in irregular border crossing attemptsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyUpper house approves fines for propaganda of homosexualityThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- Politics


