Rejection of the presidential candidacy of an opponent imprisoned in Belarus

Belarus banned Tuesday President August Lukashenko's main rival, imprisoned since June on the back of a screw screw targeting many detractors of the regime. The Belarusian Election Commission announced that the candidacy of Viktor Babaryko, a 56-year-old former banker, had been rejected due to unreported income and foreign funding for his campaign.

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He was arrested in mid-June and is the subject of prosecutions for having directed an " organized group " author of " frauds " and " money laundering " via the bank Belgazprombank, a subsidiary of the Russian gas giant Gazprom which he previously led. President Lukashenko, who accuses both Westerners and Russia of interfering in the August 9 poll, had implied that his main rival was supported by Moscow, charges dismissed by representatives of the opponent and the Kremlin.

" This is a clear signal that the authorities are afraid, " said Babaryko's campaign manager Maria Kolesnikova on Tuesday, accusing Alexander Lukashenko of " persecuting his rivals ". The opponent's team has indicated that it will challenge this measure before the Supreme Court.

Since June, the Belarusian authorities have carried out numerous searches and arrests, targeting various groups and personalities criticizing the regime, but also their activists or supporters.