28 February 2008
Milinkevich meets with Minsk residents

Former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Milinkevich on Wednesday evening met with Minsk residents in front of the Valhahrad department store as part of a campaign to deliver his message to people across the country.

Some 200 people took part in the meeting that lasted an hour and a half, Mr. Milinkevich's associate, Yuras Hubarevich, told BelaPAN.

Mr. Milinkevich was standing on the stairs of the department store and speaking out loud so that people could see and hear him.

People expressed worry about price hikes, the removal of state benefits to many people and plans to build a nuclear power plant in the country, according to Mr. Hubarevich.

They asked questions about why authorities were building many ice hockey arenas and carrying out other ambitious projects amid very low pension payments, why almost half of students have to pay tuition fees, how the situation in the country might be changed and what reforms should be carried out.

As part of the campaign, Mr. Milinkevich is planning to travel to Kobryn and Brest this weekend and to the Hrodna and Mahilyow regions later.