15 August 2001
Opposition youths hike across Brest region to stir up voter activity in run up to presidential election

 The pre-election walking tour of the Brest region, organized by local opposition youth groups between August 5 and 20 to stir up voter activity, has already drawn the law enforcement agencies' close attention.
After setting out from Pinsk, the hikers have been followed by Committee for State Security (KGB) vehicles. When they journeyed through a collective or state farm, police or local chiefs usually checked their identity documents and asked about the purpose of the campaign. Authorities everywhere are well informed about the tour. The hikers say that they are on good terms with KGB agents, who often give them a lift.
The youths have traveled through more than 30 villages, making stops in the towns of Stolin, Pinsk and Ivanovo.
In Ivanovo on August 12, they passed out copies of the independent newspaper Brestsky Kuryer and election calendars, calling on residents to cast their ballots on September 9, not during the five-day early voting period, in order to reduce the authorities' chance of rigging the election.