Members of the organizing committee for the establishment of the Belarusian Christian Democracy association, have collected more than 12,000 signatures in support of their parliamentary nominees, a leader, Pavel Sevyarynets, told BelaPAN.

The group put forward eight nominees who were included into the opposition coalition's single list of activists seeking access to the ballot in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Those are Dzyanis Sadowski, Vital Rymashewski, Viktar Yanchurevich, Alyaksey Aleksandrovich, Tatsyana Sevyarynets, Zmitser Kukhley, Kastus Zhukowski and Tatsyana Shambalava.

If at least one nominee is not registered as a candidate, the others may all withdraw from the race, according to Mr. Sevyarynets.

"People give their signatures more eagerly when they hear the Belarusian language and when they learn that the nominees want to build their policy in accordance with Christian values," Mr. Sevyarynets said. "Also of an importance is the fact that the most part of people nominated by the organizing committee for Belarusian Christian Democracy are young, energetic and promising politicians of a new generation."

"The collection of signatures continues despite repression and barriers created in the parliamentary campaign," he said. "For instance, Tatsyana Shambalava and her parents have been summoned for questioning, whereas in the election district of Kastus Zhukowski, a KGB officer who is also taking part in the campaign is openly electioneering which he has not yet the right to do."