MOSCOW (Reuters) - A presidential contender who says he fled Belarus because he feared for his freedom and custody of his children has told Reuters the country's opposition is pinning its hopes on a candidate he characterised as a latter-day Joan of Arc. "If I would be imprisoned, then I cannot speak openly about what is happening in Belarus," the former diplomat told Reuters at a cafe in central Moscow. He says he has delivered economic and political stability, with the state continuing to provide for many of people's needs. "I hope that I will be able to go back as soon as possible because I love my country," Tsepkalo said. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; Additional reporting by Dmitry Madorsky and Evgenia Novozhenina; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Pravin Char)

Source: The Star July 26, 2020 19:18 UTC