MINSK. Dec 21 (Interfax) - Ex-presidential candidates Vladimir Neklyayev and Vitaly Rymashevsky are currently being interrogated by investigators, President Aleksandr Lukashenko has told reporters in Minsk on Monday.
"We have removed them from that hospital. They are talking to investigators today," he said.
According to Lukashenko, when reports appeared that Neklyayev had been beaten, he got in touch with Heath Minister Vasily Zharko and asked him to take the matter under control and provide help because "there will be such so much stench", to which Zharkov said, laughing, that "there is just a scratch on the back of the head and a bruised eye, no threat to life at all".
"I told him: anyway, see to it that everything is all right," Lukashenko said.
As for Rymashevksy, he said that the ex-candidate "was struck in the head and rushed to take shelter in a hospital".
"And they wanted to be presidents! What kind of a president can you be if you shout to the whole world after being struck in the face? You must endure," Lukashenko said.