The Human Rights Center “Viasna”

The beginning of the week coincided with the last day of nomination of candidates for deputies of local councils of various levels. Official figures on the number of persons who applied to the territorial and constituency election commissions for registration of their candidacies were made public. Lidzia Yarmoshyna publicly named the scanty rate of nominees from the political parties as the results of the ‘advantages’ given to the parties by the amended electoral law. Against the background of statements by the CEC head on enhancing competition among candidates for deputy seats, the representatives of pro-democratic forces began counting uncontested constituencies in the country.

Analysts say canvassing opportunities in Vitsebsk region are considerably restricted after local state-owned mass media published official decisions by executive committees of different levels.

Rechytsa divisional election commission demands Andrei Stryzhak, running in local constituency #49, to provide documents that are not required by the law. The Commission required that the candidate provided unemployment certificate, after Mr. Stryzhak stated that he was temporarily unemployed in his registration application.

In eight constituencies of Svetlahorsk district the quantity of voters diverges from the norm provided by the Electoral Code. Article 15 of the Code states that constituencies are formed by equal amounts of voters, with 10% of admissible deviation.