Svetlahorsk: Unequal conditions for campaigning

25.09.2008. Tags: elections-2008, Svetlahorsk.

Official newspapers in Svetlahorsk continue to promote “official” candidate Valiantsina Kavaliova (incumbent MP and former deputy head of ideology department of rayon executive committee).

Newspapers Ranak-Plus and Svetlahorskiya Naviny reminded their readers about Kavaliova again. This time they published her letter on the eve of the Day of Forestry Workers. Earlier Svetlahorskiya Naviny published Kavaliova's letter on the eve of the Day of Light Industry Workers, the appeal of pro-governmental Veteran’s Association to vote for Kavaliova and Kavaliova’s speech at the opening of a new school. Ranak Plus and local TV channel “Ranak” also covered her speech and showed Kavaliova's participation in a rayon teachers' conference.

The newspapers mentioned the democratic candidate Siarhei Daineka only in the news piece about registration of candidates. Svetlahorskiya Naviny also gave him space provided to all candidates “on equal conditions” to publish his platform.

In shop windows, post offices and other public places one can see Kavaliova’s campaign posters hanging together with the joint election poster produced by the district commission (Chairman of the commission is deputy chair of Svetlahorsk rayon executive committee Siarhei Merkulau). Posters of the democratic candidate Siarhei Daineka can be placed only on special stands determined for election campaign materials.

Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections