Early vote started in Vitsebsk: students coerced, observer detained

The students of a number of education institutions of Vitsebsk have been forced to cast their ballots during lessons, observers at constituency No. 20 report.

In particular, cccording to Tatsiana Seviarynets, observer representing the Belarusian Christian Democracy at polling station No. 76, 15 students of Vitsebsk Industrial and Pedagogic College have been excused from classes to take part in early voting.

At about 2 p.m. Vitsebsk police detained another BCD observer Yauhen Hutsalau, accredited at polling station No. 71. The reason for the detention is yet unknown. However, the observer managed to report that he had been arrested following the start of a lunch break. He also told 10 tenants of a students’ hostel of Vitsebsk State Technology University voted between 10 and 11 a.m.

“Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”