Belarusian Way of Election (Polatsk Version)
Human Rights Center “Viasn” received the list of members of Polatsk polling station commission No. 10. The very first glance at this document causes indignation, showing gross violations of norms of the acting Belarusian legislation concerning forming of polling station commissions: 13 commission members are workers of one educational establishment (the first part of Article No. 35 of the Electoral code says:….. working collectives of organizations or their structural bodies can nominate one representative of organization to the appropriate … polling station commission).
Information of the newspaper “Polatski Viesnik”, No. 5, January 21, 2003:
“Polatsk polling station commission No. 10
Center – Polatsk State agrarian-technical college
Akhpash Ryma Uladzimirauna – lecturer of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college
Zhukouskaia Volha Vasilieuna – specialist in staff work of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college
Iermalaieva Aliena Lieanidauna – lecturer of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college
Iliashenka Aliena Lieanidauna – secretary of secondary school No. 9
Kasatskina Liudmila Iakaulieuna – pensioner
Kaluzhonak Tatsiana Ivanauna – secretary of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college
Karzuk Frants Paulavich – director of secondary school No. 9. Chairperson of the commission
Krasikau Anatol Ryhoravich – lecturer of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college
Lukianchuk Aliena Lieanidauna – secretary of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college
Papou Ihar Sieliviestravich – controller of “Shklovalakno” enterprise
Rudzianok Tatsiana Mikalaieuna – lecturer of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college
Samul Aliautsina Vasilieuna – lecturer of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college. Vice-Chairperson of the commission
Sihalava Nina Mikhailauna – the head of library of Polatsk pedagogical college
Simanovich Vasil Viktaravich – teacher of secondary school No. 9
Fiedankou Alieh Lieanidavich – lecturer of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college
Sharstuk Iryna Siamionauna – lecturer of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college
Sharkiel Axana Tadevushauna – cultural organizer of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college
Shvaiko Tatsiana Ryhorauna – lecturer of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college
Shelieh Tatsiana Hienadzieuna – lecturer of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college”
Having analyzed the commission consistence, workers of “Viasna” phoned to Polatsk, to secretary of commission No. 10 Iermalaieva Aliena Lieanidauna, who explained how the commission was formed. According to her:
1. The published list contains a mistake, not 13, but 9 members of the commission are workers of Polatsk agrarian-economical college, Akhpash R.U., Kaluzhonak T.I., Shvaiko T.R., Shelieh T.H. are workers of Polatsk pedagogical college. It is very important as director of this candidate T. Palushkina is a candidate to Polask city Deputy Soviet and ballots in this circuit. It is difficult to say whether the information of the list really contains mistakes.
2. During forming of the commission the possibility to nominate representatives of different structural bodies of one organization was widely used: Akhpash R.U., Kaluzhonak T.I., Shvaiko T.R., Shelieh T.H. and Sihalava N.M. were nominated from different structural bodies of Pedagogical college (administration-serving staff, administration-directing staff, etc.).
3. 9 workers of Polatsk State agrarian-economical college were nominated by collection of signatures. If one explains the electoral legislation in this way, that allows to nominate commission members by signatures, one can form commission with every consistence he/she likes – consisting of single working collective members with its director balloting in the same circuit.
We came to know about this exceptionally rude ignorance and “needed handling” of the electoral legislation norms at the given polling station during forming of the commission because on the territory of polling station commission No. 10 there also ballots the well-known human rights activist and journalist Valiery Shchukin.
At first he filed a statement about violation of the Electoral code to Polask city executive committee and Polatsk city electoral commission, expressing his doubt in independence of the commission. He proposed either to exclude members of the Pedagogical college from the commission or include there equal number of representatives from all candidates who ballot in this circuit. Polatsk city executive committee reacted only to the very end of the statement, answering that inclusion of representatives of all candidates in a circuit commission contradicted to the law.
