Brest: seven oppositionists included in precinct commissions
In Brest 7 out of 111 nominated democratic candidates have become members of precinct commissions for elections to the Chamber of Representatives.
As informed by the chairman of the regional branch of the Belarusian Social Democratic party (Hramada) Ihar Maslouski, precinct commissions of Brest’s Western precinct #1 has received one representative of the BSDP (H), one of the United Civil party and one of the Belarusian Party of Communists; the same number of democratic representatives is in Eastern Brest precinct #3, and one activist of the Belarusian Popular Front joined the Central precinct commission #2 of Brest.
‘Figures speak for themselves: there only 7 representatives of the democratic forces in 125 precinct commissions. However, the Electoral Code does not strictly limit the number of members in these commissions,’ I.Maslouski noted.
As said by him, the desire of the regime to minimize the number of oppositional representatives in the commissions ‘gives grounds to question openness and transparency of the imminent elections’.
The UDF activists of the region were present at sessions of Leninski and Maskouski districts of Brest, where forming of precinct commissions took place on August 13. ‘There was no discussion on the candidates. Every session lasted for about 15 minutes,’ I.Maslouski said.
On 11 August a decision to form all commissions with 11 members each in 20 precincts was taken. 221 applications were submitted. 208 persons were nominated through collection of signatures, and 7 candidates from labor collectives, 6 were nominated by public associations.
13 applications have been submitted in the precinct #62. A member of the Belarusian Popular Front party Piatro Andryievich was nominated by collection of signatures, and his application was registered under the first number, hasn’t been registered. Allegedly, there was no place for him in the commission.
15 applications have been handed in the precinct #65. Uladzimir Malei, a human rights watchdog and a member of the Belarusian Popular Front Party, whose application was registered as number one, hasn’t been registered with the same explanation: no place left.
As we have informed, in 45 constituencies of Barysau (Minsk region), none of the 45 democratic activists have been put on the list of precinct election commissions members. None of the democratic activists has been put on the list of precinct election commissions’ members in Smarhon region. In Svetlahorsk region none of the democratic activists has become a member of precinct election commissions as well. Out of 34 activists of the Belarusian Popular Front none has been allowed to become a member of district electoral commissions in three constituencies (in Rechytsa, Kobryn and Vitsebsk).
