Svetlahorsk: why electors cannot watch formation of precinct commissions?

On 12 August Svetlahorsk district executive committee (DEC) held a sitting on forming of precinct electoral commissions. The head of the DEC Siarhei Maksimenka did not admit to the sitting a member of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Vadzim Bolbas who wanted to watch the formation of the commissions.

‘He asked me whether I had my party membership card with me. I answered that I did not take it with me because if preparation to the elections is conducted openly and transparently, any elector from Svetlahorsk can watch formation of the commissions. However, Maksimenka refused to let me in without showing my party card,’ said Uladzimir Bolbas.

According to Article 13 of the Electoral Code ‘elections are to be prepared and held openly and transparently’.

Predictably enough at this sitting the authorities did not include in the precinct commissions any of the 28 nominees from opposition.

V.Bolbas is also an observer at the district electoral commission. On 13 August he received the following information: 814 persons were nominated to precinct commissions. About 660 of them were included in the commissions and about 150 were not.

Human rights activists for free elections