Vitebsk: Candidate faces obstacles in campaigning

Andrei Levinau, candidate in Vitebsk-Chyhunachnaya district # 19, received a written reply from acting CEO of “Ceramica” company P. Z. Pryzhytomski, who refused him a meeting with the company staff. He explained, in conjunction with non-stop nature of production process, the company had no possibility for organizing a meeting with voters. The letter was prepared by Z. I. Zhaholkin. It turned out, he is the company’s deputy CEO and member of the district election commission in Vitebsk-Chyhunachnaya district # 19.

On September 22nd, judge of Kastrychnitski rayon court of Vitebsk Khilkevich refused to restore Andrei Levinau’s right to free expression of opinion and to peaceful assemblies. The candidate appealed to Vitebsk regional court on the same day.

Let us remind the readers, according to the Election Code and the Law “About mass events”, the candidate applied to Vitebsk city authorities for permission to organize meetings with voters on September 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th.  He attached written obligations of a mass event organizer. The applications were considered by deputy head of Vitebsk city executive committee P.I. Losich, who banned the gatherings. He explained, the candidate failed to pay for protection of public order by the police. In addition, the deputy head claimed, the places for gatherings the candidate applied for were not mentioned in the decision of Vitebsk city executive committee # 820 of October 24th, 2003 “About the order of organizing and holding mass events in the city of Vitebsk”.

Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections