Orsha: opposition activists consider unlawful forming of district election commission

As it follows from a publication in Arshanskaya Hazeta, there are no representatives of political parties among the 13 members appointed to the Orsha district election commission. Three persons were nominated by NGOs: the Belarusian Republican Youth Union (BRSM, pro-governmental ‘state NGO’), the Belarusian Women’s Union and the Belarusian Union of Veterans, one person – by the district organization of the trade union of workers of agroindustrial complex. All other candidacies were nominated by collecting signatures or by their working collectives.

Article 34 of the Electoral Code provides that as a rule, representatives of parties and other civil associations must comprise at least 1/3rd of an election commission. 4 out of 13 is less than 1/3rd. Moreover, representatives of the Belarusian Leftist Party Just World and the Belarusian Social Democratic Party were nominated to the commission but weren’t included in it by the local authorities.

The Chairpersons of the local organizations of the aforementioned parties have already lodged a complaint with the procuracy asking it to appeal against the decision on forming of the Orsha district commission for elections to the local Soviets.

Human rights defenders for free elections