Mahiliou: member of BSDP ‘Hramada’ banned from collecting signatures in student dormitory

Pretender to candidate Leanid Padbiaretski, member of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada wasn’t let in dormitory #1 of Mahiliou State Universty named after A.Kuliashou where he intended to collect signatures in his support.

Volha Dzedavets, the dormitory supervisor, said that Padbiaretski needed the agreement of Uladzimir Yaseu, the university provost on education.

’Of course, I don’t like such rules’, says Leanid Padbiaretski. ‘However, tomorrow I will talk with this man and would try to solve this issue. I am going to complaint to the election commission in the case I wouldn’t be let in the dormitory,’ said the activist.

Human rights defender Barys Bukhel states that paragraph 10 of the ruling of the Central Election Commission #10 of 21 January 2010 On explanation of the use of provisions of Articles 61 and 65 of the Election Code of the Republic of Belarus that regulate the order of collecting the signatures of electors in support of the persons who are proposed for nomination as candidates to deputies of the local Soviets of Deputies of the Republic of Belarus of the XXVIth Convocation’ reads: ‘While the signatures are collected, the electors who live in dormitories and the members of initiative groups must abide by the internal regulations of the dormitories concerning the order of visiting of the dormitories by the persons who don’t dwell in them.’

’Thus, no special permission is needed for visiting a dormitory. Complaints can be lodged with the prosecutor’s office and the election commission if such obstacles are created,’ commented the human rights defender.

Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections