Vitsebsk oblast: only 1,75% of initiative groups collect signatures for members of political parties
Initiative groups for collecting electors’ signatures in support of candidates to the local Soviets of all levels were registered by less than a half out of the 15 party structures possessing the legal status in the Vitsebsk oblast.
A total of 41 initiative group out of 2,349 (about 1,75%) collect signatures in support of the candidates who are members of political parties.
In particular, the Belarusian Party of Leftists Fair World, registered 1 initiative group, the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada - four groups, the Communist Party of Belarus – 24 groups, the United Civil Party – 4 groups, the Belarusian Popular Front Party – 7 groups and the Republican Party of Labor and Justice – 1 group.
However, this doesn’t mean that the officially registered parties avoid taking part in the elections, as they also have the legal opportunity to nominate their candidates by party structures, which they intend to use.
At the same time, a considerable number of initiative groups were registered by the parties that are not registered with the state and therefore can nominated candidates only by collecting signatures. In particular, 43 initiative groups were registered by the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party, 11 groups – by the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Narodnaya Hramada and 12 groups – by the party of Freedom and Progress.
The collection of signatures is going on without any incidents and complaints, because the people who collect the signatures usually have a considerable experience and skills needed for such work.
Some initiative groups can even boast certain achievements. For instance, more than 1,500 signatures were collected by the initiative group of Volha Karach, Chairperson of the Vitsebsk oblast UCP organization and deputy of the Vitsebsk city Soviet of the 24th Convocation. V.Karach intends to run for the Vitsebsk oblast and city Soviets of the 26th Convocation.
Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections
