Nomination of candidates: information from the regions (updated)
Homel region
In the region, according to official data, applications were filed by over 4,1 thousand persons – for 3,952 seats in the councils of various levels. The 60 seats in the Regional Council are claimed by 126 people. Party members make up about 3,5% of all the candidates (148 people), including 47 – the party ‘Just World’, 51 – the UCP, 3 – the BNF. The pro-government CPB party and the Republican Party of Labor and Justice have nominated 41 and 6 persons respectively.
Svetlahorsk district
12 candidates for deputies of local councils in Svetlahorsk district are members of various democratic parties. All of them are going to run on the various constituencies for the District Council, and five of them - and for Homel Regional Council. Such data are reported by Sviatlana Mikhalchanka, head of Svetlogorsk district office of the Party ‘Just World’.
Of these candidates 9 represent the ‘Just World’ Party. The nominees for the District Council are: Mikalai Lazarenka (Pushkin constituency number 6), Iryna Sarychava (Maladziozhnaya constituency number 12), Siarhei Daineka (Satsyialistychnaya constituency number 13), Henadz Zhuleha (Zakhodniaya constituency number 16), Tatsiana Yurkevich (Rachnaya constituency number 17), Valiantsina Konanava (Dniaprouskaya constituency number 18), Marat Petukh (Spartyunaya constituency number 23), Uladzimir Korshun (Lunacharsky constituency number 27), Sviatlana Mikhalchanka (Suvorov constituency number 29). The candidates for the Regional Council are Mrs. Mikhalchanka (Kastrychnitskaya constituency number 47), Mr. Daineka (Biarezinskaya constituency number 55) and Mr. Petukh (Maladziozhnaya constituency number 57). All of them were nominated as a candidate by their parties’ local offices. The above-mentioned constituencies are located in Svetlahorsk, with the exception of Kastrychnitskaya constituency - it is in neighboring Kastrychnitski district.
The BPF nominated two members for the District Council: Viktar Akhramchuk (Biarezinskaya constituency number 15) and Siarhei Shavialenka (Sverdlov constituency number 24). Both of them are in Svetlahorsk. In addition, Mr. Akhramchuk will run for the Regional Council in Svetlahorsk rural constituency number 58. They candidates for the District Council were nominated through collection of signatures, while Mr. Akhramchuk, running for the Regional Council, was nominated by Homel regional office of the BPF.
Tatsiana Naskova, member of the United Civil Party, was nominated for the District Council (Skaryna constituency number 21) by collecting signatures, she will also run for the Regional Council (Pershamaiskaya constituency number 56) as representative of Homel regional office of the party.
Mrs. Mikhalchanka explained that the required number of signatures had been gathered by all the members of democratic parties that were nominated in this way. The applications for registration of candidates were submitted to the relevant election commissions.
Mrs. Mikhalchanka also noted that only two representatives of democratic parties out of 31 were elected members of divisional election commissions in Svetlahorsk district: Tamara Ivanova (polling station number 2) and Kiryl Kashytski (polling station number 24). They are members of the party ‘Just World’.
Mazyr
On 15 March in Mazyr an application for registration of candidate was submitted by member of the BPF Uladzimir Tselyapun, who is running for the Homel Regional Council in Palesse constituency number 43 and for Mazyr District Council in Kalektyunaya constituency № 18 by collecting signatures. The other candidates who also submitted applications for registration include Uladzimir Repko (running for the Homel District Council in Pritytski constituency number 45), Andrei Kora (running for the Homel District Council in Prypiats constituency number 42), Siarhei Lapust (running for Mazyr District Council in Kataev constituency as representative of the United Civic Party).
Anatol Petukhou, who had intended to run for Homel Regional Council in Internatsyianalnaya constituency number 41, but was included in the divisional election commission number 21, has decided not to run, but remain a member of the divisional election commission. The polling station number 21 is included in the constituency, where the UCP candidate Repko is going to run.
Rahachou district
In Rahachou district 2 candidates representing the democratic opposition were nominated for the local councils. Both of them are members of the Leftist ‘Just World’ party. According to a representative of the party, the candidate for the Regional Council may encounter obstacles while applying for registration.
Hanna Hubarevich is going to run for the Homel Regional Council. She intends to run in Rahachou town constituency number 53. Mrs. Hubarevich was nominated by Homel regional office of the party “Just World’. This was reported by Ludmila Kabylianets, one of the Party’s Rahachou members.
According to Mrs. Kabylianets, the district authorities oppose the nomination of an alternative candidate for Rahachou Regional Council. According to the data provided by the politician, Uladzimir Nadtachayeu, deputy chairman of Homel regional executive committee, is going to run in the same constituency (although now he is member of one of the local councils in Rechytsa district). Therefore, Mrs. Kabylianets fears that the authorities will impede the registration of Hanna Hubarevich.
As reported previously, Mrs. Fekla Pauliukova filed an aaplication for registration as a candidate. She lives in the village of Hadzilavichy, Rahachou district and was nominated by collecting of signatures for Hadzilavichy Rural Council. The registration of candidates will be carried out from 16 to 25 March.
Zhlobin district
9 representatives of democratic parties were nominated candidates for deputies in Zhlobin district. All of them applied for registration as candidates for Zhlobin District Council, and three of them are going to run for the Homel Regional Council.
According to head of Zhlobin regional office of the Party ‘Just World’ Mr. Rybchanka, some of the candidates were nominated by collecting signatures, others - by their parties’ local offices. Applications for the nomination of all candidates were submitted to the relevant election commissions.
7 candidates are going to run for the District Council as representatives of the Party ‘Just World’: Aliaksandr Ausiannikau, Yuhen Basareuski, Viktar Navumenka, Aliaksandr Pilipenka, Anatol Stsepanenka, Valery Rybchanka and Valiantsina Shakura. In addition, Mr. Basareuski and Mr. Rybchanka intend to run for the Homel Regional Council - Streshynskaya constituency number 33 and Zhlobin rural constituency number 34, respectively.
Two persons nominated as candidates for deputies of the District Council represent the United Civic Party: Marat Afanasieu and Vadzim Bazhko. The former will be also running for the Regional Council in Metalurhichnaya constituency number 31.
Hrodna region
Despite the apparent discrimination against members of the democratic community during the formation of election commissions, the opposition parties and movements of Hrodna region have been persisting in nominating some of their candidates.
The BPF Hrodna office applied for registration of 4 candidates to the City Council: Vadzim Saranchukou (Tsentralnaya constituency number 8), Mikalai Lemianouski (Indurskaya constituency number 22), Valery Kisialiou (Zakharauskaya constituency number 26) and Siarhei Antusevich (Lida constituency number 29). The UCP nominees for the Regional Council are Yury Istomin (Vishniavetskaya constituency number 12) and Aliaksandr Vasilevich (Praletarskaya constituency number 17). 5 more members of the UCP were nominated as candidates for the City Council: Dzmitry Bandarchuk (Muzychnaya constituency number 24), Dzmitry Slutski (Tserashkouskaya constituency number 14), Dzmitry Audzeichyk (Solamauskaya constituency number 17), Aliaksandr Vasilevich (Aziorskaya constituency number 30) and Aliaksandr Pahuliayeu (Indurskaya constituency number 22).
A UCP member Kiryl Semianchuk will be running for the local Council in the villages of Aziory (Hrodna region).
In Smarhon district the democratic community’s nominees include the well-known Social Democrat Iryna Veshtard and a representative of the BPF Uladzimir Shulzhytski. Both are running for the District Council and were nominated by collecting of signatures.
The Belarusian Party of the Left ‘Just World’ nominated 12 persons for the Regional Council, 9 - for Hrodna City Council, and 1 - for Slonim District Council.
The BSDH Party, as a result of non-inclusion of its 6 representatives to constituency election commissions and all nominated candidates for divisional commissions of Hrodna, refused to nominate their candidates in the city. However, 2 representatives of the BSDH are going to run for the Regional Council: Viktar Desiatsik (Svislatskaya constituency number 50) and Liavon Karpovich (Dubnenskaya constituency number 43). Liavon Karpovich also applied for registration as a candidate for Lunenski Village Council and Masty District Council.
In Berastavitsa district representative of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) Aleh Ramashkevich applied for registration as a candidate for the District Council by collecting of signatures, and for the Regional Council in Berastavitsa constituency № 18 (nominated by the party).
The UCP activist Mikalai Ulasevich from the village of Varaniany (Astravets District) applied for registration as a candidate for the local councils of various levels: the village council, district council, as well as the Regional Council in Zhupranskaya constituency number 49. Another UCP member Ivan Kruk is expected to be registered as a candidate for the Regional Council running in Astravets constituency number 47. He, as well as Uladzimir Hrazhul and Ludmila Sushko were nominated for candidates for the District Council.
In Lida Uladzimir Krutsikau was nominated by collecting of signatures and applied for registration as a candidate for the District Council. Besides, in Lida, two persons were included in the composition of election commissions by collecting of signatures.
Masty activists of the Movement ‘For Freedom’ Aliaksandr Zarembiuk and Vasil Klimovich will be running for the District Council. In addition, Aliaksandr Zarembiuk applied for registration as a candidate for the Regional Council in Malyshchynskaya constituency № 8.
The greatest activity in Hrodna region was manifested by the civil and political activists of Slonim district. The local democrats nominated 9 people as candidates for the District Council (all of them - by collecting of signatures).
The civil and political activists and associations of 9 more districts of Hrodna region - Ashmiany, Vaukavysk, Voranava, Dziatlava, Zelva, Iuye, Karelichy, Navahradak and Shchuchyn – will not take participation in the election campaign.
Brest region
Baranavichy
In Baranavichy on 15 March representatives of the democratic community filed the necessary documents for registration of their representatives as candidates for deputies of the Town and Regional councils.
A BPF member Viktar Meziak applied for registration as a candidate for the Town Council in Baranavichy town constituency number 18. The Leftist ‘Just World’ party nominated 2 candidates: Viktar Tsiapin (Baranavichy urban constituency number 11) and Aliaksandr Halkevich (Baranavichy urban constituency number 23). The UCP activist Anzhela Kambalava applied for registration as a candidate for the Regional Council in Baranavichy North-West constituency number 15.
Four representatives of the unregistered BCD party applied for registration as candidates. Halina Yarashevich applied for registration as a candidate for the Town Council (constituncy number 24) and the Regional Council (Baranavichy South constituency number 19); Aliaksandr Kabiak - a candidate for the Town Council (constituency number 9) and the Regional Council (Baranavichy North-East constituency number 16); Siarhei Zabenka - a candidate for the Town Council (constituency number 15) and the Regional Council (Baranavichy East constituency number 17); Aleh Malashchanka applied for registration as a candidate to the District Council of Deputies (Mirskaya constituency number 19) and the Regional Council of Deputies (Nova-Myshskaya constituency number 23).
An activist of the ‘For Freedom’ movement Ryhor Hryk also applied for registration as a candidate for the Town Council (constituency number 15) and the Regional Council (Baranavichy East constituency number 17), and an independent candidate Mikalai Charnavus - in West Baranavichy District number 21 as a candidate for the Brest Regional Council of Deputies and the Town Council (constituency number 4).
36 deputies of Baranavichy Town Council will be elected on 25 April.
Minsk Region
Minsk
The constituency commissions of Minsk received 360 applications for nomination of candidates for deputies, including 201 people nominated by collecting signatures was (65,3%), from labor collectives - 46 (14%), from political parties - 113 (36,7%).
The Green Party nominated 3 candidates (0.9%), ‘Just World’ - 18 (5,8%), the Social Democratic Party (Hramada) - 2 (0,6%), Social and Sports Party -2 (0,6%), the CPB - 12 (3,9%), the Liberal Democratic Party - 53 (17,2%), the UCP - 11 (3,6%), the Belarusian Popular Front - 7 (2,3%), the Republican Party -- 1 (0.3%), the Party of Labor and Justice - 4 (1,3%).
Barysau
According to Siarhei Salash, head of the initiative group for the nomination of the BPF member, economist, expert of CASE-Belarus Dzmitry Babitski as a candidate for the Barysau District Council, running in constituency number 15, Barysau district election commission received 88 signatures of voters who voted in support of this nominee.
In a statement sent to Barysau district election commission, Dzmitry Babitski stated that his application for registration as a candidate for deputy of the District Council was signed by 788 voters. Photocopies of all the signature lists were appended to the statement.
Dzmitry Babitski also drew the attention of the district election commission to the fact that the criminal and civil legislation of the Republic of Belarus provides for liability for breach of electoral law and called upon it to provide him with the statements of members of three election commissions, which are located in constituency number 15.
Salihorsk
47 people applied for registration as candidates in the area. 29 candidates were nominated by collecting of signatures.
Five independent nominees - brothers Viktar and Aliaksei Yaumeenka, Aleh Filenia, Aliaksei Valabuyeu, Henadz Masakouski - continue to participate in the campaign. They all were nominated by collecting of signatures and, except for, intend to run for the district councils of Council. Mr. Yaumeenka will be running for the Salihorsk District Council and Minsk Regional Council.
Oddly enough, in Salihorsk, where the local democratic forces have almost ignored the campaign, there are constituencies where two independent candidates compete.
