Democrats lose 30% in Mahiliou region

The local election commissions of Mahiliou region registered 5,794 candidates, refusing registration to 64 persons, the official web-site of Mahiliou Region Executive Committee reports.

‘The majority of opposition representatives were nominated by collecting of signatures. The reasons for refusals include: failure to state full information (e.g. missing name of town, street etc.), fake signatures, inaccuracies (misspelled names etc.) and canvassing for voters’ signatures outside the candidates’ constituencies,’ says Yury Novikau, election campaign coordinator of Mahiliou regional coalition of pro-democratic forces.

Mr. Novikau stresses that the election authorities were biased in their treatment of the local pro-dem activists.

‘While the election commission were blind to the faults in the applications submitted by pro-governmental candidates, the democrats were scrutinized. We could not control the process, since we have no representatives on the commissions. As yet, out of 60 persons nominated for local councils 43 are registered,’ says Yury Novikau.

‘Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections’