Zhodzina authorities act ‘more delicately, wisely and slyly’

The elections will be non-alternative in 31 out of 34 constituencies for the elections to the Barusau district Council of Deputies, while the authorities of the neighboring city of Zhodzina act ‘more delicately, wisely and slyly’, as it was recommended by Natallia Piatkevich, Deputy Chairperson of the Presidential Administration.

All electors of 34 election constituencies of Zhodzina have the possibility to choose between a good candidate and another one who is as good. In particular, they can choose between the Deputy Manager of Zhodzina heat electropower station and the head of the traffic department of the district bureau of Smaliavichyraihaz, between principal of a social-pedagogical center and manager of a plant, between the head of the department of inquest of Zhodzina police department and director of housing and community amenities. In rare cases, there are also representatives of the working class.

It means that virtually all candidates to the city Council of Deputies are state officials and therefore are dependent on the state. Nevertheless, there is something in common in the organization of the election process in Barysau district and Zhodzina: each of the few candidates who represent the democratic opposition has two rivals.

In Barysau, Zmitser Babitski, member of the Belarusian Popular Front Party and activist of the For Freedom movement, competes with a college principal and a plant manager. In Zhodzina, Aliaksandr Valchanin, member of the United Civil Party, competes with manager of an enterprise and head of a workshop, and Aliaksandr Kamarouski, leader of the organization of veterans of the war in Afghanistan Defenders of the Fatherland – with manager of a technical bureau at BelAZ (Belarusian Automobile Plant) and principal of a gymnasium.

Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections