Homel: are pro-regime candidates allowed to put agitation in banned places?

Agitation materials of the candidate for the Homel regional Council of Deputies Aliaksandr Udodau, Chairperson of a department of the Belarusian railway, are put in the places that are prohibited for agitation.

His rival Yauhen Yakavenka, member of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy, states that Udodau’s agitation materials are put on the doors of porches and notice boards near the houses in the Old Airfield suburb, in 50 Hadou SSSR Street, which contradicts to a ruling of the Homel city executive committee, according to which agitation materials can be posted only on special informational stands. There are several such places in the Yubileinaya constituency – near the Akean shop and at stops of public transport.

’We posted our agitation materials in these places and noticed that somebody purposefully tears them away, though these places are officially determined for posting agitation materials. At the same time, the pro-governmental candidate posts his agitation wherever he wants. It means that places for agitation are determined only for democratic candidates and such decisions don’t concern pro-governmental ones,’ points Mr. Yakavenka.

Following these events, the candidate called the police and lodged a complaint against his rival, demanding to prevent violations of the electoral legislation by him.

Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections