Vitsebsk opposition candidate warned

Vitsebsk City Eelction Commission issued an official warning to Belarusian Popular Front activist Uladzimir Ramanavich, who is running for the Vitsebsk City Council, following an incident on 9 April on the territory of students’ hostel #2 of Vitsebsk Technological University. The candidate was accused of organizing an unauthorized canvassing picket. Mr. Ramanavich argues that it was not a picket – he was approached by a number of students he knew and gave answers to their questions.

Human rights activists say the warning may be connected to the fact that Mr. Ramanavich’s rival running in the same constituency – vice-rector of Vitsebsk Technological University – is not satisfied with the oppositionist’s popularity among the students, thus looking for legal ‘irregularities’ during the campaign.

‘Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections’