Orsha: electoral pickets can be put anywhere

The Orsha Town Executive Committee removed all prohibitions on holding electoral pickets for collection of signatures in support of nomination of candidates for the presidential election.

The local state-owned press published ruling #1454 of the Orsha TEC of 6 October 2010 about the about the abolishment of ruling #1371 of 23 September 2010 About determining the places banned for picketing aimed at collecting signatures of electors for the nomination of candidates for President of the Republic of Belarus. According to the member of the Orsha Town Election Commission Natallia Shendalesava, now signatures can be collected in any place of Orsha including the transport stations, temples and the buildings of the state organs.

Bear in mind that this is already the third change of the rules of campaigning for the last fortnight. The primary ruling about the determination of the places banned for picketing had been adopted on 23 September, some amendments were introduced to it a week later and then was abolished at all. Two days ago the authorities decided to move the location of the Orsha Town Election Commission from the Orsha Town Executive Committee to another building. There was no such fuss during previous electoral campaigns.

Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections