Minsk: deficit of collegial decisions

On 4 November the member of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Iryna Smiayan-Semianiuk, a member of precinct election commission #104 of the Maskouski district, came to its first siting.

We offer to your attention her commentary about this event:

’When I came to the school where the commission was situated, I was met by the schoolmaster and other members of the commission at the entrance.

At the beginning of the sitting the commission elected its chairperson, deputy chairperson and secretary. Before the election of the chairperson the sitting was directed by an official of the Maskouski District Executive Committee. 11 people voted for the proposed candidacy of the chairperson and 1 against.

The elected chairman put on the agenda the question about the election of his deputy. 11 people again voted for the proposed candidacy and he said that the decision was taken unanimously. I reminded him that I didn’t vote and he was to have asked who voted for, who – against and who – abstained from voting. He answered that I was an empty place and told me to shut up. I calmly answered that according to the Electoral Code decisions are taken collegially and there was no need to be that rude. As it turned out, he thought that they would accept me to the commission. I had to explain that I had been included in the commission by the Maskouski District Executive Committee, which was confirmed by the present officer of the committee.

When the third question was considered, I proposed myself as a candidate for the commission secretary. However, everyone but me voted for the candidacy that was proposed by the chairman.

Bear in mind that most members of the commission represent such pro-governmental NGOs as the Belarusian Republican Union, Belaya Rus, the Belarusian Union of Women and Red Cross. Two people were nominated to the commission by collection of signatures of electors. There were also some teachers. All of them seemed to know one another quite well as they used to work together in election commissions during the previous elections.

When I asked about the time of the next sitting, the chairman said: ‘It will take place when I appoint it’. I asked him to phone and inform me about it in advance.’

Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections