BHC appeals election results
On 22 December, representatives of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee submitted an appeal to the Central Election Commission, demanding to declare the presidential election results fraudulent.
The 22-page appeal provides proofs of blatant violations during all stages of the political campaign.
According to BHC lawyer Harry Pahaniayla, the human rights defenders, together with representatives of Ryhor Kastusiou’s campaign team, who lodged a similar appeal on 21 December, hope that the Central Election Commission will take a collective decision and release a well-reasoned verdict on the appeals. In case the complaints are dismissed, the BHC is going to appeal the dismissal at the Supreme Court.
The main claims mentioned by the BHC include harsh disproportions in the formation of election commissions, with the majority of them composed of pro-government representatives.
Numerous violations were registered during the canvassing activities, when the authorities were engaged in open abuse of administrative resources, depriving Lukashenka’s rivals of equal opportunities for efficient canvassing. The human rights defenders also mention the mass coercion campaign during the early voting and the absence of transparency in the vote counting as the most vivid examples of election violations during the campaign.
