Former local council candidate submits complaint to UN HR Committee

Homel activist Marya Bahdanovich, who was running for the local council in 2010, has submitted a complaint to the UN Human Rights Committee, arguing that chair of the city’s election commission Mr. Paroshyn was involved in election violations.

Mrs. Bahdanovich argues that the election official rigged the results of early voting at constituency #5 in Homel.

The alleged violation was appealed in court, which however dismissed the claim saying that the Belarusian legislation does not provide for appealing election results in court.

In her complaint, the activist demands to establish the fact of violating her right to a fair and independent trial and recommend the Belarusian government to bring the provisions of the national legislation in line with the country’s international obligations.

According to Homel human rights defender Leanid Sudalenka, who assisted Mrs. Bahdanovich in drafting the complaint, the Committee has already considered some 30 complaints by Belarusian citizens.