Who was included in constituency election commissions?

Mahiliou region

The head of the Mahiliou regional organization of the Belarusian Popular Front Party Zmitser Salauyou stated that none of the 9 persons, nominated by the party, were included into the constituency election commissions.

Representatives of the authorities explained it by the pension age of some of the candidates and the absence of experience of work in election commissions. They also stated that Zmitser Salauyou (who was also a party nominee) didn’t deal with civil activities.

The sitting lasted for more than an hour, and its participants had an opportunity to ask questions to the presidium. The present official voted for the whole list of commission members at once.

2 out of 10 nominees of the “Fair World” and 2 out of 8 nominees of the United Civil Party were included in the commissions. 9 nominees of the BPF, 1 nominee of the Green Party and 2 nominees of the Mahiliou Human Rights Center weren’t included. The greatest number of people (70) was nominated to the constituency election commissions of the Mahiliou region by collection of electors’ signatures, 14 were nominated by the official Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus, 26 – by labor collectives, 12 – by the Belarusian National Youth Union, 12 – by the national NGO “Belaya Rus” and 9 – by the Communist Party of Belarus. All in all, 13 election constituency commissions, each consisting of 13 members, were formed.


Brest region

All interested people, who had applied for being admitted to the sitting in advance, were allowed to attend it. The sitting lasted for 30 minutes. It was attended by representatives of state-owned and private media, civil organizations and ordinary activists.

The sitting participants asked six questions to the presidium, including the question about reviewing the ban on collecting electors’ signatures in the Leninski district of Brest (the center of the city). The head of the Brest Region Executive Committee Kanstantsin Sumar promised to arrange an additional discussion for this issue in order to review it, as it had been done during the presidential electoral campaign-2010.

Moreover, Sumar asked to review the prepared list of members of electoral constituencies and add 6 representatives of the opposition to it, including 3 representatives of the “Fair World”, 2 representatives of the United Civil Party and 1 representative of the Belarusian Popular Front. All, in all, 8 out of 13 nominees of the “Fair World”, 2 out of 3 nominees of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party “Hramada” and 3 out of 7 nominees of the United Civil Party were included in the election commissions. What concerns pro-governmental parties and NGOs, the Communist Party of Belarus nominated 10 representatives, the National Party of Labor and Justice – 10, the national NGO “Belaya Rus” – 15, the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus – 15 and the Belarusian National Youth Union – 13. All in all, 16 constituency election commissions, each including 13 members, were formed.


Vitsebsk region

The surnames of nominees were read out at the joint sitting of the presidium of the Vitsebsk Region Council and the Vitsebsk Region Executive Committee instead of voting for ready lists of members of commissions.

14 constituency election commissions, each including 13 members, were formed. 243 people were nominated to 162 seats, that’s why 61 people weren’t included in the commissions. According to Pavel Levinau, the presidium members didn’t explain the principle according to which the final list of commission members was formed, and why these 61 people weren’t included in the commissions (including Pavel Levinau, who was nominated by collection of electors’ signatures at Chakalauskaya election constituency #18). “I didn’t hear the presidium discuss my candidacy. That’s why an appeal to the Vitsebsk Region Court is being prepared on behalf of the people who had nominated me to the commission,” said Mr. Levinau.

Representatives of the opposition (the “Fair World” and the Belarusian Popular Front) were included into 6 out of 14 constituency election commissions. BPF member Sviatlana Mahuchaya was included in constituency election commission #7 in Vitsebsk, and another member, Alena Som – in constituency election commission #28 in Polatsk. What concerns representatives of the Belarusian Leftist Party “Fair World” – Andrei Andreyeu was included in Chyhunachnaya constituency election commission in Vitsebsk, Halina Bareika – in Kastrychnitskaya constituency election commission #20 in Vitsebsk, Fiodar Kireikau – in Lepel constituency election commission #24 and Andrei Barshcheuski – in Dniaprouskaya constituency election commission #27 in Orsha.

As to pro-governmental parties and NGOs, 9 representatives of the Communist Party of Belarus, 2 – of the Party of Labor and Justice and some nominees of the Belarusian Federation of Trade Unions and the national NGO “Belaya Rus” were included in election commissions.


Minsk

20 constituency commissions, including 260 people, were formed in Minsk. Only 14 representatives of the opposition were included in them, including 7 out of 20 nominees of the “Fair World”, 4 out of 12 nominees of the Belarusian Popular Front, 1 out of 10 nominees of the United Civil Party, 1 representative of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) and 1 nominees of the Belarusian Green Party.

Like during the previous election, the majority of the commissions’ staff is represented by members of the Communist Party of Belarus, the Belarusian Social Sportive Party, the Belarusian National Party of Labor and Justice, the national NGO “Belaya Rus”, the Belarusian National Youth Union, the Belarusian Red Cross Association, the Belarusian Federation of Trade Unions and other pro-regime organizations. This time, however, there are no members of the Belarusian Union of Women, which were actively nominated to election commissions during the previous election. For some unknown reason, this time its representatives were nominated to the commissions by collection of electors’ signatures. Three honorary citizens of Minsk – sportsman Aliaksandr Miadzvedz, singer Anatol Yarmolenka and former head of the Minsk City Executive Committee Uladzimir Yarmoshyn were nominated to election commissions by collection of signatures and were included in them.

According to information of observers, only one candidacy was discussed – a member of the national communist civil association “For democracy, social progress and justice”, born in 1923. He wasn’t included in a commission because of his age. The present officials voted for a ready list of commissions members. The sitting of the presidium lasted for 45 minutes.


Minsk region

In the Minsk region, only 2 out of 7 nominees of the Belarusian Popular Front were included in election commissions. According to a BPF representative Pavel Batuyeu, the party was guided by “business qualities and experience of work in election commissions” while nominating its members to these organs. According to him, all constituency election commissions of the Minsk region were formed just in 20 minutes. The officials refused to present to observers the lists of nominees.

According to a representative of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Natallia Mankouskaya, representatives of the “Fair World” and the United Civil Party were included in the commissions as well. However, the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus holds leadership in the number of included nominees.


Salihorsk

Representatives of Salihorsk democratic forces managed to get to the joint sitting of the presidium of the Minsk Region Council and the Minsk City Executive Commissions.

The formation of constituency election commissions was observed by Pavel Batuyeu, nominated to Salihorsk city constituency election commission #68 as a representative of the Belarusian Popular Front, and civil activist Uladzimir Shyla, nominated to Salihorsk village constituency election commission #69.

“There was no formation at the sitting. The officials prepared the lists in advance, and only their formal adoption took place. The consistency of all 17 constituency election commissions was considered for about 20 minutes,” said Pavel Batuyeu. “Most of the commission members are representatives of pro-governmental structures such as “Belaya Rus”, the Belarusian National Youth Union, the veteran organizations, and representatives of labor collectives. Even some “Red Cross” members were included in the commissions some way.”

The total number of members of constituency election commission in the country exceeds 1,000. There are few representatives of opposition parties (the United Civil Party, the Belarusian Popular Front and the “Fair World”) among them. The names of the people included in the commissions weren’t read out during the sitting – therefore even the present representatives of democratic forces don’t known whether they have been included in the commissions. Moreover, Uladzimir Shyla wasn’t told whether he had been included in the commission even after he asked the officials to do it. “The personal constituency of the commissions, said the officials, will be published on 12 July, as it is “necessary to check everything up once again,” said Mr. Shyla.


Hrodna region

According to information of the head of the Hrodna regional organization of the Belarusian Popular Front Vadzim Saranchukou, the sitting lasted for about 27 minutes. It was held by the head of the Hrodna Region Council Andrei Naumovich. He stated that about 89% of the approved candidacies have previous experience of work in election commissions. According to Mr. Saranchukou, it automatically decreases the possibility of inclusion of representatives of opposition parties and organizations in the commissions.

The adoption of the composition of all constituency election commission took just 10 minutes.

The candidacies weren’t discussed at the sitting. Only some general information was voiced – 243 people were nominated to the 13 constituency election commissions, only 169 of them were included.

A representative of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Raman Yurhel wanted to familiarize with materials concerning the nomination to the commissions, but wasn’t given such an opportunity. Representatives of the democratic parties who had been nominated to the commissions, don’t know whether they have been included in them. The officials voted for an already prepared list of all commission members, but refused to read out the surnames of those who were included in it. Instead of doing it they advised the observers and representatives of the parties to read “Hrodzenskaya Prauda” (the pro-governmental newspaper where the results of formation of the commissions will be published).

As it became known later, none of the 9 nominees of the Belarusian Popular Front were included in the constituency election commissions of the region.

According to the head of the Hrodna regional organization of the “Fair World” Pavel Staneuski, 3 out of 10 nominees were included in commissions of the Hrodna region: Iosif Niachai – in Hrodna central constituency election commission, Pavel Samadzelau – in Lida constituency election commission and Mr. Zhary – in Navahradak constituency election commission. It’s worth mentioning that Niachai and Samadzelau were also included in election commissions during previous elections.


Homel region

17 constituency election commissions, each including 13 members, were formed at the joint sitting of the presidium of the Homel Region Executive Committee and the Homel Region Council. “The sitting lasted for exactly 13 minutes. The head of the organizational and personnel department of the executive committee Dzmitry Razhkou stated that a working group had been established for the preparation to the formation of the commissions and made a proposal to vote either the composition of each commission, or the list of members of all commission s at once. The present official voted for the whole list, and the sitting ended,” said human rights defender Anatol Paplauny, who attended the sitting.

221 out of 434 nominees were included in the commissions, including 20 representatives of political parties, 10 of which are members of the Communist Party of Belarus, 6 – members of the National Party of Labor and Justice and 1 – a member of the Social Democratic Party of People’s Agreement. What concerns opposition parties – 2 out of 17 nominees of the “Fair World” (one nominee per commission) and 1 out of 4 nominees of the Belarusian Popular Front were included in the commissions. At the same time none out of 8 nominees of the United Civil Party were included in them. What concerns pro-governmental structures, 99 out of all commission members are representatives of “Belaya Rus”, the Belarusian National Youth Union, veteran and trade union organizations and the “Red Cross”.

Tomorrow, on 10 July the newly formed constituency commissions will gather for the first sittings to elect their heads.

“Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”