Brest regional TV illegally censors election address

Mrs. Anzhalika Kambalava, representative of the United Civil Party running in Baranavichy constituency, has received a reply to her request for clarifications on the fact of illegal censorship reportedly committed by the management of the “Brest” regional state-owned TV company.

The appeal was lodged after the candidate’s election address was not aired on Belarus 2 TV channel on 28 August. The reply argues that Anzhalika Kambalava’s TV speech “cannot be referred to as election campaigning, as provided by Art. 155 of the Electoral Code.” Therefore, the TV company took the address of the air.

“My address did not contain any calls for war, violence or unconstitutional seizure of power. I simply expressed my civil stand on the current elections, saying that we do not have democracy, but political prisoners. The law allows saying what I think. However, the reply clearly suggests that the TV company mistreated Art. 45 of the Electoral Code, banned my address and notified the constituency election commission,” says Mrs. Kambalava.

“Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”