Observer ejected from polling station in Vitsebsk

Yan Dziarzhautsau, observer representing the Belarusian Helsinki Committee in Vitsebsk polling station No. 14, was denied accreditation after he received a warning for alleged insulting other observers.

“At first, they accused me of insulting two pro-government observers. But it is no true, because they would have called the police at once. So I came up to the table occupied by the election commission and asked for permission to phone the constituency commission. They told me I could call there. However, as soon as I picked up the receiver the “insulted” ladies said I had been walking around the room and interfering with the commission’s activities. As a result, I received a warning,” says Yan Dziarzhautsau.

In the afternoon, the commission voted to eject the observer from the polling station.

“I guess it is all because of the complaints I wrote,” says the observer.

“Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”