Salihorsk authorities show quite a liberal approach in determining the places for signature pickets

Salihorsk District Executive Committee determined the places forbidden for pickets to collect voters' signatures. The local human rights activists regard the relevant regulation as quite liberal, taking into account the current severe restrictions on such activities in the period between elections.

According to the decision of Salihorsk officials, it is prohibited to collect signatures for nomination of candidates for the local elections at the bus stations in Salihorsk and the settlement of Chyrvonaya Slabada, at Svetlahorsk railway station and near the local representative, executive and administrative bodies, courts, prosecutors' offices and buildings of the organizations that provide defense capability and security.

Thus, the signature collectors may hold their pickets at the Central Square of Salihorsk, its main streets, city parks and near shopping outlets. According to the Electoral Code, no permission is required to picket in the legally allowed places.

As noted by the local human rights, the list of prohibited places is much bigger in the neighboring Liuban district, and includes the 50-meter areas providing the vital needs of the population, including also hospitals, clinics, kindergartens, schools, factories, water, heat and electricity supplies. Moreover, it is also prohibited to hold such pickets near the public transport routes.

"Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections"