Prosecutor’s Office warns head of Regional Election Commission

Vitsebsk City Prosecutor's Office issued an official warning to Chairman of the Regional Election Commission for failingto consider a complaint by observer Pavel Levinau in due time.

A group of citizens nominated the representative of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee as an observer at the Vitsebsk City Territorial Election Commission. The human rights defenderwas first accredited as an observer (27 December, 2013), but then stripped of accreditation(December 30). The decision was based on the fact that one of the people signed up for Levinau while in hospital. The Commission considered his signature invalid, although helater confirmed it in writing.

Pavel Levinau did not agree with this decision and decided to challenge it.

On January 4, 2014, he filed a complaint with the Vitsebsk Regional Election Commission. The Electoral Code sets a maximum periodof ten daysfor consideration. So Levinau’scomplaint was to be considered no later than 13 January, 2014. But a meeting on the complaint was convened and held by Chair of the Vitsebsk Regional Election Commission Mr. D.L. Khoma on 14 January, 2014.

Mr. Levinauasked the prosecutor to subjectthe election official to prosecutorial actions for violation of the existing electoral legislation.

As a result, an inspection was carried out, a violation of election legislation was established, and “the latter received a warning for violating the law.”

Pavel Levinauhas been accredited as an observer again.

“Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”