Hrodna: only admission of the observer is discussed during the formation of the PECs

On February 4 the district executive committees of Hrodna formed precinct election commissions.

Chairman of the Leninski District Executive Committee took some time in order to explain to all present people that the legislation does not oblige to let independent observer, human rights activist Viktar Sazonau to the meeting. However, the official then said he had nothing against the presence of the observer at the meeting, if there were no other opinions. Other participants of the meeting kept silent. The DEC swiftly approved the membership of all precinct election commissions, without telling the names of the members. Thus, just the presence of the observer was discussed, whereas all proposed candidacies for the commissions were approved automatically. Thus, 784 people were included in the PECs.

A similar situation was observed in the Kastrychnitski district of Hrodna, where election observation was held by another human rights activist, Raman Yurhel. The staff of 69 commissions was adopted by a general list for 15 minutes. The commissions include 828 people. The observer wasn't given an opportunity to study the documents concerning the formation of the precinct election commissions.

Independent observers doubt that the election commissions really have the minutes of labor collectives for nomination of candidates to the PECs, and that the assemblies for nominating the candidates to the PECs were really held in the labor collectives.

"Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections"