Police violate Electoral Code :: Charter'97 :: News

Last evening around 10 p.m. in Magilou, Uladzimer Shantsau, the head of the democratic candidate Magilou regional headquarters, was detained near his office. Mr. Shantsau was delivering 26 000 official election leaflets of Alyaxandr Milinkevich and 400 issues of the newspaper “Tovarisch” from Minsk to Magilou Region.

The activist was brought to Leninski ROVD (District Interior Affairs Department) of Magilou, where 36 police officers counted all the printed materials will 5.30 a.m. The leaflets and newspapers were withdrawn to examine their contents.

Police officers ignored Mr. Shantsau’s protests and the fact that he was the attorney of candidate A.Milinkevich, the leaflets had been published on the funds allocated by the Central Election Commission and the newspaper “Tovarisch” is a registered publication.

Uladzimer Shantsau will appeal against the illegal actions of the police.

On that evening police officers of the Ragachouski ROVD detained the private car of Valery Rybchanka, head of the democratic candidate Zhlobin district headquarters. The activist was coming from Minsk with several lots of the newspapers “Tovarisch” and “Narodnaya Volia” which were to be spread among the locals.

With no explanation given, 4 000 “Tovarisch” and 600 “Narodnaya Volia” issues were withdrawn. Up to 10 police officers took part in the “operation”. The officer who filed the protocol refused to give its copy.

Today in the morning V.Rybchanka appealed to Ragachou district public prosecutor’s office with a claim on the illegal actions of police.

It is worth mentioning that 6th issue of “Tovarisch”, withdrawn from Valery Rybchanka and Uladzimer Shantasu, contains the letter of editors-in-chief of “Narodnaya Volia” and “Tovarisch” Iosif Siaredzich and Siargei Vazniak addressed to Minister of Interior Uladzimer Navumau. In the letter, facts of withdrawals of the newspapers carried out by the police were emphasized and measured were urged to be taken. The editors also offered their assistance in holding classes in studying the articles of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On the press and other Mass Media”. The Minister has not replied so far.