“Election” in Lukashenka’s Style: Pro-democracy activists detained in regions

Participants of election campaign representing democratic forces face problems: they are detained, not allowed to be present at sessions of election committees, deprived of informational materials.

In particular, as BelaPAN was informed by a possible democratic candidate for deputy in Slutsk electoral district Anatol Yurevich, a list of the initiative group was three times denied to be taken from him. The chairperson of the central election Committee Lidziya Yarmoshyna stated that district commissions should start work and accept lists starting from July 15. However, our district commission wasn’t accepting them until July 20, explaining that by absence of necessary blanks. In fact the commission wasn’t working for 5 days. On July 20 documents were started to be accepted, but we were said that lists of initiative group members are to be final, additions couldn’t be made,” A. Yurevich said.

As said by him, such facts are not singular. Thus, an observer of a public association “Belarusian Helsinki Committee:” Eduard Balanchuk could not get to the session of Maladechna rural election commission on July 17, as the commission wasn’t working. The analogous situation took place in Vilejka district No. 64. An observer of the BHC Alyaksei Syudak couldn’t attend the session of its commission as it wasn’t working.

Ivan Kruk, who plans to be nominated in Ivye electoral district No. 55, was detained while moving to Ashmyany on July 19. Informational materials were seized from him.

Artsyom Agafonau, who is set to run in Lyuban electoral district No. 83, was also detained on July 19 with informational materials of opostional parties. According to the leader of the United Civil party Anatol Lyabedzka, Agafonau was detained in Staryja Darohi. Printed materials were seized, though it were not agitation materials. Nevertheless, he is summoned to the court in July 21. He is charged with early dissemination of agitation materials.