There won’t be elections: opposition not allowed joining “electoral commissions”

The final results of forming precinct election commissions are to be known on Thursday. But the Charter’97 press-centre receives information that opposition activists are not included into precinct election commissions.

In 45 constituencies of Barysau (Minsk region), none of the 45 democratic activists have been put on the list of precinct election commissions members. The Charter’97 press-centre has been informed about that by the chairman of the governing body of the public association “For free development of entrepreneurship” Viktar Harbachou. As said by the businessman, who took part in the “election” representing democratic forces, mostly members of the pro-regime association “Belaya Rus” have become members of the commissions.

“There won’t be elections! I was told in Barysau city executive committee: please do not withdraw from “elections”. They hinted rather clearly the regime doesn’t want that. But the question of withdrawing from the election has been brought up openly. On September 1 an extended session of the political council of the United Democratic Forces is to take place. A final decision on participation in this “election” is to be taken considering the results of forming precinct election commissions and registration of candidates for deputies,” Viktar Harbachou reminded.

None of the democratic activists has been put on the list of precinct election commissions’ members in Smarhon region. Three persons were nominated. They were nominated through collection of signatures. In order to underline that they are offered as candidates from opposition, the voters’ applications were brought to the regional executive committee on August 10 by a would-be candidate of the united democratic forces Iryna Veshtard with a special accompanying letter.

On Monday, August 11, the regional committee of Smarhon authorized the make-up of precinct election commissions, but applications of pro-democracy activists haven’t been satisfied.

As we have informed yesterday, out of 34 representatives of the Belarusian Popular Front party, none has been registered as a member of precinct election commissions in three constituencies.

On August 12 the make-up of precinct election commissions in Kobryn electoral constituency No. 12 and Vitsebsk rural constituency No. 21 was announced. The BPF candidates there are Alyaksandr Mekh and Leanid Autukhou. None of the members of the precinct commissions has been approved. In Kobryn electoral district No. 12 8 BPF members were nominated, and in Vitsebsk rural constituency No. 21 – 15 members of the BPF, the BPF website informes.

In Rechytsa electoral constituency No. 44 where the head of Homel regional branch of the BPF Valery Putsistky runs, none of the 11 nominated members of the BPF has been approved.

The democratic forces have nominated 1,300 candidates to the precinct election commissions. The Charter’97 press-centre has been informed about the decisions in 500 of them. Only 4 representatives of the opposition have been included into precinct election commissions.