Just 0.07 per cent of oppositionists in precinct election commissions. Rigging is being prepared? (Video)

Only 3 per cent of nominated representatives of democratic parties have become members of precinct election commissions: 47 persons out of 1,500 candidates. It is just 0.07 per cent of the total number of the precinct election commissions!

It has been stated today at a press-conference in Minsk by chairman of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Aleh Hulak, vice president of the International federation of Human Rights Ales Byalatski and a well-known human rights activist Valyantsin Stefanovich.

As told by Valyantsin Stefanovich, the total number of members of precinct election commissions is 70,000 persons. Thus, 47 representatives of the opposition make only 0.07 per cent of the total number of election commissions.

“This insignificant number demonstrates that we cannot speak about any positive changes during this election campaign. The tendencies are al following: forming precinct election commissions was carried out in a closed manner, lists of members of precinct election commissions were made beforehand; observers were not allowed to be present at sessions of commissions; a territorial principle was used: many members of election commissions work at the same enterprise, which makes it easy to control them,” Valyantsin Stefanovich said.

At the press-conference the chairman of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee Aleh Hulak offered evidence that the regime is getting ready to rigging election results. It was a list of members of a precinct commission in Navapolatsk.

“Our human rights activists received this list on August 6, that means long before the procedure of forming commissions finished. We waited for the commissions to be formed, and compared to the list. And it happened that it coincides for more than 90%. It means, despite of the fact that formally commissions should be elected, all of them were formed earlier,” Aleh Hulak said.

As said by Vice President of the International Federation of Human Rights Ales Byalatski, “we are to face another catastrophe of democratic character of the electoral process. Precinct commissions carry out votes count, and in fact, rigging”.

“The situation is catastrophic. Though Yarmoshyna tried to excuse oneself by saying that forming election commissions is a p domain of local authorities, it is obvious that the scheme of rigging election results formed earlier continue to be used now. And it challenges holding the election. It is simply laughable what Lukashenka said about these elections to be the most free and democratic. The regime has passed the Rubicon when formed precinct commissions. There is no way out. Will they order to hold free elections? Any variants have no relation to free election and international standards. They say, release of Alyaksandr Kazulin would influence the process of elections. These hopes are futile. These are different things. It won’t affect “elections”, Ales Byalatski said.