CEC does not regard proposals and complaints of the opposition “a global issue”

The Central Election Commission (CEC) ignores most proposals and complaints by the opposition. Nearly all responses that the democrats get to their remarks and demands from the CEC are the same – the issues are too minor be considered, and the CEC last session proves it.

The representatives of the United Democratic Forces who claimed local election commissions were grouped illegally got a typical reply from the CEC. They were informed that this issue demands significant consideration which is impossible to carry out during the election campaign.

Liabedzka launched an appeal against a joined agitation leaflet of the United Civil Party candidates which was rejected. Lidziya Yarmoshyna, the CEC chairperson, said such appeals can only be considered by individual commission members while the CEC sessions only consider global issues. Nor was candidate from Yesenin voting sector #100 Valiantsina Sviatskaya’s appeal considered. On September 17 Sviatskaya claimed CEC member Slizheuski using his authority tried to press her to infringe the law. Slizheuski himself did not attend the session, while CEC chairperson Yarmoshyna declared that the commission did not care what the CEC members do outside the commission and that nobody is responsible for moral deeds of Slizheuski, as “Human Rights Activists for Free Election” inform.

Yury Khadyka also launched an appeal against a TV-report of the Belarusian Television to the CEC. The report broadcast on September 7 in the TV-program “Panorama of the Week” was targeted against opposition candidates and opposition in general. CEC Executive secretary Lazovik’s telephone call came as a response to the appeal. Lazovik said he “understood” but “couldn’t do anything.” In the result the same thing happened once again: on September 14 the Belarusian Television demonstrated another anti-opposition program. At the CEC session of September 18 Yarmoshyna refused to consider the appeal claiming that the CEC does not deal with the information policies of the Belarusian Television.