Scandal: Ballot-stuffing recorded (Updated)

A ballot box was opened during the lunch break from 2.00 to 4.00 pm at polling station #456 in Minsk.

Observer Vital Stazharou told it to ucpb.org.

He came to the polling station after lunch and found out that seal on the ballot box didn’t look like at a photo, he made at 2.00 pm. At 4.00 pm, leader of the United Civil Party Anatol Lyabedzka, who runs in this constituency (Staravilenski #5), and OSCE PA international observer from Estonia came to the station.

Head of the commission Mikalai Lahunovich denies the fact of opening the box. He even said Vital Stozharau might stay for a night at the polling station.

“It is clear that ballots were replaced in the box,” Anatol Lyabedzka thinks. “And unprecedented fact – offer to stay for a night at the station to our observer – confirms it.”

The ballot box was guarded by militia officer Syarhei Mikhailovich (official number А-11437).

Ballots replaced during lunch break

Ballots in boxes were replaced during a lunch break on September 27, report UCP observers at Staravilenski constituency #105 in Minsk, where UCP leader Anatol Lyabedzka runs.

At 3.45 pm, a militiaman didn’t allow Svyatlana Vyarheichyk, observer at polling stations ##284 and 285 (both situated in secondary school #95) to enter the stations. He said the break wasn’t over. According to the observers, there were no such problems before. Though members of election commissions were at the stations. The observer was permitted to go only at 4.00 pm.

Before the break, the deputy head of the administration of the Tsentralny district of Minsk visited the polling stations and had a conversation with heads of the election commissions.

“I have an impression that they have already done what they wanted and won’t wait for the night,” Svyatlana Vyarheichyk said.