No democrats – election commissions headed by ideologists

Democratic activists from Homel propose their candidatures to posts of election commissions heads but unsuccessfully.

Lawyer Leanid Sudalenka, an activist of the United Civil Party, told in an interview to Radio Svaboda only ideologists were elected as commission heads.

“At the first organizing sitting of the commission of Uladzimirski constituency #11, deputy head of the Savetski district administration Mikalai Maly proposed head of the ideology department Alyaksandr Tarun as the commission head. Other members of the commission didn’t have any proposals. I proposed myself as the chairman to follow democratic procedures. Everyone expect for me voted for Tarun. I wasn’t elected deputy chairman or commission secretary, though I said I was ready t perform these duties. I think, this was planned in advance,” Leanid Sudalenka said.

Vasily Palyakou, the head of the regional organization of the United Civil party, also proposed his candidature to commission of the Bykhauski constituency #12. He wasn’t elected chairman of deputy chairman of the election commission.

Regional leader of Left Party “fair World” Uladzimir Syakerka was included in the commission of the Chapaeuski constituency #6. He didn’t propose his candidature as head of the election commission, but voted against head of the ideology department Natallya Prudnikava proposed as the chairman. Syakerka told the commission members Natallya Prudnikava had given false evidence against opposition activist Vasily Palyakou. She said he had used obscene language when crossing the street. Vasily Palyakou was sentenced to arrest.

Information of the representative of the left party didn’t influence the vote result. Eleven out of twelve members of the commission voted for Prudnikava, one voted against.