Political soldier Andrei Tsyanyuta not allowed running in “elections”

Command of the military unit hindered Andrei Tsyanyuta to register as a candidate for a seat in local councils.

As the press service of the Young Front reports, Andrei Tsyanyuta made a request asking to for a leave in order to register himself as a candidate for deputies in the local council. According to the Electoral Code, the military unit command must create favourable conditions for registration of candidates and in no case hinder this.

However, the commander of the unit, who also runs in elections, told Tsyanyuta that he should find someone to hand in his application.

Andrei Tsyanyuta made several requests to the command of the Vitsebsk airborne military unit informing he would like to run in the local elections. He was made to re-write requests for several times.

The Young Front member is going to appeal to the military prosecutor’s office against the actions of the unit commander. Under the law, the military unit may face criminal responsibility.

We remind that Tsyanyuta was found unfit for military service because of 2 degree scoliosis and flatfoot. In May 2009, he and other youth activists were on hunger strike of solidarity with political prisoners Mikalai Autukhovich, Yury Lyavonau, and Uladzimir Asipenka.

It should be noted that since 2008 a so-called political drafting campaign has started against young activists in Belarus. Young Front activists Zmitser Khvedaruk, Ivan Shyla, Yauhen Skrabets and Andrei Tsyanyuta, BPF Youth activists Zmitser Zhaleznichenka and Franak Vyachorka were drafted illegally.