Ideologists intimidate relatives of candidates to deputies

Oppositionists state that serious pressure is brought on relatives of candidates for deputies by local authorities.

As BelaPAN was told by “For Freedom” movement coordinator in Hrodna region Ales Zarambyuk, he knows facts of crackdown on relatives of candidates for deputies of local councils.

Recently calling in of family members of possible candidates to executive committees to heads o ideology departments or to deputy directors on ideology work at enterprises have become more often.

“Our relatives are asked there, what for your husband or wife, brother or daughter had decided to run for deputy. Ideologists offer “to think twice” about consequences of such actions, and recommend family members to persuade their loved one not to run as a candidate for deputy,” Zarambyuk said.

Besides, as said by him, the screw is put on relatives of initiative groups members, who are asked to influence members of initiative groups to give up their participation.

“Ideologists warn: if information about conversations leaks somewhere, problems at a place of work are inevitable. So I cannot name concrete persons right now, but there are facts that such conversations have taken place, and they are confirmed,” Zarambyuk said. As said by him, such facts have been recorded in Masty, Astravets, Slonim (Hrodna region).

Election campaign was taking place without incidents earlier, he said. “Pressure has started to be exerted only recently,” he noted.

Zarambyuk himself has registered 15 initiative groups for his nomination as a candidate for deputy in Masty. “I do not know yet in which constituency I am to run. The matter is, that the constituency I which I was elected a deputy of Masty city council in 2003, and where in 2007 I lost by 2 votes only, has been divided in three parts as the number of dwellers had decreased. The new constituencies have been formed, so I have to think now where my positions are stronger,” “For Freedom” coordinator in Hrodna region explained.