Belarusian oppositionists expelled from district electoral commissions

An unprecedented case in the history of electoral process has been recorded in the district center Svislach in the Hrodna region.

The Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada (BSDP) proposed four party activists – Mikalai Luksha, Mikhail Kazak, Alyaksandr Palubinski, and Zmitser Buzuk – as members of the district electoral commissions through collection of signatures and applications. Other three political activists were nominated for commission members in the same way, “Human Rights Activists for Free Elections” reports.

Member of the Hrodna region department of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party Viktar Dzyasyatsik represented the party at a session of the administration of the Svislach district executive committee. He also was present at an administration session, where district electoral commissions were formed. Names of commission members were not mentioned at the session, but is was announced that all candidates, expect for those with previous convictions, had been included in the commissions.

The party members and political activists received telephone calls from officers of the executive committee, who said they had been included in the district electoral commissions.

On March 13, the district newspaper “Svislatskaya Hazeta” published the list of members the commissions. None of seven BSDP members and political activists has been included in the commissions.

Independent observers suppose this absurd situation may have been caused by interference of regional authorities or other services. As a result, representatives of the local democratic society have elegantly been removed from commissions.