Belarusian independent observer faces persecution at work

As soon as Svyatlana Rudkouskaya was nominated as an observer at the constituency commission, she faced problems.

Independent observer from Hrodna Svyatlana Rudkouskaya, who was nominated by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee as an observer at the constituency commission of Pralyatarski election constituency #17 at elections to the Hrodna regional council, the campaign “Human Rights Activists for Free Elections” reports.

Svyatlana Rudkouskaya has been working as the chair at building society #8 for four years. She hasn’t had any complaints and warning from the administration of the Leninski district of Hrodna. As soon as she was nominated as an observer at the constituency commission, she faced problems. She received two summonses signed by Uladzimir Kuzmyankou from the administration of the Leninski district. The summonses oblige her to visit the administration.

On March 3, head of Leninski district administration Barys Fyodarau met with Svyatana Rudkouskaya and sent her to Alyaksandr Arkhipau, the head of the city maintenance department. Alyaksandr Arkhipu drew up a report of administrative offence against her. The reason for the report is that territory around the office of building society #8 is unclean.

The case was to be considered today by the administrative commission of the Leninski district, chaired by Aleh Byalinski, the executive officer of the administration. Arkhipau and Byalinski have been heads of district and constituency election commissions.

Svyatlana Rudkouskaya disagrees with the report against her and thinks the administration persecutes her for taking part in the electoral campaign.