Number of places for meeting with voters is pared down to the bone

• 10.09.2008, 10:28

The district election commission of Homel central election constituency No. 33 has chosen places for meetings of candidates with their voters. There are only two of them: the conference hall of unitary enterprise “Regional trade union association educational and instructional support centre” and a conference hall of a housing property management in Klyankouski micro-district.

This decision of the district commission does not contribute to openness and transparency of elections, believes a human rights activists Leanid Sudalenka:

“The Constitution guarantees everyone a right for freedom of holding public events.

Besides, Belarus has international commitments related to respecting the right of citizens for peaceful meetings. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights obliges every state not to limit this right, except the cases which are necessary in a democratic state in the interests of national security defense of morality and population’s health, rights and freedoms.

By giving only 2 places for meetings with voters in the city with a half million population, the commission has gone against the Constitution and international commitments of our country,” the campaign “Human rights activists for free elections” informs.