Collective farms “election”

• 25.09.2008, 13:41

A principle of holding “election campaign” from “election” to “election” remains the same: “compulsory” early voting, which allows to rig the results, is number one problem for observers and voters.

Dwellers of the Hrodna region, workers of agricultural enterprises, are made to vote early. Moreover, chairpersons of collective and cooperative farms name a candidate, the people must give their voices to.

Chairman of Hozha agricultural enterprise Edmunt Balyuk controls the run of the election campaign on subject territory. He and deputy chairman for ideological work organise meetings on job sites of the agricultural enterprise and make people vote early, giving no reasons to this, Radio Racyja reports.

The only candidate, the villagers are recommended to vote for, is Mikalai Harbachonak, first secretary of the Hrodna district committee of the BRSM (pro-Lukashenka youth organisation). Heads of agricultural enterprises of the district organise meetings of voter only with authorities’ candidates. MP candidate, member of the United Civil Party, Viktar Padchynenkau wasn’t able to have most of the planned meetings because chairmen of collective and cooperative farms refused to help in holding of agitation actions.

Village councils take the same attitude. Its officers frighten the villagers with oppositionists, who will come to power and deprive elderly people of pensions, sell land to capitalists, and the flourishing Belarus will turn into a flashpoint of Europe.

Minsk students are also made to vote early. As witnesses told to the Young Front, students of Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, living in hostels were visited by officers of dean’s offices and ordered to vote early.

The officers noted by the way that in the Uskhodnaya constituency, where the hostels are situated, authorities’ candidate, prorector of education of the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics Busko V. L. Runs. It is possible to say today who will win election in this constituency.