CIC observers “don’t notice” violations during voting

• 28.09.2008, 15:17

Observers of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) weren’t allowed to observe the voting at polling stations of the 104th constituency of Minsk.

As BelaPAN has learnt from MP candidate, member of the BSDP (Hramada) Ihar Rynkevich, who runs in this constituency, it happened about 8.00 am on September 28, when stations open for voting.

Ten observers of the party weren’t permitted to enter the polling stations because they hadn’t stamps on extracts from the minutes of the session of the city BSDP committee, which had authorised them to observe the election.

The matter was settled up after I. Rynkevich met with head of the district election commission Zinaida Zhaholkina and wrote a complaint to her at actions of members of polling station election commissions, who had violated Article 13 of the Election Code and CEC’s regulation, regulating legal authority of observers.

Lawyer Rynkevich states a stamp in extracts is not necessary for access of the observers to polling stations.

As a result, observers of the BSDP (Hramada) were allowed to enter the polling stations.

“They were unable to observe the voting for half an hour. I think it will influence the results of voting at these stations,” the lawyer said.

Ha also said he tried to hand a copy of his complaint to a CIC observer from Tajikistan at the station, but the latter refused flatly to receive the complaint. An observer of the ODIHR/OSCE mission received it.

“It is a vivid example of how CIC observers monitor the election here,” the MP candidate concluded.