Observers evicted from polling stations by policemen and Cossacks
- 26.04.2010, 11:23
After the voting at local elections voting ballots were counted by "inner circle" again.
A human rights activist Alyaksei Kolchyn was expelled from the polling station number 12, which is situated in the building of Mahilyou professional lyceum number 1, 5 minutes after the beggining of vote count, "Human rights activists for free elections" inform.
"Whe the vote count started and I came neareer to see the procedure of counting," Alyaksei said, "the chairman of the election commission ordered me to occupy the plce for observers, and I said that nothing is seen from that place".
After Alyaksei refused to follow the order of the chairman of the election commission, he said to the policeman to evict him from the polling station. In Salihorsk observers representing the union of "Cossacks" threatened an agent of the candidate for deputy Alyaksei Valabuey, Ivan Shyla, and tan activist of the election headquarters Andrei Tychyna. Using foul speech and insults, "Cossacks"- observers demanded the young people to go away from the terrotory of school at which the polling station is situated, "Human rights activists for free elections" informs.
However, a policeman who was there, ignored the actions of the "Cossacks".
Observers Viktar Pyatrouski and an agent of the candidate for deputy Fiodar Maslennikau, Mikhail Pashkevich, were evicted from the polling station number 20.
The chairman of the commission Vasil Avyaniuk didn;t explain the reasons of his decision and refused to write it down. He called in a policeman and ordered to remove them from the premises.
The observer recorded that members of the commission recieved more voting ballots for voting at the place of residence than necessary.
An appeal against the actions of the chairman of the precinct commission had been submitted to the precinct election commission.
It is generally known that Article 13 of the Electoral Code annonces elections in Belarus open and public. Is it really so? An observer Syarhei Housha deciede to recieve a consultation from the chairman of the Central Election Commission Mikalai Lazovik in advance.
The chairman of the CEC stated that under Article 13 of the Electoral Code an observer can be present at the session of the commission only. It means that an observer can sit at the polling station at a distance of 14-15 metres and look at the backs of the commission members. And they cannot be present during passing the voting ballots in the territorial commission.