Electoral commission of Homel-Tsentralnaya electoral constituency allows electoral meetings only in two locations

The electoral commission of Homel-Tsentralnaya constituency #33 determined only two places for meetings of candidates for deputies with the electorate: the sitting hall of the Scientific-methodical center of Homel oblast association of trade unions and the hall of housing economy #27 in the Kliankouski suburb of Homel.

A local human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka comments: ‘The Constitution gives everyone the right to hold mass actions. Moreover, Belarus has international undertakings in the sphere of guaranteeing the civil right to peaceful assemblies. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights obliges each member country not to restrict this right except for the cases when it is necessary in a democratic society for national security, protection of the population’s health and morality and the rights and freedoms of other citizens. By determining only two places for electoral meetings in the city with a population of 500 000 citizens, the commission came in conflict with the Constitution and the international undertakings of our country.’

Human rights activists for free elections