Vitsebsk: competition without rules

The state-owned newspaper Vitsbichy continued creating unequal conditions for candidates. The candidate for the Vitsebsk city Council of Deputies Siarhei Bialiayeu, head doctor of the Vitsebsk city central polyclinic, became the hero of the Hotline column in edition #43 for 8 April 2010.

The editorial office states that the hotline was organized with taking into account the wishes of readers that were expressed in numerous letters and telephone calls. However, nothing is said about choosing exactly candidate Bialiayeu for giving medical consultations.

The head doctors issued orders for hospitalization of the ill, issued orders to his subordinates, district doctors and specialists within the guidelines of the hotline. In general, he bonified and earned electoral scores.

His rival Vasil Slonau, leading program engineer of the Vitsebsk regional library, can hardly pose any pretensions to Vitsbichy, as there isn’t a single hint in the newspaper that Mr. Bialiayeu is running for the city council. That's why there are no formal violations of the election legislation.