Brest: observer not allowed watching vote count

Uladzimir Vialichkin, candidate and human rights activist, was not allowed to observe vote counting at a Brest polling station.

However, he insisted that the votes were counted separately.

He also asked to be able to observe the vote counting from a reasonable distance, but was refused to do so by the election commission members, despite clear instructions issued by the Central Election Commission.

The candidate showed the commission’s chair page 46 of the Recommendations, which reads: ‘The observers, present during the counting of votes, shall take places, which will allow them observing the actions of the election commission members, at the same time not impeding their work.’ However, Mr. Vialichkin was threatened by the police and the use of violence.

As a result, the human rights activist, together with the other observers, were standing 3 meters away, but still could only see the backs of the commissioners.

When Uladzimir Vialichkin asked to have a look at the ballots, he was replied: ‘Maybe you will pack them as well?’ None of those present could guarantee the impartiality of the vote counting.

The observer says the figures cannot be trusted, since the full transparency of the process was not secured.

‘Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections’