Mahiliou: more places for collecting signatures

The Mahiliou City Executive Committee changed some points of its ruling About determining the places that are banned for picketing with the aim of collecting signatures for the nomination of candidates for President of the Republic of Belarus.

The removal of some restrictions increases the number of places where members of electoral teams can collect signatures. In particular, now they can collect signatures in Lenin Square and near pedestrian underground crossings.

The human rights defender Aliaksei Kolchyn has a positive attitude to this step of the authorities: ‘I consider as positive the removal of the restrictions on holding pickets for collecting signatures: now it can be done in populous places, which is convenient and effective. I am only disappointed that the Mahiliou authorities waited for an order of the Central Election Commission instead of acting independently and taking such a decision in the very beginning.’

Bear in mind that electoral picketing is still banned at railway stations, within the 50-meter zone of representative, executive and administrative bodies, courts and procuracies, organizations that provide defense, state security, water, heating and energy supplies, the enterprises of the public transport, hospitals, clinics, kindergartens and educational establishments.

Human Rights Defenders for Free Election