Official results of signature verification doubtful, say HR defenders

On 12 November, the official web-site of Minsk city executive committee informed that the members of Minsk city election commission had assessed the accuracy of signature verification results. However, it turned out that the decision was not unanimous.

According to the commission members Ms. Siamdzianava, Ms. Sihayeva and Mr. Khadyka, the body violated legal provisions while issuing a decision on signature verification results. As a result, a number of candidates were deprived of voters’ signatures.

The procedure of signature calculation in district commissions is still secret, with no papers available. Apart from that, observers were not allowed to supervise the signature counting.

As a result, Halina Siamdzianava made an official statement, criticizing the counting procedures, which lacked uniformity and had obvious inaccuracies.

Another independent observer Valiantsina Sviatskaya argues that, according to chair of one of the district’s commissions, the signatures were not actually verified at all.

Observers believe that only three Presidential hopefuls – Ramanchuk, Niakliayeu and Sannikau – had actual chances for collecting the necessary amount of voters’ signatures. However, it is almost impossible to find out whether it is true or not.

‘Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections’