Central Election Commission refuses to give air time to Niakliayeu and Sannikau

The Central Election Commission dismissed the request of the presidential candidates to be provided with additional time on TV.

The CEC gave two reasons for the refusal. First of all, the Belarusian State TV and Radio Company stated in its reply to the CEC request that it had already implemented its functions within the guidelines of the electoral campaign and recommended the presidential candidates to address the mass media that weren’t a part of its structure. It was also stressed in the reply that a number of candidates hadn’t used their radio time at all.

The second reason was voiced by the CEC secretary Mikalai Lazavik. He said that it’s impossible to broadcast ‘irresponsible appeals to come to the Square in the evening on 19 December’, on TV and the radio.

The CEC also hasn’t found any violations from the part of the candidate Lukashenka (politicians Siarhei Kaliakin, Halina Siamdzianava and Uladzimir Niakliayeu had addressed the CEC in connection with violation of Article 73 of the Electoral Code (which forbids to use the advantages of one’s official status) by Lukashenka. The applicants referred to the meeting of the Belarusian leader with his election agents in the office premises and during working hours.

After the discussion the CEC members came to the conclusion that there were no violations there. No fault was also found in the arrangement of a rally in support of the leader with participation of Russian citizens.