Opposition parties: Early voting used for rigging “election”

• 25.09.2008, 9:00

The authorities use early voting as one of the main ways of rigging the “election” results. It was said at the session of the presidium of political council of opposition political parties, held in the office of the United Civil Party on September 24.

Some “concrete facts of using of administrative leverage to provide “necessary results” of the election” were presented at the session, a message of information center of the United Democratic Forces reports.

In particular, Minsk Shabany constituency #91, where UDF candidate Alyaksandr Bukhvostau runs, “the local authorities held a meeting of members of poling station commissions with participation of school headmasters, heads of nursery schools and enterprises, where the latter were ordered to organise explanatory work with their subordinates in order for them to vote for authorities’ candidate, acting member of the “house of representatives” Halina Yurhelevich.”

In Staravilenski constituency #105, where Anatol Lyabedzka runs, “an attempt of expelling independent observer Vital Stazharou, who tried to take picture of a sealed ballot box, from the poling station was made”.

“The most flagrant act” was recorded in Kolasauski constituency #106, where Syarhei Kalyakin runs. Turnout at polling station #528 was 39 per cent at the first day of early voting. The similar case was noticed at polling station #526. These two stations are situated in the hostels of Belarusian State Polytechnic University, and most of voters are students.

“International observers will be informed about all mentioned facts. Besides, the presidium of political council of the UDF prepares a special declaration in view of general using of administrative leverage to provide the necessary per cent of turnout at early voting,” the message says.