MINSK, 17 August (BelTA) – A parliamentary candidate may be stripped of registration for slander, libel or for buying votes. Chairwoman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Belarus Lidia Yermoshina made the statement on the air of the Belarus One radio channel on 17 August, BelTA has learned.
Lidia Yermoshina remarked that as parliamentary candidates campaign for votes, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether, for instance, they stir up social tensions and seed dissent or set some population strata against another. “It is difficult to say whether what they say is harsh criticism or something that's forbidden,” explained the head of the Belarusian election organization agency. Slander and insults used against other parliamentary candidates or top government officials are also identified as a violation of the rules and grounds for rescinding registration.
A parliamentary candidate can lose his or her status for buying votes, too. “We have already received a tip like that and are investigating it. It says that some money was allegedly distributed during a picket,” said Lidia Yermoshina.
The official underlined that an election campaign must not be financed using foreign resources and offenders may lose registration if they do so. For the sake of canvassing a candidate can use money only from his or her own campaign coffer using a Belarusbank account. Lidia Yermoshina said that in the past they used to intercept leaflets or election posters published in Russia at the border. “Such things are forbidden. A candidate is allowed to spend the electoral fund only in Belarus,” reminded the official.
Elections to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus are scheduled for 11 September. Over 520 candidates for 110 parliamentary seats have been registered.
