The nomination process for membership of territorial election commissions for the April 25 elections for local soviets is coming to an end on January 26.
A total of 1,495 territorial election commissions are to be formed, Mikalay Lazavik, secretary of the central election commission, told BelaPAN.
The right to nominate belongs to political parties, non-governmental organizations, "workers’ collectives," and to citizens through the collection of voter signatures.
The Spravedlivy Mir Belarusian Party of the Left has nominated about 50 representatives, Valery Ukhnalyow, secretary of the party’s Central Committee, told BelaPAN.
Anatol Lyabedzka, chairman of the United Civic Party, said that he did not know how exactly many people his party had nominated. "We tried to nominate prominent and experienced people," he said. "For example, in Homyel, we nominated Yury Varonezhtsaw, who was a member of the USSR Supreme Soviet."
The Belarusian Popular Front has nominated about 30 people to territorial election commissions, Vadzim Kanapatski, deputy chairman of the party’s Minsk city organization, told BelaPAN. "If our representatives are denied membership, we will regard this as evidence of authorities’ intention to rig the elections," he noted.
The territorial elections commissions are to be formed by the leaderships of local soviets and local executive committees. This should be done no later than January 29.
