Ales Karniyenka and Aliaksey Lukashevich Are Detained During Public Voting

05.07.2004.

On 3 July the People’s Coalition “5+” conducted the public voting concerning the third Presidential term to Aliaksandr Lukashenka. Navapolatsk citizens were offered to take part in the voting by putting “Yes” or “No” in a ballot paper opposite the question “Do you agree that one person should occupy Presidential seat for more than three terms at a run?”. 84.17% voted against, 13,57% -- for, and 2,26% of the ballots were invalid. 1241 citizens took part. The questioning was conducted at the city’s markets. The sealing of the ballot boxes and the calculation of votes were open and transparent.

During the action the coordinator of the social campaign “Public referendum” Ales Karniyenka (member of the UCP political council) and Aliaksey Lukashevich (head of Navapolatsk BSA organization) were detained by the police major M. Vruliln and the captain S. Yarakhovich. The detainees were taken to a police station where the ballot boxes were confiscated. Reports for violation of Article 167 of the Code of Administrative Violations (arbitrariness) were composed.

Information Department of HRC “Viasna”