Mahiliow Authorities Hush up Composition of Circuit Election Commissions

18.09.2004.

According to the electoral legislation, information about circuit election commissions is to be published after the formation of the commissions. According to article 34 of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Belarus, "the decisio to establish the commissions is to be printed or made accessible to public (electorate) by any other means within seven days' term".

It's worth mentioning that in Mahiliow these demands of the law were executed in a strange way. The information about circuit election commissions was published in the special number of "Vesnik Mahiliova" newspaper (founded by Mahiliow City Executive Committee). The circulation of this special number is 300 copies. It wasn't distributed through news-stands and wasn't delivered to subscribers. This number can't be found even in the special departments of Mahiliow city and regional libraries.

So, the decision concerning the establishment of the commissions wasn't given publicity to, which is a violation of the demands of article 34 of the Electoral Code of the Republic of Belarus. Besides, to our mind the newspaper "Vesnik Mahiliova" doesn't execute its undertakings to its readers, which can lead to suits against it.