Vitsebsk: candidate Levinau fired from police, but his harassment continues

12.08.2008. Tags: political persecution, dismissals, elections-2008.

On 12 August at 9.15 am the administration of Chyhunachny district police department of Vitsebsk familiarized Andrei Levinau with the conclusiong of the head of the police department of Vitsebsk oblast executive committee, colonel Farmahei, according to which Levinau was to be fired from police.

The reason is that Mr. Levinau does not give up his intention to run at Chyhunachny electoral district #19 in Vitsebsk, where he would be a rival to the pro-governmental candidate Siarhei Siamashka, who is also a deputy in the present Chamber of Representatives.

Andrei Levinau is also threatened with a criminal case. If such case is brought against him (even without any results) his candidacy may not be registered by the appropriate electoral commission.

On 11 August Andrei Levinau came to the district electoral commission to get some signature lists, but received a refusal. He was proposed to produce copies of the blanks at his own expense.

Mr. Levinau called to the central electoral commission, which promised to discriminate in the situation. As a result in the afternoon the chair of the district electoral commission Ivan Rytsko called to the candidate. He called Levinau a troublemaker and promised to issue to him signature lists on 12 August. He also said that only lists for 1000 signatures were to be issued to a candidate, that’s why Levinau would not get any more than that. By the way, one thousand is the minimal number of signatures necessary to get one’s candidacy registered and the maximal number is equal to the number of electors in the electoral district. Besides, according to the national electoral law preparation to elections it financed from the country’s budget, not from the candidates’ private means.

Human rights activists for free elections