Vital Amialkovich, observer representing the Belarusian Helsinki Committee in the town of Slutsk, has addressed Barys Batura, chair of Minsk regional executive committee, with an appeal against harsh restrictions imposed on election campaigning events in the town.

Mr. Amialkovich argues that the restrictions imposed on holding election campaigning by Slutsk authorities are illegal, as they infringe on the rights of local residents guaranteed by the Constitution and the Electoral Code.

“One should bear in mind that Slutsk is rather a small town and there not so many locations for staging election campaigning events there. Moreover, considering the list of banned locations, they are even less. What’s the point in prohibiting to canvass for signatures outside the bus terminal or at bus stops? How could a canvasser impair the activities of a pharmacy, if he or she put a picket within 5 meters of it?” says the observer.