The Central Election Commission has dismissed today the complaints lodged by opposition politicians Aliaksandr Milinkevich, Artur Finkevich and Mikhail Pashkevich, who were denied registration as candidates on 23 August.

Appeals by Artur Finkevich and Mikhail Pashkevich were dismissed on the grounds that their nomination papers featured several invalid signatures. Meanwhile, Mikhail Pashkevich argues that all the signatures were valid.

Yury Meliashkevich, who represented Aliaksandr Milinkevich at the CEC’s sitting, said the decision is politically motivated.

The Central Election Commission also denied registration to Leanid Mazhalski, activist of a campaign against illegal construction in Minsk.

At the same time, the CEC has registered a number of opposition candidates, including Volha Kavalkova (Belarusian Christian Democracy), Aleh Kvitko (Fair World), Pavel Kazlouski (United Civil Party), and Siarhei Karpovich (Belarusian Popular Front).

“Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”