The Mahiliou-based Spirydon Sobal printing firm has refused to produce the election leaflets of local opposition candidate Uladzimir Shantsau, on the ground that they called on voters to boycott the elections.

“At first, the firm’s employees accepted the order. However, when I was about to pay for the printing at a bank, they phoned me to tell they had been prohibited to do so. I came back to the firm to ask for a written response, which they ignored,” says Uladzimir Shantsau.

“After the state-owned printing firm I went to a private company. They told me they had loads of orders and my fliers could not be printed in the near future. I think this printing firm was also ordered to reject my leaflets calling for election boycott,” says the candidate.

“Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”