The owners of a number of stores in Brest have been reluctant to allow posting election leaflets in their windows, observers of the Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections campaign report.

In particular, the ban was encountered by Hanna Kanius, candidate representing the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Hramada) in constituency No. 1. In her statement submitted to the constituency election commission, Mrs. Kanius said the manager of a food store “Santa” owned by a famous businessman Aliaksandr Mashenski refused to place her election poster inside the shop. By doing so, the manager violated the country’s electoral legislation, says the candidate in her appeal to the election commission.

Similar problems have been reported by other opposition candidates of Brest, who have been unable to place their election posters next to those of pro-government candidates.

“Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”