The lecturers of the Baranavicy State University Natallia Maiseyenka and Hanna Verameyka didn’t force students to vote early, but just informed them about the possibility to do it on 18-22 September – this is the answer received by observer Siarhei Housha from the head of Baranavichy-Western constituency election commission #5 Tatsiana Latyshava.

As we had written before, independent observers Ivan Labko, Viktar Meziak and Viktar Tsiapin had registered a large turnout at the polling station where students of the Belarusian State University had voted. According to the students, they were forced to early voting by representatives of the administration.

As a result, Siarhei Housha appealed this violation to the prosecutor, who traditionally evaded from answering and forwarded the appeal to the head of CEC #5.

In her written answer the head of constituency election commission #5 Tatsiana Latyshava confirmed the fact of forced early voting, but stated that the class supervisors only informed the students about their right to vote early, not forced them to do it.

“Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”