Regime fears people’s rallies in the streets (Photo)

13.08.2008, 8:28

Candidates for deputies have been given places for campaigning and meetings with voters. They are to meet with voters mostly in housing and maintenance departments, and campaign in parks and in green zones.

And like “children of Lt. Schmidt” [characters from a cult novel The Little Golden Calf, written by Russian authors I. Ilf and E. Petrov; a term for small-time con artists], some candidates have favourable places and unfavorable places. For instance, those who are elected in Zavodski district of Minsk are lucky. They can meet with voters in two cinemas, a library and a club “Sasyonka”… It would be pleasant to carry out the campaign in Savetski district, near the shop “Sausages- Cheese”. And in Frunzenski district it is possible to meet with voters only in housing and maintenance departments. In Sukhareva micro district a meadow near the car centre has been allocated. This “green zone” is a waste ground. A forest is situated behind it. A road is situated in front of it. Journalists met no one in 20 minutes there. People usually have a walk with their gods on this ground.

As “KP in Belarus” was told by the Central Elections Committee on ideology work, the places for meeting with voters were chosen in cooperation with administrations of districts. And reasons for that choice haven’t been named.

“And can one talk to voters in other places?” we asked the chairman of the CEC Lidziya Yarmoshyna.

“One can find other places, the most important thing is to get permission for holding a meeting with voters there. The official list is a minimum guaranteed to a candidate. And it is possible to find moiré places! And to hold meetings in the streets outside officially given ones, one should get a permission in Minsk city executive committee”, Yarmoshyna said.